The Taphouse

UPDATE Wednesday, July 14: During Sydney's current lockdown The Taphouse is providing free meals for hospo workers facing reduced hours and upped their takeaway and delivery options with roasts every day, takeaway craft beers and free delivery to Darlinghurst locals.

Located at the intersection of South Dowling and Flinders Streets in Darlinghurst, the Taphouse can go slightly unnoticed. If you're not an inner-city dweller, nor a beer fanatic, it's unlikely you've had the pleasure of experiencing the Taphouse — one of the Sydney bar scene's best-kept secrets.

Opening in late 2008, this three-level beer haven was purchased by brothers Josh and James Thorpe in 2017. The duo not only maintained the heritage-listed pub's reputation for serving an impressive array of beers, but gave the space the facelift it needed.

Part of that facelift was opening a new bar named Odd Culture — a reference to the wild yeast cultures used in fermentation — on the middle level with the largest selection of sour and wild ales in Australia, alongside minimal intervention wines and a smart selection of cheeses.

As well as beers, the Taphouse has long been known for its Sunday roasts. The roast offered is a choice of nine-hour slow-cooked beef or crispy pork belly (with crackling, of course) complete with yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, carrots, steamed broccoli and lashings of gravy for $25. Due to its popularity, it can be hard to get a seat, so best to book in advance and get in early as they have a habit of selling out later in the evening.

Grab a seat on the outdoor rooftop terrace and then all you have to decide is what beer you should have — the selection favours all Aussie, fully independent breweries across twenty taps, rotating for freshness and seasonality