If you’re looking for a suburb that’s home to some of the best pubs in Sydney, then it simply has to be Surry Hills. One of the city’s trendiest suburbs, Surry Hills is home to some incredible interpretations of what it means to make a pub. And, while you can certainly find a great range of beers (priorities, right?) the vast majority of Surry Hills pubs bring with them great entertainment and a perfect setting for mid-week or weekend boozing.
So, with so much on offer in a relatively small space, which are the best pubs in Surry Hills you simply have to visit? Allow us to reveal all in this complete guide.
In this Surry Hills pubs story…
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The Clock Hotel
470 Crown Street, Surry Hills, 2010
No visit to Surry Hills would be complete without checking out The Clock Hotel. An iconic pub if ever there was one, The Clock dates back 1869 (although it didn’t take the name of The Clock Hotel until 1969 when the clock was installed), and has occupied its corner positioning and headline status ever since.
If you can, you’ll want to grab a table out on the upstairs balcony to enjoy the views of the street below (and let’s be honest, to people watch) but if there’s no space, the sports bar downstairs and courtyard both offer a perfect setting to enjoy beers, wine or whisky.
Dove & Olive
56 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, 2010
This multi-award-winning Surry Hills pub is easily one of the best in the area. There’s so much to shout about; a huge selection of rotating beers on tap, some of the best pub food in Surry Hills and a regular roster of events.
It’s a hugely inviting space and tucked away in the slightly quieter side of Surry Hills, but close enough to the action offered up by Sydney CBD. Quite simply a must-visit.
Royal Albert Hotel
140 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, 2010
If you like beer then you simply have to head to the Royal Albert Hotel. Despite being on the smaller side of pubs in Surry Hills, it has one of the, if not the, largest selection. Through a combination of tap beers and tins, there is quite literally a beer for everyone and you’re guaranteed to find something you’ve never tried before.
Those beers can be enjoyed alongside a selection of pies, burgers and curries, making this a truly comfortable place to pull up a pew.
The Keg & Brew
26 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, 2010
Another Surry Hills pub doing beer proud is The Keg & Brew. With no less than 51 taps pouring various beers across four levels, including a rooftop, it’s another fantastic pub to discover something new. The ground floor bar is where the beer drinkers and hell raisers will likely find themselves spending most of their time, however, as the middle floors are better-suited to those who want to enjoy a great pub feed.
Although, with a large-screen TV to be found on the rooftop showing the latest sport, coupled with fresh pizzas being slung out the oven and city views, we know where we’d like to be on a weekend.
Forresters
336 Riley Street, Surry Hills, 2010
Forresters is another Surry Hills pub that has been on the receiving end of a multi-million dollar makeover and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Regulars to Forresters of yesteryear will now find their favourite drinking hole has been sectioned off into four separate areas: the main ground floor pub bar complete with bar snack menu; The Art Room, which gives drinkers a quieter space to sip and savour their brews; Phylli’s to enjoy some food in a bright, welcoming space and an upstairs section for trivia and other events.
Situated just a short stroll up the hill from Keg & Brew, the Forresters adds even more weight to Surry Hills’ pub credentials.