Sydney - Australia 2004 - page 175

there, bear right along the edge of the bus station, walk up the hill for 5 min-
utes and then take a right onto Jersey Road—ask the railway staff for the correct
exit if you can find anyone working. The Lord Dudley has the best atmosphere
of just about any drinking hole in Sydney, with log fires in winter, couches to
relax in, three bars, and a restaurant. 236 Jersey Rd., Woollahra. & 02/9327 5399.
Lord Nelson Hotel Another Sydney sandstone landmark, the Lord Nel-
son rivals the Hero of Waterloo for the title of Sydney's oldest pub. The drinks
are sold English-style, in pints and half-pints, and the landlord even makes his
own prize-winning beers. Of these beers, Three Sheets is the most popular, but
if you can't handle falling over on your way home you might want to try a drop
of Quail (a pale beer), Victory (based on an English bitter), and a dark beer
called Admiral. You can get some good pub grub here, too. Upstairs there's a
more formal brasserie. At Kent and Argyle sts., The Rocks. & 02/9251 4044.
Marble Bar Once part of a hotel demolished in the 1970s, the Marble Bar is
unique as the only grand-cafe-style drinking hole in Australia. With oil paint-
ings, marble columns, and brass everywhere, it's the picture of 15th-century Ital-
ian Renaissance architecture, a tourist attraction in itself. Live music, generally
jazz or soul, is played here Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 8:30pm.
Dress smart on Friday and Saturday evenings. Drinks are normally very expen-
sive, but the happy hour (daily 7-9pm) cuts prices down to what you'd pay dur-
ing normal drinking hours elsewhere. In the Sydney Hilton, 259 Pitt St. & 02/9266 2000.
The Mercantile Sydney's original Irish bar is scruffy and loud when the Irish
music's playing in the evening, but an essential stop on any pub crawl in The
Rocks. The Guinness is some of the best you'll taste in Sydney. Irish bands kick
off every night at around 8pm. 25 George St., The Rocks. & 02/9247 3570.
Slip Inn This multifunctioning bar and bistro setup is a popular city place to
drink and meet. There's a garden bar downstairs set in a courtyard, along with a
trattoria selling pizzas. Upstairs there's a Thai bistro open for lunch and a large
square bar. It's crowded on Friday evenings, but you'll never feel like a sardine.
Sussex St., Darling Harbour. & 02/9299 4777. A 2-min. walk toward the city from the Town
Hall/Cockle Bay side of the pedestrian bridge across to Darling Harbour.
Watsons Bay Hotel If it's a sunny afternoon, get over to Watsons Bay for the
best food you'll find in the sun anywhere. The beer garden serves good seafood
and barbecue meat dishes, while you sip your expensive wine or beer overlook-
ing the harbor. Nearby are the fabulous Doyles Wharf Restaurant and Doyles at
the Beach takeout. 1 Military Rd., Watsons Bay. & 02/9337 4299.
MOVIES
The city's major movie houses, Hoyts ( & 13 27 00 in Australia), Greater
Union ( & 02/9267 8666 ), and Village ( & 02/9264 6701 ), are right next to
each other on George Street just past Town Hall. They tend to show big-budget
movie releases. Other options are the Dendy Cinemas, located at 19 Martin
Place, City ( & 02/9233 8166 ); 261-263 King St., Newtown ( & 02/9550
5699 ); and the latest Dendy Quay movie theater located just before you reach
the Opera House, at 2 East Circular Quay ( & 02/9247 3800 ). All show art-
house movies; the latter allows wine and beer bought on the premises to be con-
sumed in the cinema. In Paddington, the Verona, 17 Oxford St. ( & 02/9360
6099 ), and the Academy Twin, 2 Oxford St. ( & 02/9361 4455 ), conveniently
located next to each other, are always screening the best local and foreign films
in Sydney.

Value