This stylish Provincial Bistro and Bar has burst onto Central Victoria’s dining & drinking scene, showcasing distinctive regional cuisine with local wine poured direct from barrel.

Public Inn is the transformation of an original Goldfields Hotel into a warm, inviting venue; complete with a remarkable fit-out of natural timbers and textures. Huge original steel beams are highlighted and fit seamlessly alongside specially imported light fittings, while individually designed chairs and barstools draw inspiration from Danish designers and traditional Aix-en-Provence form. A beautiful feature stone wall made from locally sourced Yapeen slate and a staircase of recycled Ash timber, rounds out a stunning interior.

The main attraction - a unique ‘barrel wall’, is complete with six working wine barrels. Antique carafes are the order of the day, with the concept celebrating the region’s wine industry by focussing on wine ‘miles’ and an environmental ethos of removing excess packaging and carbon inputs.

Food is certainly not an after-thought, with a menu aimed at showcasing local produce within a framework of unfussy European based cooking. The mid-week two course “Inn-and-Out” lunch menu offers great value (including a glass of wine from the barrel wall) while dinner and weekend lunches are a casually-elegant affair. The bar is available at any stage for a quick coffee through to a lengthy drink with an all-day menu to match.

With a separate function and events space for up to 60 guests, a private Courtyard Dining Room and a leisurely 400 metre stroll to the train station with return carriages to Bendigo available from morning to the early hours of the night – there are more reasons than ever to visit Castlemaine.

Open 7 days for lunch and dinner.