Month by Month - Sydney - page 84

NEED TO KNOW
Opening Hours
» Pubs and bars: roughly 11am-midnight; later on weekends and in livelier areas; some open 24 hours.
» Clubs: 10pm-5am Wednesday to Saturday; most are busiest after midnight.
Beer Sizes
Traditional Sydney pubs serve middies (285mL) and schooners (425mL), while pints (570mL) are the domain
of Anglo-Celtic theme pubs. Australian pubs abandoned pints long ago because beer would go warm in the
summer heat before you'd finished your glass. Arm yourself with this invaluable local insight and order a
schooner instead.
Tipping
Tipping in bars is very unusual, so you should feel under no obligation to do so. The only possible exceptions
are where there has been a considerable amount of table service (more than just delivering drinks and clearing
empties) or where fancy cocktails are concocted.
Door Policies
» It is against the law to serve people who are intoxicated and you won't be admitted to a venue if you appear
drunk.
» If security staff suspect that you're under the legal drinking age (18), you'll be asked to present photo ID
with proof of your age.
» Some gay bars have a 'no open-toed shoes' policy, ostensibly for safety (to avoid broken glass), but some-
times invoked to keep straight women out.
Drinking & Nightlife by Neighbourhood
» Circular Quay & The Rocks ( CLICK HERE ) Historic pubs and glam harbour-facing bars
galore.
» Sydney Harbour( CLICK HERE ) Great old pubs in Balmain and a handful of prominent
venues scattered about elsewhere.
» City Centre & Haymarket( CLICK HERE ) Fancy watering holes for after-work execs,
and hip speakeasies in back alleys.
» Darling Harbour & Pyrmont( CLICK HERE ) Big brash booze dens full of suburban
kids and suited city slickers.
» Inner West( CLICK HERE ) Diverse venues catering to students, bohemians, politicos,
punks, lesbians, gay dudes and live-music lovers.