The Sydney beer scene is exploding. Sydney’s population of 4 million will soon be joined by 350,000 new residents in Sydney’s west and south-west. Sydney has the highest population density of all Australian cities, and our inner-city neighborhoods are vibrant and energetic places to live. Sydney’s suburbs that ring the city center have a similar vibrancy: Waterloo, Erskineville, Newtown, and Glebe are home to an abundance of restaurants, cafes, and pubs.
Yet for so long Sydney was defined by its grey CBD office towers and iconic modernist Sydney Opera House: we lost our sense in looking beyond these two iconic landmarks when defining what Sydney is about. But now there is no doubt that the city has changed; Sydney’s bar and restaurant scene is a fantastic place to spend an entertaining Sydney evening. Sydney is now widely regarded as one of the world’s top food cities, with Sydney chefs regularly taking out prize after prize at prestigious culinary awards. Sydney was named the world’s best destination for 2015 by TripAdvisor travelers, largely because of our great beaches but also due to Sydney’s vibrant gastronomy.
Another reason Sydney came out on top in that survey of travelers’ favorite destinations was that Sydney has long been home to some of the finest beer bars in the country – if not the world. This is not just true for Sydney’s local beer-drinking locals; it’s also true for international visitors who come here specifically to sample Australian craft beers brewed locally in Sydney. Sydney is home to some of the best beer bars in Australia, and the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards its annual Pub Of The Year award to Sydney’s best beer bar.
Many Sydney pubs specialize in craft beers brewed locally by Sydney brewers; many others brew their own on-site. Sydney is home to dozens of breweries that produce world-class beers (beer with rich flavor, good aromas, and long aftertastes). If you’re traveling in Sydney or if you live in Sydney, here are my picks for Sydney’s best beer bars that serve excellent beers brewed locally by both traditional brewers and microbreweries:
- Belle Velours
- Baxter Inn
- The Bridge Hotel
- Bryden’s Sydney
- Cheeky Squire Port Beach
- Coopers Tavern
- Fountaindale Hotel
- Grandma’s Bar at the Rocks
- Crystal Jakimova Memorial Bar, Sydney Opera House
- Ferry Road Inn Parramatta (the Sydney equivalent of London’s Pembury Tavern)
- Harts Pub Glebe (a Sydney institution since 1866)
- Harbour View Hotel Mosman
- Hyde Park Hotel Sydney
- Irish Murphy’s Sydney
- Lauderdale Lounge Sydney
- Lobo Plantation Pyrmont
- Macquarie Hotel Sydney
- Memories Lane, Newtown
- Melbourne Hotel Sydney
- Royal Albert Hotel Sydney
- Shark Bar Sydney
• The Stag Sydney, Sydney Cricket Ground Grandstand, Sydney Fish Market Pyrmont, Sydney Football Stadium Homebush, Sydney Swans Social Club, Sydney Olympic Park, The Terminus Hotel Sydney
The Village Oz Get the most out of your visit to Sydney with these great bars, each serving excellent craft beer brewed locally in Sydney. These are just some of the many great beer bars that serve superb local beer. And if you’re a coffee-lover, don’t miss my top picks for best cafes in Sydney.
After reading this article, if you think you would appreciate some company, you can try out the Sydney Escorts at Ivy Societe.
