Auburn Hotel

The exterior of this Hawthorn East mainstay has a commanding, fortress-like presence along the skyline as you approach via its namesake road. Inside the Auburn, however, you’re greeted with a pristine warmth akin to an upmarket country pub. Big screens populate most walls, with bar staff more than happy to accommodate requests for background music to be subdued in favour of blaring commentary.

The elegance of the connecting wine room permeates a touch of class into the front bar, carried over into the immaculately presented, astro-turf-lined beer garden. Both the bar menu and the tap beer range feel as if they’re the cream of the current crop. Longstanding champion Asahi neighbours the crisp, trendy Geelong ale Furphy occupying the row of taps along with Little Creatures Bright Ale and Boags Draught.

Iberian chorizo shares menu space with chicken wings in a tamarind sauce. To use the football term du jour, the bar menu has depth. The best gameplan is to bring a crew and share snack options.  Proudly operating since 1888 (with a stint as the Geebung Polo Club), the Auburn pulls off a classy demeanor while never feeling anything short of a welcoming to sports fans.