Overview
If you're on the hunt for a spot to watch the big game among other fans with the commentary coming through loud and clear, Sydney's got some top spots (see: our list of the best pubs and bars to watch sport). But the new pint-sized Inner West bar The Magpie has just thrown its hat in the ring, pairing viewings of The Matildas, The Eels, The Swans and the UFC with a retro fit-out and a crowd-pleasing roster of beers.
Sporting a name that acts as both a piece of the Australiana tinge that permeates through the bar and a nod to the Western Suburbs Magpies rugby league team, The Magpie comes to Enmore from the team behind Earl's Juke Joint and Jacoby Tiki Bar.
It's opened right next to The Trocadero Room, the intimate new 150-person live music venue that arrived late last year from the same team. Together, the two venues have taken over the space formerly occupied by HiWay Enmore, bolstering the bustling road's sizeable roster of small bars.
The Magpie is designed to be a "local's local" — a place where you to drop in for a quick catch-up over a beer or a reliable spot that you know will be playing your favourite footy team's clash with their cross-town rivals. When there's no sport to be shown, you'll find a roster of classic films playing on the mounted televisions. The team has curated a slate of flicks that will transport you back to the days of walking through the aisles at your local Video Ezy (RIP).
On tap, you'll find a few of your favourite Inner West breweries pouring, including a special Magpie Old brew that Grifter has whipped up, plus Guinness for good measure.
Part sports bar, part small bar with a pub-like feel, The Magpie has opened its doors just in time for both the NRL and AFL seasons, as well as the upcoming Paris Olympics, set to kick off in July.
Next door, The Trocadero Room offers a new stage where bands can cut their teeth and artistic communities can come together — plus a fun throwback drinks list featuring cosmos, Midori illusions and spicy margs.
Since opening in November, it's already hosted Sydney favourites like Straight Arrows, exciting new up-and-comers like DoloRRes, and every kind of gig imaginable, from comedy nights and evenings dedicated to reggae, to scuzzy punk lineups and all sorts of dance parties.
Both The Trocadero Room and The Magpie are located at 156 Enmore Road, Enmore. Head over to Instagram to find this week's gigs and which matches you can catch.