miss voyager : sweet old sydney, Pt. 2 – the bar guide
Sydney’s greatest asset has always been its nightlife. Travellers come to gawk at the Opera house, stroll around Darling Harbour and climb the harbour bridge, but the real fun begins when the sun goes down. Even the GFC cannot stand in the way of Sydney-siders having a good time and it’s not unusual to find suits drinking next to students or arty types conversing with those of a dodgy persuasion, all in a colourful mix of drunken humanity.
Inner West
Courthouse Hotel
189 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
As the backdrop for the Whitlams’ video for ‘I will not go quietly’ and the pub featured in the short-lived ABC ‘90s romance/drama ‘Love is a Four Letter Word’, the courthouse has personality out the wazoo. With a huge outdoor area and a DJ who mixes everything from ‘70s tunes to the latest tracks on Friday and Saturday nights, the courthouse is open 24-7 and well worth a visit if you find yourself in Newtown.
Rose Hotel
Cnr Cleveland and Shepard Streets, Chippendale
This hidden gem was built over 100 years ago and has survived more drunken students than bears thinking about. With their $10 lunches and comfortable beer garden, the Rose Hotel is usually filled to bursting with a young, enthusiastic crowd happy to talk about anything from philosophy to car maintenance. The tables are big and comfy and it’s always a treat to get drunk in a pub that wouldn’t look out of place in an old western.
Kelly’s On King
285 King street, Newtown
Once described as ‘narrow, wooden and Irish’, Kelly’s On King boasts a good mix of chatty people, healthy ambience and a great courtyard where dirty smokers like yours truly can enjoy a cigarette without trudging onto the street. Don’t be fooled by its size though. Kelly’s looks tiny, but it manages to fit in a pool table, jukebox and a big area dominated by karaoke enthusiasts. Run by staff who can actually pour a proper Guinness, this pub usually starts getting hectic around 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Town Hall Hotel
326 King Street, Newtown
Opened in 1878 and right next to the Newtown train station, the Townie is open almost 24 hours and full of failed poets, lead singers of ARIA award winning bands from the ‘80s and ‘90s and actors that never made the grade. Mix that in with a dose of philosophy and gender studies students and you’re bound to find a degenerate to your liking.
The Lansdowne
Cnr City Road and Broadway
More landmark than pub, the Lansdowne is a neutral meeting ground for UTS (University of Technology, Sydney) and University of Sydney students. Think comedic version of West Side Story but without the flick knives. Boasting never-ending loud music and animated conversation, the Lansdowne is a classic inner west pub and you haven’t been drinking in Sydney until you’ve had a beer at this joint.
Central Sydney
Clare Hotel
20 Broadway, Ultimo
A popular haunt of UTS students and ABC employees, the Clare hotel has classic tiled walls peppered with art and comfy couches a-plenty. Smokers can congregate in an alley behind the pub, which is worth a look purely for the regularly-updated graffiti mural. Beer is the beverage of choice here, with everything from trusty Carlton to Boston Mill and Pipsqueak Cider, all for a flat rate of $5 a schooner. Spirits will set you back $7 with house wine a tasty $5.50. Friday and Saturday nights find this place packed to the rafters with DJs and cheery locals playing pool or brushing up on their pinball-machine skills.
Equilibrium
World Tower, 680 George Street
Back in the day, this place used to have actual beds near the dance floor for patrons to recline in. This practice was dropped shortly after management notice that the beds were getting more use than they anticipated. Surprisingly though, removing said beds only appears to have increased the….virility of the patrons, but that might just be the 64 beers they have on tap. Open 11am until late, 7 days a week, Equilibrium has a main bar, lower ground pool lounge, vault lounge bar and trust vodka lounge where they serve shots in glasses made of ice.
Sydney CBD
Glasglow Arms Hotel
527 Hams Street, Ultimo
Spitting distance from the Powerhouse Museum, the Glasglow Arms is one of Sydney’s best kept secrets. Tim Bristo, the model for the ‘Bonds Man’ cartoon, private investigator and underworld figure used to bounce here in the ‘50s. The place hasn’t changed much since then, but that’s a good thing. The low-ceiling, wicker furnishings and outstanding atmosphere attract a mix of local workers, apartment dwellers, suit types and the occasional pack of students. Challenge (and get thrashed by) the locals at a game of pool or just put your feet up and enjoy the vibe.
The Gaff
16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst
If it’s backpackers and students you’re after, look no further than the Gaff. Known for their theme nights, this place has somehow managed to combine weekly wet t-shirt competitions, foam and full moon parties with an all you can eat buffet. Brilliance! Thank F#@k it’s Friday means four drinks for $12 with meals under $10 and $7 cocktails on Saturday’s.
The Lowenbrau
Cnr Playfair and Argyle Streets, the Rocks
A German dungeon of awesomeness, this pub is an underground, sandstone room with a good range of authentic Bavarian beers served in proper sized glasses. The staff wear cute costumes and there’s an impressive schnapps menu, just don’t forget to bring cash. Lots of it. Open 7 days a week, 9am until late.
By Ilana Pender-Rose
