So Mamma has a few items on her checklist for an awesome country pub, these are (in no particular order):

1. Old
2. In a beautiful town
3. Fireplace
4. Outdoor area/beer garden/deck (big beautiful tree bonus points)
5. Great food
6. Great vibe.

The Mount Macedon Hotel is one of those pubs that ticks ALL the boxes and more!

Mount Macedon Hotel Macedon Ranges Foodie Country Pub Melbourne West

Situated on the picturesque Mount Macedon this hotel narrowly escaped the Ash Wednesday fires back in 1983 (there is a picture hanging up on the wall of a town meeting just after the fire).

Mamma recently ate in the bar section when the bistro was full but LOVED the vibe in here. The warm fire, the fantastic musician strumming next to the table, and one (or, maybe two) tasty red wines. The food was great, the kids were happy and Mamma is looking forward to many more winter visits. In the warmer months there is plenty of room on the front deck or out the back in the huge beer garden to spend a long weekend lunch.