Hero of Waterloo, The RocksCredit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Hero of Waterloo bar in The Rocks
From the historic Rocks precinct in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Victorian-era neighbourhood of Paddington and the city’s inner western suburbs, you’ll find plenty of pubs oozing heritage charm all across Sydney.
Enjoy a side of history with a pint in The Rocks
You’ll find some of Sydney’s oldest pubs dotted around The Rocks, the site of the first European settlement in the city. Taking pride of place on the main thoroughfare of George Street, the Fortune of War opened its doors in 1828. The oldest surviving pub in town, the Fortune has just been renovated, but has retained its historic timber bar, gracious high ceilings and welcoming ambience.
Commanding higher ground on the other side of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the 1831 Lord Nelson Brewery fits a bar, brewery and hotel rooms into its handsome sandstone home. You’ll want to carve out a chunk of time to immerse in the stately atmosphere and sample Lord Nelson’s house-brewed natural ales. The brewery only uses malt, hops, yeast and water to create moreish beers like the flagship Three Sheets pale ale and the creamy Nelson’s Blood porter.
A favourite watering hole of colonial garrison troops when it opened in 1845, The Hero of Waterloo honours another British military hero, the Duke of Wellington. Come to the Hero on the weekend for live folk music and old-time jazz, or to dig into classic winter fare such as the inevitable beef Wellington.
Soak up fascinating tales of The Rock’s colourful past and its pubs on Dave’s Travel Group’s afternoon The Rocks Pub Tour, or gather after dark for a Haunted Sydney Pub Tour & Cellar Visit to see the spooky side of The Rocks with Lantern Ghost Tours.
Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, Australia's oldest brewery hotel located in The Rocks.
Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, Australia's oldest brewery hotel located in The Rocks.
Settle into a heritage pub in Paddington
The inner-city suburb of Paddington, with street upon street of impeccably restored terrace houses guarded by cast-iron fences, is dotted with cosy neighbourhood pubs that first opened their doors in the 19th century.
Check out the window displays of the upmarket Australian fashion boutiques lining Paddington’s The Intersection before stepping inside The Village Inn, just off Oxford Street on Glenmore Road. Grab a seat on the second-floor balcony and watch the fashion-conscious crowd walking by this picture-perfect corner pub hailing from 1890.
A 10-minute walk down Glenmore Road from The Village Inn you’ll find the 1888 Royal Hotel, a majestic pub with a wraparound balcony overlooking Five Ways, a quirky intersection where five streets converge on a tiny roundabout.
From the Royal it’s less than 10 minutes to another Paddington institution, The London Hotel, established in 1875. Take your pint out to the sheltered courtyard while the sun’s shining, or settle in at a table in the cosy main bar on cooler days.
Take a detour to the early 20th century by stopping in at the Art Deco delight that is The Light Brigade at the Woollahra end of Oxford Street. Spot the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Light Brigade’s rooftop bar before making your way to nearby The Lord Dudley for a pot pie at this atmospheric 1889 English-style pub.
The Village Inn, Paddington Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of The Village Inn pub located on Glenmore Road, Paddington.
The Village Inn, Paddington Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of The Village Inn pub located on Glenmore Road, Paddington.
Go west for more historic pubs
You’ll find plenty of great old pubs scattered across Greater Sydney. Wander the streets of the historic waterfront suburb of Pyrmont to discover locals’ favourites like the Art Nouveau-style Terminus.
Hop on a ferry to the harbourside village of Balmain and while away an afternoon following the Balmain Rozelle Heritage Pub Trail. From the Balmain East ferry wharf you’ll encounter the 1875 East Village Hotel and then the 1870 London Hotel, the first of many historic pubs dotted around this fashionable peninsula.
In bohemian inner-Sydney suburb of Newtown, head away from the main thoroughfare of King Street to discover historic pubs like the 1859 Courthouse Hotel, where the expansive beer garden is filled with locals and their dogs. A block deeper into the Newtown back streets, the 1876 Carlisle Castle is full of surprises, from the giant mural of a former Prime Minister of Australia, resplendent in his swimming trunks, adorning an exterior wall to the magnificent front bar made from Italian marble.
And in the Western Sydney hub of Parramatta, alongside the colonial city’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites you’ll find the Woolpack Hotel. This venerable pub can trace its heritage to 1796, when it was granted a liquor licence by the first governor of the state, although it’s ‘only’ been at its current location since 1889.
The London Hotel, Balmain Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of the historic London Hotel, Balmain.
The London Hotel, Balmain Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of the historic London Hotel, Balmain.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.