The storied corner pub and haven of electronic music reopened at the end of 2022, bringing packed dance floors and its 24-hour license back to Chippendale. 

Built in 1921, this heritage listed hotel has had stacks of features restored over the past decade or so, including the fireplaces, bars and almighty rooftop space — our favourite part of this city pub that’s long been a go-to in The Rocks.

The Watsons Bay Hotel has been an eastern suburbs stalwart for over 190 years. The up-market pub’s major draw cards are its sprawling outdoor seating, an elevated seafood-focused dining menu and a view so palm-tree perfect it could be a postcard.

Odd Culture, the team behind The Old Fitz has brought this Inner West pub to life with a program of live music and a top-notch pub menu. The kitchen centres around woodfired and charcoal-grilled eats — including a great lineup of pizzas. 

What was once a daggy bowlo has been transformed into a leafy summertime garden pub with million-dollar Sydney skyline views. Inside The Greens, floor-to-ceiling glass doors allow sunlight to stream into a plant-filled brasserie.

As you might know, The Lansdowne and its sky-high outdoor area have a storied history. The rooftop spanned a few different iterations while the Mary’s team was at the helm. 

The Oaks is a North Shore institution. One of the most famous Sydney pubs, it’s a mega-barn that got a huge renovation back in 2019. The pokies machines got the boot and in came the sleek new cocktail bar and restaurant with in-house butcher.

This Bondi Beach drinking and dining den has stood the test of time. The North Bondi RSL has held on to its loyal patrons with decent prices, classic meat raffles and honest community engagement.

Le Foote is the newest entry on this list, opening in 2023 from the team over at Swillhouse, the hospo mainstay behind heavy-hitting Sydney spots like Frankie’s (R.I.P), Shady Pines, Restaurant Hubert and Alberto’s Lounge.

The Dolphin Hotel made a big splash in the Sydney food scene when it reopened in 2016. Its lovely contemporary interiors, high-flying Italian cuisine and the charming salumeria and wine bar were envied by other local joints.

Woolloomooloo’s Old Fitz has undergone many a transformation over the past decade, but it’s still an old pub at heart. The one thing that remains consistent is the familiar yet elusive je ne sais quoi of any great pub.

Merivale added this dog-friendly pub to its collection of venues back in 2018, maintaining what had long made the venue beloved while breathing new life into a classic Marrickville gem.

On the edge of Chippendale’s rapidly gentrifying Central Park precinct lies the Lord Gladstone. Now in the hands of Benny Johnson and the OG crew, the pub had a makeover of sorts back in 2019.  

The Lord Dudley Hotel is a slice of Old Blighty, a mock Tudor building on Jersey Road. Inside, a rabbit warren of adjoining rooms awaits. The maroon carpeted floors sink in all the right places, historied hollows ploughed by a steady stream of drinkers.  

The Harbord Hotel, a proper coastal mainstay, returned to the Northern Beaches in 2021 following a mega makeover. Occupying the new-look ground floor is a sprawling main bar, summery terrace and a seafood restaurant.

This  Marrickville pub received a good spit and polish back in 2013, turning it into a fantastic family-friendly pub and boutique bottle shop. Since then, it has received a few small updates but The Henson retains a lot of the historic pub’s heritage charm.

Those brave enough to mosey down the darkened alleyway that is Clarence Street in search of a stiff drink will be rewarded. The unassuming courtyard — that already plays host to The Baxter Inn and The Barber Shop — belies an impressive venue. 

The White Cockatoo is a beloved locals pub in Sydney’s Petersham (that’s also pokies-free). Here, you’ll find a great public bar and dining room as well as a vine-covered beer garden that’s made for summer drinking seshes.

Popular with students, artists and the battered men who’ve been frequenting it for the past forty years, The Courthouse Hotel — more commonly known as The Courty — is a beloved staple of Newtown’s drinking spots. 

The Cricketers Arms, widely known to its hordes of devotees as the Crix, is the kind of local that will make you want to move into the area. It’s a beautiful old pub, boasting wooden floors and wall tiles, a laid back atmosphere, and plenty of character.