The food is always good here. The staff are friendly and attentive. Try and get a seat near the…read morefire in winter. It makes for a very romantic occasion.

Okay, this is the first pub that you hit when you enter Kyneton from the railway station side, so…read moreit was not surprising that as I was dragging my suitcase into town that this was the first place that I ended up stopping at (even if only for a drink). Well, it turned out that I was going to stay here for a lot longer that I expected because even though it was going to take a little time for my meal to be cooked, as soon as I sat down I heard my name called out and sure enough, sitting at a table around the corner, were a group of friends. The steak was okay, but not really the best that I have, but the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff certainly made up for that. I also have to admit that it was a pretty nice pub, with a typical country atmosphere, and while they did have a craft beer on tap, it happen to be James Squire, so I tend not to consider that to be a member of the craft beer family.

It may be in the middle of nowhere, but it's a bloody good pub!…read more Radio Springs is the most fantastic and weird mix of a tiny little local, constantly buzzing with the inhabitants of Lyonville, and quite a fancy restaurant, offering some pretty delicious (though not super cheap) dinner options. I had the steak with garlic sauce which was pretty damn drool worthy. The chips & vegies on the side were great too. Radio Springs is a little bit like visiting someone's house- you can sit on the open verandah area and have a beer if the weather is nice, feast on dinner around the fireplace with a live band in the background if that's what suits, or head around to the red room at the back, where you'll feel transported to a different era in the rather elegant and dimly lit dining room. This one is worth a visit for the overall experience. Don't expect a regular restaurant as this place is in a world of it's own, but I'm not complaining!

Between Dalysford and Trentham in what can be called inner rural Victoria, or more to the point a…read moretown called Lyonville, places like the Radio Springs are a bit of an oasis. the place had a wonderful eclecticism going on, and when you walk into the rather small space we found the walls held up be several musicians playing very laid back tunes together. The music is ragtime and 1940s things and the bartender is nowhere to be seen. It's only when the song had finished and one of hem stands up and walks round the other side of the counter that it sinks in. This is pub full if the most intimate of locals, locals from all around. There are actual hotel facilities (unlike several places in Melbourne called a Hotel, which are in fact only a pub). From what I heard they're reasonable rooms and in nice surroundings when the sun's up.

This great little blue stone pub takes me back to the English countryside. With a proper old school…read moremenu of classic comfort foods like lamb shanks, surf n turf, pie of the day just to name a few. This self described "haunted' pub spills tradition and a cosy welcoming feel. While my porterhouse was well done (I ordered medium) it was still of good size and grade but perhaps a little dry. The mushroom sauce was also ok but it was more of a cheap pub gravy with a few mushrooms rather than a real cream or butter based mushroom sauce. My friend had the lamb shanks and described the meal as really great. The open fires and big timer mantels made for a really nice place to stand and chat over a few too many post dinner glasses of the house / self branded Merlot at $6 a glass. Mains ranged from about $19 - $35 for the surf and turf. The staff and service is very unpretentious, welcoming and friendly. I'll be back there without question - A great spot for a hearty winter feed.

From the owner: Built in 1857 the hotel once served as the first Cobb and Co coaching stop outside Melbourne on the…read moreway to the gold fields.

The Elpho, as it's affectionately know, is my local for another week or so. It's off the beaten…read moretrack, so to speak, so it's definitely a 'locals' pub. There aren't too many passers-by out this way unless there's an event on. Staff are very friendly and know everyone by name. The current owners reopened the pub almost a year ago after a kitchen fire that saw the Elpho closed for about 3 years. They remodeled the interior so it's fresher but still retains that country pub feel. The kitchen is open Wednesday through to Sunday and offers up your average pub menu and the food is tasty and pretty well priced. A burger with chips & salad or a parma will set you back around $15 or something like crumbed lamb cutlets are $20 (and I can vouch for them being freakin' delicious!). Downfall being that it's hard to pick when they're going to have a quiet or busy night. It's always safest to call up and book a table just in case because we have been denied meals in the past due to unexpected busy nights. We held an event here in August and they were very accomodating, admitting that they wouldn't be able to cater for the number of people we were expecting so they organised a woodfired pizza van to set up out front for our hungry attendees. When a few hundred people turned up (many more than we expected) and drank them out of kegs and stubbies the owner drove into town to purachse more alcohol for everyone. Now that's a commitment to customer service! They have a huge beer garden out back and stock local brews from Harcourt. They even have their own pale ale on tap. It'll be sad to leave this local behind but we're hoping to use them for another event in the future.

Decent quality food, good value. nice ambience. not really kid friendly.read more

Family friendly with great selection of food and fast service. Worth your time. Will be back. Good…read morevegetarian options. The plate size was generous. Happy and friendly staff. Upstairs is food and outdoor dining; while downstairs has a pool table and I think music so more club/pub. Ample car parking but can get full so get there early - it's popular for a reason.

Very relaxed atmosphere, a nice selection of tap beer. Food menu was good, Lamb Souvalaki excellentread more

Fantastic gastropub with a cool chilled vibe. We rocked in wearing our mountain biking gear and…read morewere greeted warmly and shown to a great casual table. Try the Pork Belly donuts and polenta chips! We've had the specials the last two times we've been - tonight's pulled lamb roast was sensational, and could only have been improved with a touch more gravy. The extensive craft beer list will satisfy the most discerning beer lover - we enjoyed (again) the Temple Brewing Bicycle Beer.

I'm a huge fan of this pub. And I do not say that often…read more The food menu really had me at hello and pushed the Bridge to be my top choice pub in Castlemaine. The food was so good in fact, that we came nearly every week for the time we stayed in Castlemaine. There's options for vegetarians as well, it's not your traditional pub food fare. I really liked the feel of the place. It feels familiar and welcoming, vibrant and chill all at the same time. The staff here make you feel at home. It's bustling with locals, there's heaps of live music. And there's a vibin' beer garden back patio. The Bridge Hotel is located right across from the Castlemaine botanic gardens. Just a stone's throw away from the station but away enough from anything that it seems to stand alone. Can't wait to venture back for Mondays in Mexico!

Good food with live music and pleasant casual ambience. Frequented by local community which is…read morealways a good sign.