Went there Saturday night around 7 and the place was jumping. Ground floor had some spaces…read moreavailable and clearly had some Christmas groups celebrating and rubbing shoulders with the locals. Elephant bar (first floor) was relatively empty but the DJ was just warming up with some chilled deep house tunes- this clearly is a better-later-on option. The music from the DJ was piped through second floor and rooftop as well. The second floor was heaving with a private function in one area, and lots of groups filling up the seating for the food (my friend had heard the steaks were good). We ended up going for the $15 burger and fries - which were simple, fresh, came out quickly, and tasty (compared to some other establishments who are trying too hard with their oversized American style burgers). The one down side is the place is very noisy when busy, and I am sure the gloss ceilings are not helping, making it hard to hear our friends in conversations. We also finally managed to get a spot on the rooftop after a few attempts (it is a very small space), which was fantastic and the view of the city was great and topped off the night. All in all a great place to try..

If you're looking for a new haunt that has the best cocktails and a breathtaking view, the Elephant…read moreBar over at the Royal Hotel is exactly what you need. It's a fantastic world-renowned cocktail bar that has a wide collection of yummy cocktails and a view of the historic "Fiveways" district. And if you like to do a little "stargazing", you can be sure to see a lot of familiar faces. A fantastic little bar for unwinding after a stressful day and chilling out with friends, the Elephant Bar is an experience that you wouldn't want to miss.

Nice pub spot. Got lunch. Party was alright but balcony view was killer. Bet it's a good place for…read moreevening hang out.

Came because of a review in the paper about the Wednesday steaks…read more Loved the veranda views and eating out. But sadly the steak n chips were cold and chewy. There was 'salad' ... but since it was just lettuce I'd prefer to call it the garnish. Generally the atmosphere is after work drinkers and sates that like hiding the corners. Not a great experience for me, but could be someone's cats pyjamas.

Fresh out of Hugo's Bar, my intention was just to mozy on over to Santa Barbara but within seconds…read moreout of Hugo's, we were stopped by a promoter. "Free shots guys, come check out this bar!" she said but I said "no, thanks" and continued on my way. I feel like I'll always be led into a shady bar (the only shady bar I'll go to in my books is dear ol' Shady Pines) when the words "free" come into play, especially around the cross. But my friends wanted to check it out and so I went along. Pass the bouncers and up two flights of stairs later was this spacious (it was a Sunday...) lounge. Five large booths line the walkway before you hit the bar and the dancefloor where a DJ (and maybe even a singer) is spinning his tunes. It's quite a nice place and I believe that the giant disco ball and the resemblance of an LA lounge tugged at my heart strings a bit. Oh, yea there's also a bed there for you to sit, and a desk with an old school phone. It's still relatively new after having opened around late September. I'd be interested in checking out the vibe on a busier night like Thursday or so.

Chauvel Cinema offers a different perspective on traditional mainstream cinemas such as Event or…read moreHoyts. Chauvel Cinema attempts to brings it patrons back in time to an era where cinema was something we did only on special occasions. The cinema offers patrons wine and beers as opposed to large cokes. Their combo deal is popcorn and a beer or coffee with a slice of panettone cake. The lounge area is decorated beautifully complete with vintage movie posters and memories from the cinematic ghosts of the past. The cinema foyer is indeed beautiful, complete with gorgeous ceiling lighting. The cinema is in the historic Paddington Town Hall building and locals petitioned to keep this building open when it temporarily shut its door a few years back. The cinema has two rooms. They aren't as big as the other cinemas but if your after something different this is the place to go. They offer more arty films so think films that would be show at film festivals such as Cannes or Sundance.

The beloved Chauvel Cinema has lived in the former Paddington Town Hall ballroom since 1977. When…read moreit closed its doors in 2005, passionate cinema and independent cinema supporters bombarded council with pleas to rescue this bastion of Australian cinema. Just 7 months later the Chauvel reopened to a passion equivalent to if it had been closed for years. The Chauvel remains an important part of our cultural landscape, with the foyer refurbished innovatively using recycled toilet pipes as chandeliers (I like to think they are not literally recycled but remnants or off-cuts!) and a fabulous programme of new arthouse releases, film festivals, and cult cinema nights. They sometimes throw a band on in the foyer if its in keeping with the film that's screening. Grab a drink at the bar and sit on the balcony if you can get a spot, and thank the Palace cinema chain for restoring the Chauvel to its' former glory.

The thing that makes this place stand out is that I was told off for ordering a beer in a cocktail…read morebar. Honestly, I really don't care all that much considering that I'll order what I like where I like, unless of course it isn't available. Well, despite it being a cocktail bar, that did happen to have beer available here, though I must admit that the place was a little dark, though that probably does add to the atmosphere. Yeah, it was okay, but not one of my favourites.

One of my favorite bars on earth. Drinks are solid but the vibe and diversity of clientele are…read moreamazing. Bar tenders give off great vibes. They play Australian pop, Hawaiian theme. Hard to find, basement of a building. Everything is good. Spirits are high. It's hard to explain. I plan to visit again, it's been probably 5 years for me.

Place is filthy. Service very poor. It's been years since I've been here and I must say it's gone…read moredownhill but surprisingly busy which I can only assume is because Psuedo Echo are playing otherwise I wouldn't be here. Sry disappointed

The chicken parma hits the spot but the fish of the day is mediocre. The chicken parma is perfectly…read morecrispy and comes with a nice side of chips. the chicken also comes with the wing which is a nice touch. The fish of the day was very plain and a little too salty. The portion was small for the price and the sides were subpar. The beer is very good though and the atmosphere is lively at night. the xpa was especially nice and smooth. They have plenty of seating and it is good for groups. Its a bit more upscale and has more of a bar then pub feel to it. the service was quick and I would return if in the area.

A part of me wants to give this place points for the name, but a part of me feels that this place…read morehas actually been around for decades, it is just that it has changed its form over time. In fact, for a while this place was closed, but that isn't the case any more. I actually quite liked this place, though a part of me felt that it was very much the art deco style that did it. The service was okay, and they also had some nice beers on tap as well. Okay, and they also have an outdoor area.

Great chips brought to start up - very smooth prohibition vibe Tge service was fast, attentive,…read moreand upbeat attitude. Loved the atmosphere, very New Orleans, easygoing positive and Rey!

I love all things NOLA. I mean, I had been there 3 times and still had my bachlorette's in New…read moreOrleans. We did not have a reservation, but they fit us in as a walk-in at a small coffee table with 2 ottoman seats. Not the most comfortable set up, but I appreciate the cozy atmosphere, almost like you are sitting in someone's very posh and dimly lit den. All the NOLA classics were featured, like Vieux Carre (no likey), old fashioned (likey), and hurricane. There were some twists on the classics as well. I liked the newer house specialties, and ended up having 3 drinks, more than I intended. We snacked on some popcorn chicken, which was nothing special, but very satisfying when hungry. We were also lucky enough to be there when the live jazz band played a brief set, which really set the mood. I took off a star because not every drink was a homerun, and the service was a bit too impersonal for a speakeasy. We had a different server each time. One of my favorite parts of going to a speakeasy is to watch the bartenders work their magic and ask them for recommendations, and if I'm lucky, maybe get an off menu drink. Not quite set up that way here.

Well, this is basically another one of those shopping centre pubs, though this one is actually a…read morepart of Westfield Bondi Junction (though I suspect that the shopping centre was built around it since it does have the original frontage). I originally found it by wandering around the shopping centre years ago and have been here a few times, namely for a drink while waiting for a movie to start. However, since I discovered cinemas in the city I rarely head out to Bondi Junction for a movie when I happen to be in Sydney. As for the pub, well it's not really one of my favourites. Honestly, it's pretty dull, and the only reason I ever came here was because it was convenient (and I didn't know about the other pubs in Bondi Junction).

Everyone knows partying is better left to the weekend. But just in case you're completely sick and…read moretired of work and just can't wait those last few days until Friday hits, head off to The Eastern. The Eastern is located in Bondi Junction (the building is actually a part of Bondi Westfield) just a short walk from the station. The Eastern is famous for its big Wednesdays and ability to attract a crowd in the middle of the week, when all the other nightclubs are so-called 'dead'. The club offers three levels of good music (different levels, different music) so you and your friends can split up and hang out in whatever area you prefer, or try out all levels at a time. Rather conveniently, there's a bar located on each level to make sure you and your friends are hydrated throughout the night. On Wednesdays, entry is free or discounted when you put your name on the guest list. Just sign up on Facebook and click attending and you're halfway there already. My mood changes when it comes to the Eastern, I used to have a pretty good time there, but the end of the HSC year heralds nights better spent at home.

If there is one word that describes this place and that is swish. This place is very, very swish…read more However, that doesn't necessarily mean that it is bad, or expensive. I came here for a beer and the price actually wasn't all that bad. Okay, it isn't the type of pub that I would regularly visit, particularly since I tend to prefer my pubs to be a little bit more down to Earth, but it does have a really nice beer garden, which would entice me back.

They added a restaurant and changed the pub menu semi-recently. I have been here a couple times…read morewith friends and hockey teammates and have been super pleased with the service and food each time. Charing Cross hotel has some of the best pub food in Sydney! The Charo burger and fried chicken burger are superb, and I can also highly recommend the roast chicken pie which is massive. The inside is cozy and there is a beer garden outside if you want some sunshine. Highly, highly recommend this place for a pub feed, dinner or social gathering!