The East Sydney Hotel is consistently one of the best "old style" pubs in Sydney. Sitting on the edge of Woolloomooloo, it can be a little tricky to find, but it's basically just down the hill from that seediest part of William Street. It's a classic old pub that hasn't undergone a refurb in a good handful of decades, and it fills is walls with antique beer advertisements and other Australiana, rather than flat screen tvs. Even better - the place has a staunch no-pokies policy, which is bloody great. While I wouldn't recommend the East Sydney's own food, you can order pizza from the place across the road and eat it at the pub, no questions asked.
They have several James Squire beers on tap, though the drinks selection is otherwise unremarkable. And this is as it should be, in an unpretentious, proper Aussie pub, right? Make sure to watch out for the darts board, as many a stray dart has been thrown in this joint, and the bar staff will not be sympathetic if you come to grief.
This place is a favourite for when my mates are trying to have a low key party without booking a venue. Hipster small bars are often over-full on weekends, and the big-business pubs rort you with $25+ pub meals. But the East Sydney always has enough space to squeeze us all in, and the music selection has a 1970s vintage, pleasing the oldies, the GenX and GenYers, and generally keeping things chilled. Apparently dogs can drink beer for free here, although I've never seen that in action. read more