Cold beer and shady trees make this a popular destination on steamy afternoons, with live bands and a gaming area sealing the deal.
Lounging over a cold beer at Lizards on Darwin's popular Mitchell Street, you may be forgiven for thinking you were in a botanical garden rather than a beer garden. Sprawling fig trees shade the tables throughout the generous drinking space, which is bordered by tropical palms.
Combined with the covered bar area, this venue offers a wealth of facilities for the average patron. The bar itself is a long, narrow U-shape with plenty of room for the extensive range of tap beers. Grab a chilled schooner of Coopers Pale Ale and inspect the pub-grub-packed modern Australian menu. If your timing is right, enjoy a live band on the amphitheatre-like stage: Lizards hosts live bands every weekend, playing a mixture of covers and originals. In addition, five large widescreen TVs simultaneously show a variety of sports from Australia and around the world.
If all that sport stimulates your desire for a flutter, head upstairs to the Anka Bar, where horse races and pokies dominate the environment. The staff are as happy to lay a bet on for you as to pour you a schooner of beer - pure bliss for punters. Locals have been using Lizards as a meeting point for years for good reason: it's a great place to drink, day or night.
Kristian Leach
