This bustling backpacker haunt is a great place to sink a beer or three. The crowded balcony is very popular. Live bands rock up from Wednesday to Saturday.
If you want to dance on the tables at the Vic, chances are someone will give you a hand up. With sweat-glossed live bands, a resident DJ and a serious party atmosphere, this Darwin nightspot draws in local regulars and passing cut-loose backpackers alike.
There's a downstairs bar with a modern pub vibe, an open-air courtyard and a nightclub upstairs, where the hardwood slab tables and bench seats are just another place to dance. The Vic packs out on weekends and its 4am license means you can stay for the long haul.
Established way back in 1894, this watering hole's original stonework has survived through it all - even fearsome Cyclone Tracy. Today, the original features blend with contemporary fittings. Those barflies with an eye for history should definitely check out the old cellar near the entrance. It gives a glimpse of how the pub originally operated.
The current tap beer range includes Aussie favourites like VB, Fosters, Carlton Draught and Cascade. However many adventurous drinkers leave the beer alone altogether and order the Vic's own Jagerbomb drink instead. It's made with Red Bull and a serious shot of Jagermeister - a potent German herbal liqueur.
Kristian Leach
