If you’ve ever tried to find a proper country bar in Australia, you’ll know they’re not all created equal. Some lean full honky tonk, some are more Nashville inspired cocktail lounges, and others just borrow the aesthetic while still delivering a solid night out.
So we’ve pulled together a list of venues around the country that actually do it well - places with live country music, line dancing, Americana vibes or at the very least a soundtrack where country music is actually at the centre of the experience.
From full blown party saloons to laid back whiskey bars and divey live music spots, use this list as more a guide to where the energy is, where the boots are actually on the floor, and where you’re likely to end up staying longer than you planned.
Whether you’re planning a night out, travelling through a new city, or just looking for somewhere different to take your weekend plans, these are the spots that consistently deliver a good time.
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So take it as your excuse to round up the crew, map out your next road trip, or finally try that venue you’ve been saving on Instagram for months. And if we’ve missed your local favourite, let us know!
THE 9 BEST COUNTRY BARS IN AUSTRALIA
9. Alabama Song Bar (Perth)
232 William St, Perth WA 6000 | Website
Alabama Song Bar leans hard into Americana, rockabilly and country sounds with a late night dancefloor that actually delivers when things kick off.
Step through the batwing doors and you’re hit with whiskey, bourbon and a full-on honky-tonk atmosphere, where the vibe is equal parts rowdy and relaxed. The Alabama Kitchen keeps things classic with American cheeseburgers, fried chicken and $1 wings every Wednesday and Sunday, making it just as much about the food as the drinks.
Live music runs every Friday and Saturday night, with everything from country to rock filling the space behind the chickenwire. Open Wednesday through Sunday, it’s a go-to for anyone chasing a late night country bar experience in Perth.
8. Deadwood (Dromana)
355-357 Point Nepean Road, Dromana VIC 3936 | Website
Deadwood Dromana is the kind of spot you hit when you want country vibes without the chaos.
Sitting right on the Mornington Peninsula beachfront, it leans into a more laid back upperclass saloon feel rather than full-blown honky tonk. Open Wednesday through Sunday, Deadwood is a little slice of Kentucky just south of Melbourne, featuring a country jukebox of over 1,000 tracks to choose from and a seriously stacked whiskey selection - we’re talking a range of 100+ bottles behind the bar.
The timber-clad space, offers luxe leather booths, an American eatery style menu and creative cocktails make it an easy place to settle in for a few hours.
You’ll find guitars hanging on the wall alongside posters of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and more; and neon signs will be buzzing well into the night. There’s no live music, but that’s kind of the point - it’s relaxed, welcoming and all about good vibes, good food and a cruisy country atmosphere.
7. Moon Dog Wild West (Melbourne)
54 Hopkins St, Footscray VIC 3011 | Website
Moon Dog Wild West (Moon Dog World) is less a bar and more a full-blown Wild West fever dream dropped into Melbourne’s inner west.
Set inside a massive warehouse, it goes all in on the theme - think a desert style beer garden with cacti, a giant retractable roof, a mechanical bull and a sprawling saloon-style bar that makes it feel more like a theme park than your average night out.
It’s not strictly a country venue, but the Western aesthetic and Americana vibes definitely tick the box, especially when paired with live music, DJs and a crowd that’s there for a good time.
The drinks list leans heavily into craft beer (it is Moon Dog, after all), but there’s plenty going on beyond that, and the sheer scale of the place means there’s always something happening. It’s chaotic in the best way, perfect for groups, big nights and anyone chasing something a little different.
6. Shotgun Willie's (Adelaide)
22 Gilbert Pl, Adelaide SA 5000 | Website
If you still think there’s nothing to do in Adelaide, you’re not going to the right places. Shotgun Willie's is a full-blown party spot in the heart of the CBD, blending country and rock into a high-energy night out that rarely misses.
Decked out in American style decor and giving off similar vibes to a proper honky tonk, it’s got live music, line dancing and a dancefloor that stays busy all weekend. One of its biggest wins? It’s open seven days a week - something not many venues can claim - making it an easy go-to no matter when the mood hits.
With a consistent crowd and playlists that bounce between country hits and rock anthems, it’s built for a fun, no-fuss night out.
5. Shady Pines Saloon (Sydney)
Lower Ground, 222 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000 | Website
Shady Pines Saloon is a Wild West escape tucked under the Sydney CBD, and it absolutely leans into the theme in the best way. Think vintage taxidermy, dusty furs, peanut shells on the floor and a soundtrack stacked with legends like Merle Haggard and Hank Williams.
Blending dive bar energy with a genuinely warm, laid-back vibe, there’s a deep love for whiskey here. Plus free live country music every Thursday and Sunday, where local and touring acts keep things rolling late into the night. It’s gritty, cozy and completely committed to the bit which is exactly why it works.
The new venue isn’t exactly built for perfect sightlines - there’s a massive pole smack bang in front of the stage - but if you’re there more for the vibes than a front row view, it doesn’t really take away from the night.
4. Honky Tonks (Brisbane)
204 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 | Website
Honky Tonks is purpose-built as a country bar, it nails that balance between southern charm and a proper night out, with live music every Friday and Saturday and late-night hours that keep things going well past reasonable.
The bar setup steals the show a little, with the dancefloor and music space tucked away at the back. The bar back is lined with bottles all the way up to the ceiling with glowing fairy lights and warm timber details, making it one of the better-looking venues around, without losing that honky tonk edge. It’s equal parts aesthetic and energy.
And not to be overlooked - the women’s bathroom is genuinely enormous, well decorated and has plenty of stalls… which honestly deserves its own round of applause.
3. Honky Tonk Blues (Perth)
81 High St, Fremantle WA 6160 | Website
Honky Tonk Blues is the real deal when it comes to live country music in WA - gritty, loud and built around the stage.
This dedicated live music venue brings country, blues and roots to life six nights a week, with bands kicking off from 6pm ‘til late and with free entry. It’s got that no-frills, authentic feel with cold beer, smooth whiskey and a dancefloor that actually gets used.
Open Mic Mondays spotlight local talent, while regular line dancing classes (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) keep things moving before the live bands take over for the night.
Add in southern-style food each night until 10pm, a steady mix of local and touring acts, and a crowd that’s there for the music, “a no d*ckhead policy”, and you’ve got a proper honky tonk experience in the heart of Fremantle.
2. Chattahoochee Joe’s (Brisbane)
336 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 | Website
Chattahoochee Joe’s is about as close as you’ll get to a full-blown honky tonk night out in Brisbane. This multi story bar feels like it’s come straight out of Broadway in Nashville, TN.
Built for big energy, they offer themed nights, regular live acts and free line dancing classes from 5 to 6pm. Open Thursday through Saturday, the crowd are often there to actually party, it’s less laid-back bar and more boots-on-the-floor experience.
Add in classic drinks and all the crowd-favourite hits and you’ve got a venue that delivers the kind of rowdy country night you’d expect straight out of the South. Get in quick though as there is an entry fee on weekends after 8pm.
1. Jolene's Sydney (Sydney)
Lower Ground, 73 York St, Sydney NSW 2000 | Website
Jolene’s Sydney brings a slice of East Nashville dive bar to the Sydney CBD. Inspired by the owners’ travels to Tennessee, it actually feels like an intimate, US honky tonk with live country bands every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The bar is known for one of the best whiskey selections going around, plus happy hour specials and a simple American-style menu that keeps things easy. Open Tuesday through Sunday, it’s the kind of place that actually feels like you’ve stumbled into a proper US country bar without the long haul flight.
The walls are laced with country music memorabilia, so for any country music fan it’s a must visit!
