Unlike in neighbouring Coogee, Maroubra's seaside doesn't have much in the way of…read morecafes/restaurants. So The Ocean View Tavern is probably one of the more popular joints on Maroubras modest stip of eateries. Opposite Maroubra beach, I can imagine this place would be buzzing on any given sunny day. On this dreary Wednesday however, there was only a handful of patrons knocking back schooners and watching the blaringly loud A Leage on the hotel plasmas. The staff at the Maroubrah Hotel were jovial and helpful, happy for a chat on a quiet afternoon. The food here was nothing fabulous. The chicken parmigiana was ok but the chicken was pretty tough, the salt & pepper squid was tough and chewy too and the salads consisted mainly of shredded lettuce with a mayonaise dressing. But food is cheap and the kitchen is open all afternoon, meaning that if the surf is so good you forget to eat, a 3.30pm lunch is still possible.

This is a cool community tavern…read more It combines the beach with the local pub to create a pretty casual, simple place. You can tell the place is old, but its been zazzed up with flatscreens and a but more classy decor, but you cant deny its just the local pub. But that's just perfect for this scenario. Sit in the widnow and look out over Maroubra Beach, enjoy a simple, well-priced meal or drink. And when I say, well priced, I mean it. There's a $10 rump steak and mash. And it tastes A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Reallly good stuff. But, for the price, you get no frills. It's just a steak and mash, no other sides. I finished it satisfied, I suppose, but I did want to eat more. But I do that after a lot of meals. Really cool. down-to-earth beach and pub vibe. Very happy. I'll be back!

I'm not entirely sure if there is such a thing as a typical beachside pub, unless of course, the…read moreproximity to the beach is something to go by then of course this would certainly fall into that category. Well, I guess the atmosphere also has something to do with it, being beachy and all that. Yeah, this one does fall into that category, though as a pub it really wasn't one of my favourites. Sure, the service was good, but really, that was probably about it.

Normally this isn't one of those pubs that I'd give a particularly high rating too, with it being…read morebasically a pokies pub, and a particularly small one at that (with only two beers on tap, and neither of them being all that appealing). However, the thing that changed my opinion of the place was the absolutely fantastic service that I received, which was in a way above and beyond anything that I had experienced. Well, I might be over-exaggerating, but I did find that it was quite welcoming, and friendly.

This is another one of those pubs that I certainly wouldn't be expected to get too much from. Look,…read moreI won't necessarily dish the pub too much, but it certainly wasn't a place that I was really all that impressed with. Sure, you can certainly come here and have a beer, but their selection really isn't all that great, and the atmosphere is, well, rather dull. Yeah, personally, I'd probably recommend giving it a miss.

From the owner: The Matraville Hotel is your friendly local pub and bistro in the heart of Matraville in Sydney's…read moreSouth Eastern Suburbs. The Matraville Hotel is a casual pub and social meeting place. It has recently undergone renovations and now boasts an ultra modern bar and V.I.P. room. The Matto, as it is known by locals, features a busy bistro catering to lunch time and dinner crowds with great daily specials. There is an extensive range of tap beers, spirits and wines with a daily happy hour from 4 - 6PM Monday - Friday.

This is a social club which accepts members from within a 5km radius. Everyone is really friendly…read moreand membership also gives you the opportunity to join their gym. Now, don't get me started about how expensive gyms in Sydney are - that's a moot point. This one is reasonably priced (for Sydney), it's light, friendly and the view is spectacular. There is also a large heated pool (really, who would have guessed, a swimming club with a pool :D) If you live in the area you will know that a bit of damp can be the price to pay for living at the beach. This may also be the reason why some equipment looks a bit more worn than it really is - but I found it's all in good working order. Definitely a great gym to join.