Six Beer Gardens in Sydney's Inner West You May Not Know About

With the sale of Marrickville’s iconic Vic On The Park to hotel powerhouse Merivale, the ardent hipsters of Enmore Road are on the lookout for a traditional, independent boozer to call their local. The “Wazza” is the inner west pub of yesteryear — a simple, reasonably priced menu, sport on the telly and cheap beer alongside a couple of local craft taps. This unpretentious pub might look to be another old man’s watering hole, yet the unassuming decor of the main bar gives way to a secluded, shady and spacious outdoor garden courtyard full of hipsters, tradies and families alike. The bamboo-panelled walls of the garden, coupled with multiple umbrellas all centred around the shade thrown from the large tree in the middle of the garden make for a great place to hide from the traffic outside and forget how close you are to the city.

On a hot day in the back streets of Enmore, finding shade in somewhere other than a stifling warehouse space is indeed a treat. Enter the Golden Barley. Family owned and run for twenty-five years, the pub maintains its original art deco exterior from 1939, while the interior is a smart mix of traditional Aussie boozer, craft beer haven and modern bistro sure to please any patron. If that’s not enough, the Barley’s trump card is its beautiful beer garden — it runs down the entire length of the pub and has multiple spaces for groups of all sizes. The thick canopy of native trees offers plenty of shade and a few choice rays peak through to provide ample light and warmth, hard to believe such a leafy oasis exists in the busy streets of the inner west. With St Peters’ Indoor Climbing Gym just around the corner, the Barley is the perfect place to grab a post-climbing beer (good selection of local craft and old favourites) and relax with a bowl of sticky chicken wings.

Formerly the Newington, Solotel’s revamp of this classic Aussie pub continues to impress ever since it reopened back in 2015. Described as ‘a cultural hub for our locals’ the PHP offers a charming and laid back environment to sink a few schooners. A small, tidy front bar with a decent collection of beers, wines and spirits gives way to a beer garden of epic proportions. The garden is well shaded and easily accommodates groups of all sizes. Complete with a woodfired pizza oven and some truly amazing graffiti artworks adorning the walls, this is the perfect spot for a group get together. Stop by on a Tuesday evening for a pizza and check out Cult Sinema Obscura a free film night showcasing a mixture of largely unknown, obscure, bizarre and downright wacky films.

Chances are, if you are drinking in the inner west, you’re probably a bit of a craft beer nut. With a plethora of breweries already serving great beer in converted warehouse spaces, a newcomer to the scene might struggle to offer something different. This is most certainly not the case with the latest offer from the Marrickville brewing scene. Sauce Brewery and tap room opened in late 2017, and as well as its great range of IPAs, Pilseners and Saisons, the impressive brewery gives way to a beautifully sunlit beer garden out the back. The front entrance is wide enough to drive a truck through, and that’s exactly what they do; a rotation of local food trucks set up at the garden’s entrance offering a variety of snacks and meals to help soak up the booze while you soak up some sun. With plans to begin growing their own hops on site in the beer garden, this is a great new spot for something a little different this summer.

Okay, so if you’re a local this place isn’t exactly a secret, but nevertheless there are a multitude of reasons to visit the crowning jewel of the inner west pub scene. Boasting a bright and leafy wood panelled courtyard out the back of a smartly refurbished art deco bar, The Henson is a family (and dog) friendly pub catering to an eclectic range of tastes that reflect the diverse and ever changing Marrickville identity. Enter what looks like the gaming room, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see retro arcade games in places of the pokies. The spacious garden also features a children’s play area, complete with ball pit (for children only, we tried) to keep the kids entertained while you sip a pint of delicious local craft beer from one of the sixteen taps. The menu is extensive, largely sourced from local suppliers and caters well to vegetarians and carnivores alike. Drop in on a Monday evening for a pint and a free game of pool.

Nestled in amongst the shops and cafes of Marrickville Road, a small bar jostles with local patrons that spill out onto the pavement, while live local acts fill the air with music. Welcome to Gasoline Pony. A small bar setting the standard for the area, the Pony features an impressive selection of natural wines, cocktails and craft beer paired up with hearty bar food and live music. Couldn’t get much better than that right? Wrong. It continues to impress with its smart, compact courtyard out the back of the busy main bar. Simple wooden furniture offers a chilled out, low-lit space to relax over a few drinks, before heading in to check out the bands. Perfect spot for a mid-week drink with friends and a great spot for a casual date