Sydney pubs

Must do

Sydney pubs to visit

Some of Sydney’s best pubs are by the harbour or by the beach, and many are heritage-listed. Check out The Tilbury Hotel at Woolloomooloo, The Welcome Hotel at Rozelle, The Carlisle Castle in Newtown and The Shakespeare in Surry Hills.

Best Sydney pubs

Durty Nelly's Pub in Paddington. Image James Morgan

Sydney’s thriving pub scene includes many beautifully restored heritage pubs and boutique venues with live music. The city's mild climate is just right for making the most of their balconies, roof terraces and courtyards with cold beer on tap or a glass of local wine and a delicious meal.

The Rocks is the perfect starting point for a heritage pub tour. The Fortune of War, Hero of Waterloo, Lord Nelson and the Orient all date back to Sydney’s colonial days, and now serve great pub food and drinks in a lively atmosphere. Also in the city the elegant Arthouse Hotel is a former School of Arts dating back to 1836.

Harbourside Balmain was once a working-class suburb with many pubs whose names reflected Australia's colonial heritage - Cricketer's Arms Hotel (now The Monkey Bar), Dry Dock Hotel, Forth & Clyde Hotel, Kent Hotel, Shipwright's Arms Hotel to name a few. Today, many of these pubs mix historical charm with delicious modern-Australian menus. Don’t miss the Royal Oak and the London, or relax on the upstairs balcony at the Town Hall and watch the buzz of Darling Street below. Enjoy the funky atmosphere and great bar food at the Three Weeds in Rozelle.

In Paddington, head to the Lord Dudley to enjoy a traditional English country pub atmosphere, or to the popular Four in Hand. One of Sydney’s best pubs with a view is the Woolwich Pier Hotel where you can take in scenic Sydney Harbour from the upstairs balcony.

Manly Wharf

You don’t have to go far to enjoy some of Australia’s best pub-with-a-view dining experiences – just head to the wharf at Manly. If you’re looking for stylish outdoor dining, check out Hugo’s Manly for a modern take on classic pizzas. Combine beer by the stein with pretzels at the Bavarian Bier Café, or chill on the waterfront deck at the Manly Wharf Hotel. Don’t miss the Four Pines microbrewery just across the road.

Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks

There’s more to this heritage-listed art deco hotel than the stunning harbour views. Take in all the bustle of the harbour and bridge-climbers while you enjoy a glass of wine and a hearty mod-Oz lunch or dinner in the bar.

Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel

Live music, delicious seasonal menus and amazing harbour views. This heritage hotel has it all – reward yourself with a sundowner on the balcony after a walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens nearby.

Watsons Bay Hotel

A Sunday barbecue lunch at the Watsons Bay Hotel is a Sydney must, although you can enjoy it any day or night of the week. Catch the ferry from Circular Quay, and take in the views from one of the best beer gardens in the world.

Pubs in Sydney

Sydney is a city with lots to offer on the bar and pub scene, with many newer venues nestled in laneways and inner city suburbs. From fine wine and delicately-sized food offerings, through to comfy, easy-going pubs with live music and comfort food - Sydney offers such variety.Sydney is home to several of the oldest pubs and breweries in the country, which continue to pour an assortment of tasty beers.

Balmain, a working-class suburb, features a bustling pub culture. The 1879 built Royal Oak Hotel, located in the character filled back streets, is one of the most charming pub experiences serving Australian cuisine. Blending convict days with modern living, The Rocks and Circular Quay lay claim to Sydney's oldest and most frequented pubs: the Fortune of War, Hero of Waterloo, Lord Nelson and The Orient.

Heritage pubs line Paddington in Sydney's east. The Royal, the award-winning Four in Hand, The Grand National and Windsor Castle are all waiting for you to sample vibrant pub life. Why not make a night of it and stay a night at the affordable East Sydney Hotel to sample an old-fashioned country pub?

Plenty of popular gay-friendly waterholes are scattered along King street and side streets in Newtown. Don't miss the Bank Hotel, Imperial Hotel, the Courthouse and Newtown Hotel.

Don't miss these food and wine experiences in Sydney

Bungalow 8 Sydney City, Sydney, Darling Harbour
Situated in a trendy harbourside location at King Street Wharf, this casual bar serves up beautiful seafood by day while it emerges as a cool bar by n...
www.bungalow8sydney.com

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Icebergs Dining Room and Bar Sydney East, Sydney, Bondi
Gracing the cliffs of South Bondi, embracing the panoramic views of one of the most iconic beaches in the world lays a unique dining experience. From ...
www.idrb.com

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Hemmesphere Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Exclusive and VIP-frequented, Hemmesphere is a Sydney bar with a Turkish ambience. Inspired by Ottoman Empire sophistication and style, Hemmesphere is...
www.merivale.com/#/establ

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Albion Place Hotel Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Albion Place Hotel is in the centre of Sydney’s Entertainment Precinct. The hotel boasts a great range of boutique beers on tap including Little...
www.albionplacehotel.com.

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The Roxy Sydney West, Sydney, Parramatta
The Roxy is the place to be seen in Parramatta. This Spanish-style Theatre has been converted into a bar, restaurant and nightclub complex. The restau...
www.theroxy.com.au/index.

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25th Floor Restaurant and Cocktail Bar Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
The unique setting and relaxed ambience of the 25th Floor make it the perfect venue for an intimate dinner, entertaining important clients and guests ...
www.bayviewhotels.com/bou

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Button Bar Inner Sydney, Sydney, Surry Hills
After the success of Pocket Bar and Stitch, the owners brand new venture has an underground feeling about it with leather booths and dark nooks and cr...
www.button-bar.com.au/

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Royal Cricketers Arms Sydney West, Sydney, Surrounds
Opened over 100 years ago, the Royal Cricketers Arms still maintains good, old-fashion service. First licensed in 1880 this historic roadside Inn is s...
www.royalcricketersarms.c

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Ash Street Cellar Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
The Ash St Cellar is an elegant, Parisian-style bar in a quiet laneway behind the well known Ivy Bar. Sommelier Frank Moreau presents a range of inter...
www.merivale.com.au/#/ivy

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Sydney Opera House Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Experience Sydney Opera House - one of the world's most creative and busiest performing arts centres and greatest triumphs of modern architecture. Spe...
www.sydneyoperahouse.com

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Hotel Oaks Sydney West, Sydney, Surrounds
The Oaks Hotel is a lovely country pub offering great value bistro dining, outdoor dining and free entertainment on weekends. It is situated on the ma...

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Jacksons on George Sydney City, Sydney, The Rocks
Jacksons on George is only a few minutes walk from The Rocks, Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House and many major Sydney hotels. With five bars across fo...
www.jacksonsongeorge.com.

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Oxford Art Factory Inner Sydney, Sydney, Darlinghurst
Inspired by Andy Warhol's 1960s New York Factory, the Oxford Art Factory is an edgy, warehouse-like venue with multiple, flexible performance are...
www.oxfordartfactory.com

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Castle Hill RSL Sydney North, Sydney, Hawkesbury
The origins of Castle Hill RSL can be traced back to 1932, when the Hills District Returned Sailors and Soldiers Club was formed to assist World War 1...
www.castlehillrsl.com.au

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ArtHouse Hotel Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
The School of Arts Building, dating back to 1836, now houses the most unique bar in Sydney, The ArtHouse Hotel. A dynamic space, reflecting the splend...
www.thearthousehotel.com.

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