TRAVELLERS’ NEEDS - Sydney - page 188

Sydney Pubs and Bars
Confusingly for the overseas visitor, Australian pubs
and bars are also known as hotels. This is because
licensing laws originally required any place serving
alcohol to provide accommodation too. In the cities,
at least, hotels have changed radically and what were
once the domains of beer-swilling males have now
evolved into far more civilized spots. Pub menus have
also undergone a metamorphosis. In place of the
former meat pie and sauce, most pubs now offer hearty
snacks at remarkably low prices. All pubs serve beer,
basic mixed spirit-based drinks and wine by the glass,
but cocktails tend to be the preserve of the more up-
market venues. Pubs are also often good venues for
live music (see pp214-15) and for watching telecasts of
major international and local sporting matches.

Bennelong is a destination in
its own right. Another
favourite venue is Opera Bar
(see p184) with its spectacular
views of the city and indoor
and outdoor seating. On level
36 of the Shangri-La Hotel
(see p172) , blu horizon is a
flamboyant bar offering a
range of cocktails as well as
extraordinary views over the
harbour, airport and city
lights. The Manly Wharf Hotel
(see p191) occupies a prime
position in the ferry building.
It is a great spot for a relaxed
drink with friends and serves
excellent food. Established in
1870, the London Hotel (see
pp131, 142-3) in Balmain
enjoys the reputation of being
the most atmospheric pub in
Sydney. Those arriving early
can grab a tractor seat on the
balcony and sip local Red
Back beer while soaking up
the most unusual view.

RULES AND
CONVENTIONS

is considered bad form if you
do not return the favour. How-
ever, it can become tricky if
you are on a budget. Explain
that you are only staying for
one drink.

The pubs and bars across
Sydney operate under various
licensing schemes. In general,
those located in quiet neigh-
bourhoods close at 10pm on
weekdays and midnight on
Friday and Saturday nights.
Many pubs in busy tourist
areas such as Darlinghurst,
Kings Cross and near Central
Station stay open much later;
some even have 24-hour
licences.
You must be at least 18
years of age to buy or
consume alcohol, or to even
enter many bars. Anyone
under 30 should carry photo
ID such as a driver's licence
or passport. Children and
teenagers under 18 are often
allowed to join their parents
in outdoor beer gardens and
pub restaurants. It is also
against the law for a hotel to
serve alcohol to someone
who is inebriated. The
management can refuse
service and may not allow
people who seem drunk to
enter a bar.
Dress requirements vary and
these too are at the discretion
of the publican. Up-market
bars might require patrons to
look stylish, sometimes ban-
ning sneakers, though very
few insist on suit jackets.
Local pubs might refuse entry
to those in flip flops or shorts.
One aspect of traditional
pub culture is the custom of
“shouting”, or buying drinks
for your companions. When
someone buys you a drink, it

HISTORIC PUBS

STYLISH BARS

Hotels have been part of
Sydney life since the early
days of the colony. Many of
the town's old pubs are in
The Rocks and while you
will spot some on George
Street, others are hidden in
backstreets. The Hero of
Waterloo (see p69) , built in
1843, has a maze of stone
cellars underneath. First
licensed in 1841, the Lord
Nelson (see p172) now
brews its own ales. It offers a
bistro and a few guest rooms.
The Australian Heritage Hotel
(see p184) boasts a pizza
menu that features crocodile,
kangaroo and emu meat,
making it a favourite with
locals and visitors. The
London Tavern (see p124) ,
the oldest pub in Paddington,
opened in 1875. Underneath
the glamorous new Hilton
Sydney hotel (see p174) the
ornate Marble Bar is much as
it was when built in 1893.

Sydney has no lack of
beautiful people, or of places
for them to play. Those who
wish to dive into the social
scene might head to the pricey
Hugo's Lounge, Mint Bar and
Dining at the luxurious Hotel
InterContinental (see p175) ,
Water Bar at Blue Sydney (see
p176) or the new Zeta at the
Hilton Sydney (see p174) .
Overlooking Taylor Square,
Middle Bar is hip yet relaxed,
as is Longrain (see p192) . The
smart little bar at the tiny
Lotus Bar & Bistro (see p189)
continuously wins awards for
the best cocktails in Sydney.
Darlinghurst's The Victoria
Room feels like an estate in
colonial Singapore, and serves
tapas-style food. In the CBD,
the fashionable Establishment
Hotel (see p174) is home to
several bars, including the
eponymous ground-floor spot,
a post-work favourite for city
suits. Also on the hotel
grounds is the exclusive
Hemmesphere , decorated like
a Moroccan lounge. Con-
temporary chandeliers, chairs
suspended from the ceiling, a
scattering of silk cushions and
endless ocean views make the
ultra swish Icebergs Dining
Room and Bar (see p193) the
best of the lot.

BARS WITH VIEWS

In a city built around one of
the world's most beautiful
harbours, it will not be out
of the ordinary to find a
plethora of bars with magnif-
icent views. Many restaurants
have compact bars attached.
The bar at Guillaume at