diff --git a/docs/sanic/routing.md b/docs/sanic/routing.md
index d6bedc6a..452f57ab 100644
--- a/docs/sanic/routing.md
+++ b/docs/sanic/routing.md
@@ -81,6 +81,19 @@ async def get_handler(request):
 
 ```
 
+There is also an optional `host` argument (which can be a list or a string). This restricts a route to the host or hosts provided. If there is a also a route with no host, it will be the default.
+
+```python
+@app.route('/get', methods=['GET'], host='example.com')
+async def get_handler(request):
+	return text('GET request - {}'.format(request.args))
+
+# if the host header doesn't match example.com, this route will be used
+@app.route('/get', methods=['GET'])
+async def get_handler(request):
+	return text('GET request in default - {}'.format(request.args))
+```
+
 There are also shorthand method decorators:
 
 ```python
@@ -168,8 +181,3 @@ url = app.url_for('post_handler', post_id=5, arg_one=['one', 'two'], arg_two=2,
 # http://another_server:8888/posts/5?arg_one=one&arg_one=two&arg_two=2#anchor
 ```
 - All valid parameters must be passed to `url_for` to build a URL. If a parameter is not supplied, or if a parameter does not match the specified type, a `URLBuildError` will be thrown.
-
-
-
-
-
diff --git a/sanic/router.py b/sanic/router.py
index 4de95cb2..32b3a3d1 100644
--- a/sanic/router.py
+++ b/sanic/router.py
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@ class Router:
                 for host_ in host:
                     self.add(uri, methods, handler, host_)
                 return
+        else:
+            # default host
+            self.hosts.add('*')
 
         # Dict for faster lookups of if method allowed
         if methods:
@@ -258,16 +261,16 @@ class Router:
         :param request: Request object
         :return: handler, arguments, keyword arguments
         """
-        # Note - this means that if _any_ routes specify host, non-host routes
-        # will typically fail as they are looked up by host
-        # fix - check if host is in host-based routing table (perhaps) or
-        # better, get candidate of routes and then dispatch by host.
-        # This may have perf issues.
+        # No virtual hosts specified; default behavior
         if not self.hosts:
             return self._get(request.url, request.method, '')
-        else:
+        # virtual hosts specified; try to match route to the host header
+        try:
             return self._get(request.url, request.method,
                              request.headers.get("Host", ''))
+        # try default hosts
+        except NotFound:
+            return self._get(request.url, request.method, '')
 
     @lru_cache(maxsize=ROUTER_CACHE_SIZE)
     def _get(self, url, method, host):
diff --git a/tests/test_vhosts.py b/tests/test_vhosts.py
index 53fdf53f..2b88bff3 100644
--- a/tests/test_vhosts.py
+++ b/tests/test_vhosts.py
@@ -36,3 +36,21 @@ def test_vhosts_with_list():
     headers = {"Host": "world.com"}
     request, response = app.test_client.get('/', headers=headers)
     assert response.text == "Hello, world!"
+
+def test_vhosts_with_defaults():
+    app = Sanic('test_vhosts')
+
+    @app.route('/', host="hello.com")
+    async def handler(request):
+        return text("Hello, world!")
+
+    @app.route('/')
+    async def handler(request):
+        return text("default")
+
+    headers = {"Host": "hello.com"}
+    request, response = app.test_client.get('/', headers=headers)
+    assert response.text == "Hello, world!"
+
+    request, response = app.test_client.get('/')
+    assert response.text == "default"