Daylesford Hotel: a grand country pub

On the first night of our recent stay in Daylesford, we tired and wanted something easy for dinner.  So we walked 5 minutes to the Daylesford Hotel, arriving rather early for dinner at 4.45pm.   We really enjoyed the amazing pizzas in the cosy crowded public bar with moss green walls and large arched leadlight windows.

When Sylvia first checked their menu online she did not feel it had lots of vegetarian options for us. Then she saw the pizza menu and had it listed as a place to eat.  As we walked there, we passed the drive through takeaway pizza option and were able to watch some of the pizzas being made in the window.

The top photo will show you how busy the bar was.  When we arrived it was heaving and we were told that if we waited by the bar we would get a table within 20 minutes.  Fortunately someone left and we got a table opposite the lovely fireplace immediately.  Although these seats are empty, I had to be quick to take this photo after the people there left and before they were quickly replaced.

Next to the fireplace was a little cosy nook of a room that looked like the place to be but of course we did not get our choice of seats.  I liked that our seat looked over towards the gorgeous leadlight window and the large archway where we ordered at the counter.
 

This fireplace is behind the bar with a list of wines.  I didn't have to wait long to order our drinks and meals at the counter, despite lots of people standing about with their drinks.  They were probably waiting for tables.

I was happy that they had an excellet range of alcohol free drinks.  There was a page and half of mocktails, soft drinks and non alcoholic beers and wines.  I had a glass of the Non 3 - Cinnamon & Yuzu white wine ($11).  It is great to see drinks menus now featuring non-alcoholic wines that have depths of flavour without being a sweet grape juice.  I would love to have this slightly citrussy dry white wine again.

The design of the bar was really lovely with a subtle mix of heritage and modern touches.  This barrell with a warmly glowing lamp was an example of this, as is the modern menu that still reflects old school pub menus.

We got tempted by a few dishes on the main menu such as the vegetable sausage roll and the eggplant parmagiana, But we just ordered a pizza each.  Mine was the Potato pizza with provolone, Talleggio, rosemary salt and truffle oil ($27).  It was really good with the intense cheese and flavours working well with the potato.  The crust was beautifully charred and puffed and tasted so light and tasty.  It was one of the best pizzas I have had in ages.

Sylvia ordered the Pear pizza with Brie, rocket and balsamic.  It was a bit sweet for her but I loved it with  the balance of the cheese and pear worked really well with the pile of dressed peppery rocket to cut through the sweet rich toppings.  We ended up preferring each others pizzas, which worked just fine.  They were very large and we ended up taking quite a few pieces home in a pizza box.

We were so full by the time we finished and didn't want to take up seats for too long with the high demand so we headed out as it was getting dark.  We took a last look at the leadlight window brom the other side and peeked in the windows at the bistro which was more formal but had the same elegant design without the colour.  The hotel also offers accommodation which looks lovely.

The next day when we walked to the main street I took a photo of the pub from across the road.  It is so large and impressive with two stories of cast iron verandahs from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century (there was not much about the history online).  The huge expanse of this grand old pub made it hard to fit it in the photo.  And Daylesford was so busy that I could not get a picture without people walking by.  It was a fantastic choice for our first meal of the holiday.  We left feeling happy with our bellies full, having enjoyed great hospitality from a fine country pub with great service and great food.

Daylesford Hotel 
2 Burke Square, Daylesford
[by roundabout at intersection of Vincent St, Albert St and Midland Hwy]
https://daylesfordhotel.com.au/

More posts on our Daylesford holiday (more to come):

• Daylesford Accommodation