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Sydney is one of the world’s most social cities, thanks to its amazing weather, harbourside setting, relaxed vibe, and plethora of pubs, clubs, and bars.
So, take the time during your visit to mix and mingle with the wider population. And whether you’re looking for colonial-era public houses with a history, intimate small bars, pumping nightclubs, cocktail cruises, and even hen party venues in Sydney, the options for an evening out are almost endless.
Not sure where to begin? We have that covered with this list of Sydney’s best pubs and bars. These venues are either destinations in their own right or part of a bigger experience. I’ve also included a couple of great ‘locals’ (pubs popular with local residents), for reasons that will become apparent. Let’s get started!
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1. The Australian Heritage Hotel
The story of modern Australia began in The Rocks and today this heritage precinct has a high concentration of 19th/early 20th-century pubs. The Australian Heritage Hotel on Cumberland Street has been in operation for well over one hundred years and retains many of its Edwardian features (including metal awnings, etched signage, and saloon-style doors). This is a top spot to visit if you have just walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge (the pub is opposite the bridge stairs), and is well known for serving gourmet kangaroo, emu, and crocodile pizzas!
2. Hotel Palisade
There are three other memorable pubs to check out in and around The Rocks. The first is the incongruently tall (for its time) Hotel Palisade, which opened in 1916. Perfectly placed for lunch if you’ve been exploring Barangaroo Reserve, it boasts a ground floor pub and the super-stylish rooftop Henry Deane Bar (which offers a magnificent view of the Harbour Bridge). Admire the handcrafted period equipment and decoration utilised in the ground floor venue. They don’t make them like this anymore!
3. The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel
Just a stone’s throw from there is The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel — arguably Sydney’s oldest pub. This is another top spot to stop for a drink or bite to eat if you’re walking between The Rocks and Barangaroo. A public house has operated on this spot since the 1830s, and craft beer is brewed on site. Sit inside and soak up the historic gravitas, or pull up a pew in the sun out the front. The classic pie with mash and mushy peas is a popular menu choice.
4. The Hero of Waterloo Hotel
Last, but not least, of this trio of characters is the quaint Hero of Waterloo Hotel, which dates back to the mid 1840s. The cellar (complete with wall shackles) has a tunnel entrance, which legend has it was used for rum smuggling. It can still be seen today. Live music on weekends adds to the hotel’s relaxed vibe.
5. O Bar
Dial up the glamour a notch or two at revolving O Bar on the 47th floor of Australia Square (ten minutes’ walk along George Street from The Rocks). For the price of a drink (other than beer) you can travel 360 degrees over the course of an hour, soaking up the key city sights as you go. See the famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Cricket Ground, Olympic Park, the Prime Minister’s residence in Kirribilli, and even the Blue Mountains in the distance. If you also want to push the boat out on an upscale meal, this is the ideal place to do it.
6. Opera Bar
You’ll want to check out the Opera House during your stay in Sydney and the official guided tour is well worth doing. Afterwards, head to the harbour-side Opera Bar for refreshments and a dining menu of seasonal specialities. This is quintessential ‘Sydney’. The location is spectacular and you’ll find yourself mesmerised by the sun’s rays dancing on the gentle harbour swell. The Opera Bar often has live music in the evening.
7. Coogee Bay Hotel
Many visitors to Sydney choose to walk the scenic coastal trail from world-famous Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach and back. It’s six kilometres each way, so take a break for lunch or a cold drink at the iconic Coogee Bay Hotel. You never know who you’ll spot at this local institution; my daughter once played pool here with the Springboks!
8. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
There are few places on the planet as beautiful as Sydney Harbour. One of the best spots to sit and drink in the shimmering setting is on the waterfront terrace at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. Located just inside the mouth of Sydney Harbour on the South Head peninsula, Watsons Bay is a former fishing village and can be reached by ferry from Circular Quay. Honour the area’s past by ordering a serve of fresh fish and chips, and a glass of crisp white wine to wash them down.
9. Corridor
For something different, I often take my visitors to Sydney for a walk along King Street in Newtown. It’s home to an eclectic range of fashion boutiques showcasing the creations of both emerging and established designers. It’s here that I first stumbled across Corridor — a fabulous food and wine bar, which, as the name implies, is long and narrow. Self-described as an ‘intimate nook’, it has a really friendly atmosphere. Seek it out if you’re in the area.
10. The Rose Hotel
Chippendale is one of Sydney’s most vibrant inner city suburbs, and I’ll wrap this list up at the much-loved Rose Hotel. It’s been a part of the Chippendale community for well over a century, and is the perfect venue for a pre-theatre drink or dinner if you’re attending a performance at the Seymour Centre. Located on the corner of Cleveland and Shepherd Streets, the hotel has an interesting interior and a covered beer garden. It’s not always easy to get a table, but we usually manage to find a spot. Try any of the pizzas — they’re all amazing!
This post was published thanks to Men On Fire.
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Cover image: Hotel Palisade. Image: Destination NSW. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Joanne Karcz is a Sydney-based travel writer, and has explored much of her home country, Europe, South America, and Southern Africa. She published a blog while walking the Camino de Santiago some years ago and has been writing about her adventures ever since. Joanne is also an aspiring photographer and takes her camera wherever she goes. She loves discovering new things to see and do in her own Sydney backyard, and blogs regularly about the city’s suburbs.
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