About This Guide
The Geelong Arts Centre — still widely searched as the Geelong Performing Arts Centre or GPAC — sits on Little Malop Street, which is also Geelong's best bar strip. The closest bar on this list is 150 metres from the foyer; the furthest, a waterfront bar on Eastern Beach, is nine minutes on foot. Six options below cover craft beer, cocktails, wine and dinner — most without a booking.
Bars Near GPAC — At a Glance
| Venue | Walk from GPAC | Best For | Open (show nights) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FarmDog Brewing | ~2 min (150m) | Craft beer, draught paddles, pintxos | Mon/Wed/Thu from 3pm; Fri/Sat from 12pm; closed Tue |
| The Arborist | ~4 min (350m) | Pre-show dinner, wine, rooftop | Mon–Fri from 12pm; dinner from 5pm |
| Beav's Bar | ~4 min (350m) | Groups, live music, no fuss | Wed–Sun from 4pm; closed Mon/Tue |
| Malt Shovel Taphouse | ~6 min (500m) | Large groups, sit-down meals | Every day from 11:30am |
| The 18th Amendment | ~5 min (400m) | Cocktails, occasion drinks | Fri and Sat from 5pm only |
| Edge Geelong | ~8–9 min (800m) | Waterfront afternoon session | Mon–Thu from 9am; Fri–Sun from 8am |
FarmDog Brewing on Little Malop
The taproom at 2/5 Denny's Place sits in the laneway off Little Malop Street, approximately 150 metres from the Geelong Arts Centre foyer — the closest bar on this list by some distance. The full FarmDog range pours on draught alongside gin and whisky paddles; food is pintxos and pizzas. Open from 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday show nights, and from midday on Friday and Saturday. The one scheduling constraint: FarmDog closes on Tuesday, so check your show date before making it the plan.
The Arborist
A two-level wine bar and restaurant at 75 Little Malop Street, approximately 350 metres from GPAC — about four minutes on foot heading east along the same street. The ground floor runs seasonal small plates and share dishes; the rooftop bar opens from 3pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with an elevated view across the CBD. The wine list and cocktail programme are both serious. This is the pick for theatre-goers who want to eat before the show and want the room to match the occasion. Open Monday to Friday from midday, dinner service from 5pm.
Beav's Bar
Next door to The Arborist at 77–79 Little Malop Street — four minutes from GPAC — Beav's Bar runs a deliberately low-key format: mismatched couches and coffee tables, a solid craft beer and wine list, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. Live acoustic music plays Thursday, Friday and Saturday with no cover charge; Wednesday is open mic and karaoke. A practical pick for a group that wants to spread out without paying a scene premium. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 4pm until 1am; closed Monday and Tuesday.
Malt Shovel Taphouse
At 7–21 Bellerine Street — walk east along Little Malop then one block north, about six minutes from GPAC — the Malt Shovel Taphouse is the strongest option for bigger groups or anyone who wants a proper pre-show meal. The venue runs across three distinct spaces: an art deco front room, a beer garden, and a beer hall. A rotating roster of independent Australian craft beers is backed by a full wine and cocktail list; the kitchen specialises in rotisserie. Open every day from 11:30am, which means you can arrive early and take your time.
The 18th Amendment Bar — Friday and Saturday only
Five minutes from GPAC at 82a Little Malop Street, the 18th Amendment runs a Prohibition-era format: over 600 spirits, theatrical cocktails, and a hushed atmosphere that earns its 4.9 rating on Google from 501 reviews. The constraint is real and worth noting: the bar trades on Friday and Saturday evenings only, from 5pm. If your show falls on either of those nights, this is the most considered pre-show option on the strip. On any other night, it is not an option.
Edge Geelong — waterfront option
The furthest pick on this list at 700 to 800 metres north through the CBD to the Eastern Beach foreshore — about eight to nine minutes on foot. Edge Geelong at 6–8 Eastern Beach Road sits directly on Eastern Beach with panoramic views across Corio Bay. The bar runs hand-crafted cocktails, an extensive wine list, and all-day dining; a live DJ plays every weekend. The practical itinerary: arrive from Melbourne in the late afternoon, reach Eastern Beach by 5pm, drinks with the bay view, then walk back up Little Malop to your show by 7:30pm. Note the walk back to GPAC from Eastern Beach is slightly uphill.
Plan Your Visit
FarmDog Brewing opens at 3pm and sits two minutes from the GPAC foyer — the simplest pre-show option when your show is on one of these nights. Arrive by 6pm for pintxos and a paddle, and you can walk out at 7:30pm and be in your seat with time to spare. If you want a sit-down meal, head to the Malt Shovel Taphouse on Bellerine Street by 5:30pm instead. It opens from 11:30am every day and is large enough that you will get a table without a booking.
The 18th Amendment opens from 5pm on both nights at 82a Little Malop Street, five minutes from GPAC. Arrive at 5:30pm, take your time over cocktails, and walk to the Arts Centre by 7:30pm. If you are travelling from Melbourne and want to make an afternoon of it first: go to Edge Geelong on Eastern Beach from 5pm — the bay view from the deck is the best in the CBD — then walk back up Little Malop to GPAC for your show.
The Geelong Arts Centre's own foyer bar opens one hour before each performance and again during interval. Tutti Cafe inside the Arts Centre serves dinner on show nights from 5:30pm. Both are worth knowing about as a fallback.
Also Worth Knowing
The Geelong Arts Centre foyer bar opens one hour before every performance — useful if pre-show plans fall through or your group arrives late. Tutti Cafe inside the Arts Centre serves dinner on show nights from 5:30pm; book ahead if you want to combine a meal and a show in one venue.