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Drinks Directory|Family affair|Regional VIC|Outdoor area

Tinamba Hotel

4-6 Tinamba-Seaton Road, Tinamba, VIC, 3859
Phone
(03) 5145 1484
Website
tinambahotel.com.au
Instagram
@tinambahotel

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 23 Feb 2023

By
Larissa Dubecki

A proudly local pub with a smart fit-out, the Tinamba Hotel champions the best of Gippsland, serving hyper-local wines and brews alongside one of the best regional menus in Victoria.

Why you goYou don’t exactly stumble on a place like the Tinamba Hotel. The beating heart of a little town (population 358 at last count) in Victoria’s sheep-grazing country requires actual intent to visit – or at least a serious case of being lost. That makes it all the more remarkable that it can lay claim to being a fabulous country pub. All heritage charm on the leafy main street, it has held onto its history, but is definitely not a place where you’ll find the local shearers getting a skinful on a Saturday night. Both the menu and wine list celebrate the best of Gippsland, and a smart fit-out has turned the Tinamba into a place locals travel for miles to when they want to mark their wins, losses and draws.
Why you stayStepping inside the Tinamba is a bit of a revelation. If you’re expecting the classic battle-scarred front bar with local footy-team memorabilia and a tired bistro with sticky tables, think again. More like a sprawling country house, it has a huge dining room, lounge and conservatory, with a separate bar area rocking leather Chesterfields – there’s even a chess set should the need to pull the queen’s gambit strike. A place for all seasons, it has a wood fire for winter, while the shady verandah and lawn have also been colonised for drinking and dining enjoyment.
sitting area at Tinamba Hotel
Image of Beer glasses at Tinamba hotel
What drink to orderDrink like you’re born and bred in these parts with a list flying the flag for Gippy stars such as Narkoojee, Lightfoot and Sarsfield Estate. Sparkling your thing? Go hyper-local with Tinamba’s own Glenmaggie, or head to Champagne with Pol Roger or Louis Roederer. The same approach champions local brewers, with Traralgon’s Good Land and Sailors Grave from Orbost holding their own among the broader offering of Australian and international classics. A tight list of cocktails includes a Strawberry Sour with Four Pillars gin, while the Tinamba also breaks the unimaginative lemon, lime and bitters habit of the country pub by serving non-alcoholic options like a Passionfruit Sour.
What to pair it withKnown to have one of Victoria’s best regional pub menus, the Tinamba nails the brief of pub grub elevated to serious-dining territory. That pan-roasted chicken breast with black-barley jus is immediately recognisable yet many degrees above your average parma, while a mushroom tart with white-onion puree, and pappardelle with venison ragu and broccoli gremolata embody the big-flavoured, comfort-rich approach of an award-winning kitchen. To finish, a choux-pastry bun with chestnut cream and pear compote is everything you want in a fruit-based dessert. If decisions aren’t your thing on a country getaway, take advantage of the chef’s tasting menu matched with local wines.
Image 2 of dish at Tinamba hotel
Why we love itMelburnians are finally waking up to the gem of Gippsland on their eastern doorstep, but the Tinamba has been proudly promoting the region long before it was fashionable. The commitment to local producers of all stripes is impressive, while the palpable warmth of the place shows country hospitality isn’t a myth.
Image 3 of dish at tinamba Hote;
Make it fancyArrive for lunch at the Tinamba in A-list style. A partnership with Lakes Entrance Helicopters means you can take off from Lakes Entrance and enjoy a scenic flight over the area before landing for a lazy three-course lunch. The return flight includes a buzz along the vast golden swathe of Ninety Mile Beach – the bonus is no arguments about who has to be designated driver.
Who to takeIt’s 215km from Melbourne to Tinamba, so while you can make the 2.5-hour drive there and back in a day, it’s far better to get a group of family or friends and make it part of a Gippsland road trip. There’s plenty to explore in the immediate area, including Narkoojee and Lightfoot wineries, and locavore restaurant The Long Paddock. Take a few days – hell, even a week.
Sponsor logo
In partnership with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Authour image
Larissa DubeckiLarissa Dubecki has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in reviewing restaurants and bars.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryOutdoor areaCasual catch-upFamily affairRestaurantMeal and a bevPubGood for groupsBrilliant beer listRegional VICBarTop notch wine listWheelchair accessible
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