Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
Devotees of the comfortable, atmospheric local pub rejoice! The Inner West has plenty of pubs in varying degrees
of gentrification, ranging from 'not at all' to 'within an inch of its life'. A thirsty student population sustains a bar-
rage of bars and live-music venues, while a sizeable lesbian and gay community also makes its presence felt.
Glebe
FRIEND IN HAND HOTEL
At heart Friend in Hand is still a working-class pub with a resident loud-mouth cockatoo
and a cast of grizzly old-timers and local larrikins propping up the bar. But then there's all
the other stuff: life drawing, poetry readings, crab racing, comedy nights. Strewth Beryl,
bet you weren't expecting that.
PUB
A.B. HOTEL
Glebe)
An old fave with a $5-million facelift, the former Ancient Briton is looking good,
particularly the Pacific Penthouse, with live fish swimming around inside the bar. Heavy
drapes and portraits of Lenin adorn the walls and there's a cute courtyard.
PUB
Annandale
ANNANDALE HOTEL
( 9550 1078;
www.annandalehotel.com
; 17 Parramatta Rd; admission free-$28; 436-440)
At the forefront
of Sydney's live-music scene, the Annandale coughs up alt-rock, metal, punk and electron-
ica. Punters traverse the sticky carpet between sets by local kids on a stage that's held the
likes of the Dandy Warhols and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Yum cha lunches on weekends.
LIVE MUSIC
EMPIRE HOTEL
The Empire's well-managed 300-capacity bar gets down 'n' dirty with some of Sydney's
best blues and roots bands, along with a smattering of folk rock, pop, soul and jazz acts.
LIVE MUSIC
