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Sydney Bars, Pubs, Clubs & Cafes
 Before
you head out drinking in Sydney, it is worth taking a brief history
lesson, or else you are likely to be in for an evening notable only for
being almost entirely dry. A large proportion of pubs in Australia
describe themselves as "hotels", since back in days if yore, the
authorities decreed that those offering alcohol for sale for consumption
on the premises needed to provide their customers with the option of a
bed for the evening.
Indeed
some of the old "hotels" still have beds above the bar, which is handy
considering the extended opening hours in Sydney, with some bars staying
open not just until the early hours, but all the way through the night
too.
That
said there are now a tremendous number of bars in sydney, which describe
themselves as "boutique" bars, to the point where the old "hotels" are
becoming something of a dying breed. Still, Sydney has something to offer
most types, ranging from the earthy to the grand.
 Newcomers
to the country will probably be unaware of what a "Pokie" is. Far from
being the Scottish fire stoker that perhaps the name suggests, this
follows the great Australian tradition of adding an "ie" to the end of
words in an effort to make them less bother to say. A "Pokie" then is a
poker machine, or more accurately, a machine for gambling on - a
"One-Armed Bandit", or "Fruit Machine" may mean something to some readers.
Staying
on the gambling front, many pubs also offer TAB facilities, Totalizator
Agency Board, or betting on the horses and dogs in laymans terms. Both of
these forms of betting are big business in Australia, and many pubs appear
to almost entirely devoted to these pursuits.
As with
most cities in the world, the Irish bar craze is in full swing, with the
corporate "Irish" experience (i.e. bad Guinness and Caffreys on tap, along
with a tape of Irish artists like "The Pogues" and "U2" repeating over and
over again all evening), sharing the scene with bars which have
traditionally attracted an Irish crowd.
Highly
recommended is THE HERO OF WATERLOO, 81 Lower Fort Street, Millers
Point (02) 9252 4553 (in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge), which
most definitely falls into the latter category. This is the place to go if
you want a busy but friendly atmosphere, with occasional impromptu
performances from fiddlers and the like who bring their instruments to the
pub like a Yorkshireman brings his whippet. They share the stage with
pre-booked acts playing traditional Irish folk. If you prefer a more
sanitised "Irish" experience, try SCRUFFY MURPHY'S 43-49 Goulburn Street,
CBD, (02) 9211 20002, which is a pretty good watering hole as it stands,
but expect a similar drinking experience to your own local Scruffy's.
For the
more upwardly mobile is the THE SLIP INN (pun doubtless intended)
at 111 Sussex Street, CBD (02) 9299 1700 which is a known haunt of the
rich and the famous, as well as the more down to earth. The Slip Bar is
the main bar, spacious with tables for those who fancy showing Tom Cruise
how to play pool, and there are reasonably priced eats too from "Slip
Thai". There is also the "Sand Bar", so named because it has a large
sandstone wall at one end, an ideal place to kick back and relax, as is
the al fresco "Garden Bar" which overlooks Darling Harbour.
JACKSONS ON GEORGE, 176 George Street, CBD, (02) 9247 2727, is another
favourite. They offer 110 beers from around the world for those who cannot
get to grips with the local fayre, serve food for hungry suits during the
day, and 'til 10pm for the evening crowd. You can shoot some stick on the
pool tables too, before heading up to the Lunar Lounge Nightclub upstairs.
Jacksons sports a 24hr licence.
In fact
24 hour drinking is well established in Sydney, so if you are one of those
who just doesn't want to go back to the hotel, ever, try CHEERS,
George Street, just by the cinemas. This multi-storeyed affair has a
sporting theme running through it, and is the ideal place to catch up with
the sporting events back home. The ubiquitous "Pokies" are on offer too as
is a TAB facility. They can't guarantee that "everybody knows your name",
but then if you are only passing though then that is hardly surprising.
The
action is by no means confined to the CBD though, and Sydney's excellent
bus and train networks mean that there little excuse for not straying
further afield. Try the Surry Hills area, which you can feasibly walk to
from the CBD if public transport is just too proletarian for you. BAR
CLEVELAND, cnr Bourke and Cleveland Streets, Redfern (02) 9698 1908,
is a two roomed wooden floored number with the comfy chairs tucked around
the back. Stylish and friendly, the Cleveland (as it is locally known)
opens 'til late at the weekends with cocktails and DJs in residence,
boasts three pool tables, and has impressive menu by day. The Level One
Club is upstairs.
Nearby,
FBR CASSATA, 336 Riley Street, Surry Hills, (02) 9211 2095, has pokies
and pool tables abound, set in a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere. There are
plenty of cocktails on offer here, and if it is your birthday then you
will be treated to a freebie. The bar menu is pretty good too, with meals
clocking in at between $7.50 and $13.00. If your culinary needs are a
little bit more demanding, FBR offers the option of a la carte dining
through in the restaurant. The Cassata bar is upstairs and offers drinks
in a comfortable timber floored, bright walled atmosphere. Open 'til 1am
on Fridays and Saturdays.
THE
CRICKETERS' ARMS, 106 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills (02) 9331 3301, is
one of those pubs where the music is the main attraction. Focussing on the
drum and bass side of things, this pub has a credible underground feel to
it on account of the décor taking second place to the entertainment. Well
priced steaks and bar meals make this a good option if you are into the
scene.
Paddington is the colourful part of town and has a number of notable bars.
Try WE3DS BAR at THE ROSE SHAMROCK & THISTLE HOTEL, 27-33
Oxford Street, Paddington, (02) 9360 4662. An old style bar with happy
hour from 5 - 6 each evening, WE3DS has a wide selection of (mainly
domestic) beers, together with a selection of cocktails and wine. DJs
strike up a party on Fri and Sat, with the doors staying open 'til 3am.
The lack of cover charge, coupled with the inclusion of pool nights, makes
WE3DS a good bet. Speaking of which, it also has a range of gaming
machines.
THE
ALBURY, 6 Oxford Street, Paddington, (02) 9361 6555 is a bustling bar
which, in keeping with the area, boasts lightly dressed bar men, and is
reknowned for its impressive drag shows. Not for the inhibited, this bar
has been voted Best Decorated Venue at the Mardi Gras Awards
Sydney's Kings Cross is home to numerous bars, some more respectable than
others. Try the SOHO BAR & LOUNGE, Victoria Street, Kings X, (02)
9358 6511, another one of those places with an impressive back catalogue
of rich and famous patrons. Recent renovations have thankfully been
sensitive to the original art-deco interior.
Also
THE RHINO BAR, 24 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross (02) 9357-7700, makes
for an ideal start to the evening if you are planning on going clubbing in
The Cross. Situated next to the Underground, this is a loud but relaxed
place, which is larger than it looks upon first inspection.
Bondi
is more reknowned for its café culture, but has a couple of places of note
in the bar department. Check out HOTEL BONDI, 178 Campbell Pde,
Bondi Beach (02) 9130-3271. Located on the world famous sea-front, this is
another one of those timber floor and stainless steel places. A relaxed
atmosphere in the winter, this place gets pretty packed in the summer
months, what with Bondi being one of the city's biggest backpacker areas.
Further
up the road, in the slightly more accessible Bondi Junction (no beach, but
a railway line), is the rambling COCK AND BULL, 89 Ebley Street,
Bondi Junction, (02) 9389 3004, has an unfeasibly numerous five bars, live
entertainment and a gaming room. The food is pretty good and there is a
bottle shop attached for afters. It pupports to be an Irish bar, but this
appears to mainly stem from the fact that it has Guinness and Kilkenny on
tap, and a large number of Irish backpackers of a Friday evening. Good fun
though, open 'til 2 on Thurs, Fri and Sat.
Finally, THE COOGEE BAY HOTEL, 253 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee (02)
9665-0000, is a truly vast pub with an impossibly huge outdoor area. Ideal
for whiling away a few hours by day, overlooking the popular and
attractive Coogee Bay, this place gets going in the evening and is a
popular venue for young travellers.
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