The Pub — Restaurant in Airlie Beach

If you’re hunting for a vibrant dining experience in Airlie Beach, look no further than The Pub. This gem has everything a food lover could desire, fantastic service, lively atmosphere, mouthwatering food, and a commendable commitment to dietary inclusivity. From the moment you walk in, the warm and welcoming staff make you feel right at home. Their attentiveness is unmatched, and they go above and beyond to ensure your needs are met. Whether you have a question about the menu or need recommendations, you’ll find the staff knowledgeable and eager to help. Now, let’s talk about the live music! The Pub features talented local musicians that create an unbeatable ambiance. The blend of great tunes and cheerful chatter transforms the space into a lively hive of activity where you can truly unwind and enjoy the moment. There’s nothing quite like sipping on a cold drink while tapping your feet to the rhythm of fantastic live performances. Food is undoubtedly at the heart of The Pub’s charm. The menu boasts a delicious range of options, but what truly sets them apart is their extensive gluten-free and allergy-aware offerings. It’s not often you find a dining establishment that genuinely prioritizes dietary restrictions, and The Pub shines in this regard. Their dedicated gluten-free menu is impressively curated, featuring everything from delightful appetizers to hearty main courses that don’t skimp on flavor. Each dish is crafted with care, ensuring that gluten-free diners can indulge without fear. For those with allergies, The Pub stands out with one of the most comprehensive allergy menus you’ll find. They take your safety seriously, and the staff is fully informed about cross-contamination and ingredient sourcing. It’s rare to find a place where you can order confidently, knowing that every measure is taken to accommodate your needs. To top it all off, the food itself is nothing short of sensational. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared with fresh ingredients, bursting with flavor, and beautifully presented. I highly recommend trying their Chicken Wings or the salmon! absolutely divine! In summary, The Pub in Airlie Beach is a must-visit for anyone seeking a memorable dining experience. With exceptional service, fantastic live music, and an impressive commitment to gluten-free and allergy-friendly options, it’s a place where everyone can enjoy delicious meals and good vibes. You’ll leave with a full stomach, a smile on your face, and plans to return soon....

We were really looking forward to a relaxing evening at this pub in Airlie Beach. The online reservation process was quick and smooth, which gave us a good first impression. Upon arrival, we were greeted politely, and a staff member showed us to our table. Sadly, that’s where the hospitality seemed to end.

From 18:45 to 19:15, no one came to take our order — not a single staff member approached our table in that 30-minute window. The venue relies entirely on a QR code ordering system, which in theory sounds modern, but in practice was a total disaster for us. There is no open Wi-Fi, and the staff doesn’t provide a password, nor is one displayed anywhere for guests. As we didn’t have mobile data, we couldn’t access the menu or place an order at all. For a tourist destination, this is extremely unfriendly. Not everyone has a local SIM card, and it felt like there was no backup plan in place for those unable to use the QR system.

We sat there feeling ignored and invisible. No one checked on us, no one noticed we weren’t ordering, and no one cared. We tried to get the attention of the staff a few times but were completely overlooked. After 30 minutes of feeling unwelcome and confused, we decided to leave and eat elsewhere.

Another point that needs to be made clear: their buffet concept is highly misleading. When you hear "buffet", you expect a variety of dishes, maybe a mix of meats, sides, mains, and desserts. But here, the only options available were vegetables or desserts. No main dishes, no proteins, no proper meal — just sides or sweets. It felt like a cost-cutting gimmick rather than a guest-friendly offering.

Overall, it was an extremely disappointing experience. For tourists or first-time visitors, I would strongly advise against coming here. The system is confusing, the service is non-existent, and the food concept doesn’t deliver what it promises. This place might have a nice location, but that’s not enough. Hospitality and accessibility matter — and sadly, both are missing here. Definitely not a place where you feel welcome...

Seven of us had food here, we were told when we ordered it was a one hour wait, we were ok with that ordering a few drinks before hand. The cocktails were good and bar staff were friendly and quick. Sure enough the 6/7 meals arrived about an hour later, however the last meal, a pizza took another 25 minutes to come only arriving after everyone else had finished their meals. One of the other meals was roast beef which was basically a plate of fat and there was no veg left at the buffet counter to go with it and the veg wasn’t topped up in the time it took to try and eat said plate of fat, also the gravy was like wall paper paste. When I went over (for the second time) and complained that the pizza hadn’t arrived yet and the beef was fatty and the veg wasn’t replenished, Mark the member of staff who seemed to be in charge said that ‘pizzas took the longest to cook’ and ‘it’s the busiest night of the year’ and when I asked if I should just accept that as a level of service he basically put his hands in the air and shrugged his shoulders.

I reserved this table four hours earlier on the same day and by the time our food arrived the restaurant was half empty as you can see from the picture, on what apparently was ‘the busiest night of the year’.

To add to insult to injury, there was a group of four opposite us in the bar area on a raised table also eating food but really drunk and overly loud and spilling drinks all over the place dropping stuff all over the floor and covertly passing what I can only imagine to be drugs around under the table however staff didn’t seem to bothered about this.

We ate in most places in Airlie in the time we were here and they were all miles better than this place.

If you want to come here I’d go early afternoon have a few drinks and watch the live music or go next door to the sports bar but don’t bank on the pub for even just an ok evening meal, lack of customer service or even to simply acknowledge or apologise for any of the issues...