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Sydney’s Best Pub Food for Elevated Eats
Sydney's pubs are serving up some of the best food in town. Get amongst it with this edit of the best pub food in Sydney.
Believe it or not, Sydney’s pubs are serving some of the city’s most elevated comfort food, from the wagyu cheeseburgers and duck croquettes at The Old Fitzroy Hotel in Woolloomooloo to the dry-aged steaks and chargrilled pork chop at The Montague in Marrickville. Add in harbourside dining at Hotel Palisade in Millers Point and Cali-style pizza at Harbord Hotel on the Northern Beaches, and we reckon we’re pretty spoiled for choice.
The next time you’re hankering for some good old-fashioned pub grub or fancy a modern spin on traditional fare, choose from our edit of the best pub food in Sydney.
In This Guide:
Best Pub Food in the Eastern Suburbs and Paddington
The Beekeeper
Bondi has a brand-new British pub, and it’s already buzzing. The Beekeeper brings a charming slice of the UK to the seaside, blending classic pub nostalgia with a polished, coastal Sydney feel. Expect perfectly poured pints, elevated pub plates, and all the cosy, wood-toned warmth you want from a neighbourhood local.
Whether you’re settling in for a Sunday roast, grabbing a cheeky pint after the beach, or meeting mates for a midweek feed, The Beekeeper is shaping up to be Bondi’s new go-to. Plus, if you’re a UK expat, it feels like a little slice of home.
Suburb: Bondi Beach
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining, Weekend plans
Royal Hotel Paddington
A heritage pub with a beautiful open-air rooftop, the Royal Hotel has broad appeal. The menu focuses on shared plates, pub classics and contemporary seasonal dishes. To share, we suggest the parmesan and truffle fries, from the mains, take your pick from the classics like the beef burger, southern fried chicken burger, eye fillet and schnitzel.
Suburb: Paddington
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining, Outdoor dining
Best Pub Food in the Inner West
The Montague
The Montague, known as The Monty to locals, is Sydney’s latest addition to the pub scene. A modern take on the classic Aussie pub, this newly renovated space is decked out with warm interiors that make you feel right at home from the minute you walk in.
With a menu of all the classics: schnitties, parmis, and dry-aged steaks, as well as some modern additions including charred chilli prawns, tuna tartare, and a standout chargrilled pork chop, it’s the kind of place you can come for a low-key feed or something a little extra.
Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Date night, Group dining
Vic on the Park
Aside from the drawcard of being an extra dog-friendly pub and boasting a basketball court, Vic on the Park also nails classic pub dishes. They’ve got an excellent rotisserie and charcoal grill menu alongside a selection of small plates and burgers. Arguably best of all, there are also toasties available every night until close and a late-night menu available ’till 1am Friday to Saturday so you’ll never need to head home hungry again!
Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Dog-friendly, Late night, Group dining
Need To Know: Late-night menu available until 1am Friday and Saturday.
The Lucky Prawn
The Lucky Prawn is a retro Australian-Chinese bistro located within the Iconic Bob Hawke’s Leisure Centre in Marrickville. If you’re craving Aussie 80s Chinese made well (who isn’t?!), this is the place for you. The prawn toast is some of the best we’ve ever tasted and the crab omelette and mango pud are out of this world. Do yourself a solid and order Bob’s Banquet at $55 a head for one of the best value meals you’ll ever have.
Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Chinese
Best For: Group dining
Public House Petersham
If it’s a sunny beer garden you love, Public House Petersham will deliver. The menu here is focused on pub classics and fresh woodfired pizza – the perfect accompaniment to a craft brew or natural wine. Our pick? The chilli prawn pizza is calling our name.
Suburb: Petersham
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Outdoor dining
The Erskineville Hotel
More affectionately known as The Erko, this is a pub with character. The Erko is known for its elevated pub classics, and the beer garden is the perfect place to tuck into some panko-crumbed schnitty. The menu has been fine-tuned over the years, but they’ve stuck to tradition and still have fish & chips, striploin, lamb shanks and burgers.
The Erko (The Erskineville Hotel)
Suburb: Erskineville
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Locals
Best Pub Food in the City and Surry Hills
The Bat & Ball
After a mighty refresh in 2024, The Bat & Ball has returned but it hasn’t lost any of its warmth or neighbourhood pub vibes. The classic pub dishes are simple yet comforting and cover the likes of burgers, fish & chips, shnittys and roasts. And for dessert? Think choc tops and neenish tarts.
Suburb: Sydney
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group Dining, Weekend Plans
The Dolphin Hotel
A classic Australian pub with a few modern tweaks, The Dolphin is your first port of call for Italian-style pub food. The menu excites the palate with delectable antipasti share plates, chicken cacciatore, spaghetti with blue swimmer crab, and perfectly crispy wood-fired pizzas.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Group Dining, Weekend Plans
Dove & Olive
Delicious and inventive pub grub paired with craft beer is the Dove and Olive’s style. With an extensive menu of classics and Southern favourites, it is hard to narrow down the options. We suggest the Braised Beef & Stout Pie. And when it comes to drink options, Dove & Olive have you covered with their beer pairing suggestions for each item on the menu.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Gastropub
Best For: Group dining
Forrester’s
Purveyors of Sydney’s iconic giant Yorkie, it would be remiss not to include Forrester’s here. The all-Aussie menu champions wholesome fare and pub classics. Paired with Aussie brews, and NSW and Australian wines, it’s local love all around.
Suburb: Sydney
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Locals
Best Pub Food with Harbour Views
Woolwich Pier Hotel
This upscale pub has been a Woolwich stalwart for years and continues to deliver delicious pub fare. Boasting views of the harbour and Cockatoo Island, Woolwich Pier Hotel is a favourite with locals with their nightly specials (steaks, pies, schnitty and parmy all get a go) as well as their elevated dishes. Lobster spaghetti, lamb shank pie and porchetta are just a few of the options on offer.
Suburb: Woolwich
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Special occasion
Hotel Palisade
Hotel Palisade serves up a pub dining experience like no other. Panoramic harbour views and beautiful interiors that hark back to Sydney’s nautical and industrial heritage are the perfect backdrop to upmarket dishes such as braised lamb, mussel linguine, and glazed Korean barramundi.
Suburb: Millers Point
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Special occasion
The Glenmore Hotel
This Rocks oldie has some of the best harbour views and a retractable roof! Their gourmet pub grub will satiate all cravings as they live and breathe the mantra, ‘classic pub food with a twist’. To satisfy your comfort food cravings, take a bite into their classic pub food dishes like the salt and pepper squid or red wine braised lamb shanks. Delicious!
Suburb: The Rocks
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining
Best Pub Food on the Northern Beaches
Harbord Hotel
Fancy taking a holiday without driving out of Sydney? This Northern Beaches favourite is serving California cool. Harbord Hotel is all about elevated pub grub so you can expect the likes of hand-crumbed schnitzel, Cali-style pizza, burgers, snacks and a grill menu. They’ve also got plenty of craft beers for you to sample and a decent range of wines by the glass.
Suburb: Freshwater
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Wine lovers
The Newport
A Northern Beaches favourite, this outdoor bar-slash-restaurant takes an alternative take to classic pub food with an alfresco marketplace situation going on. You can choose to order your food from a variety of outlets, including wood-fired pizza, American-style burgers, fresh seafood and hearty mains from their classics menu. Enjoy the sprawling water views from the expansive deck as you chow down on your favourite dish.
Suburb: Newport
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining, Outdoor dining
Best Pub Food Near Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo
Penny’s Hotel
Revamped and renewed, Penny’s is located just minutes from Kings Cross station. The menu is refreshingly diverse with plenty of options for vegetarians. Expect all the classics, including steaks fresh from the grill, alongside a pizza menu and some fun twists on your standard pub meals. The chana split chickpea dhal is killer.
Suburb: Potts Point
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Vegetarian
The Old Fitzroy Hotel
This Sydney gem offers more than just good food. It’s also a theatre that plays host to a packed schedule of events. As for the delicious menu you can expect a unique blend of British and French fare. You’ve got the option of the pub for more casual bites (think duck croquettes, gnocchi and wagyu cheeseburgers) or the bistro for something a little jazzier.
Sitchu Tip: Not sure what to pick? The banquet menu is a delight.
Suburb: Woolloomooloo
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: French
Best For: Group dining
Frequently Asked Questions about Sydney’s Best Pub Food
Sydney’s best pub food spans everything from classic schnitzels and parmigianas to more elevated fare. The Old Fitzroy Hotel in Woolloomooloo blends British and French influences with dishes like duck croquettes and wagyu cheeseburgers, while The Montague in Marrickville pairs dry-aged steaks with modern additions like tuna tartare. For water views alongside your meal, Hotel Palisade in Millers Point serves braised lamb and glazed Korean barramundi with panoramic harbour outlooks. Each offers a different take on the pub classic, from traditional comfort food to contemporary reinvention.
Vic on the Park in Marrickville is a standout for its dog-friendly beer garden and basketball court, with a rotisserie and charcoal grill menu plus a late-night toastie service running until 1am on weekends. Public House Petersham is another strong option, known for its sunny beer garden paired with fresh woodfired pizza, best enjoyed with a craft brew or natural wine. Both are set up for long, relaxed sessions outdoors rather than a quick in-and-out meal.
Hotel Palisade in Millers Point and The Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks both pair upmarket pub dishes with genuine harbour outlooks. Hotel Palisade’s menu includes braised lamb and mussel linguine against a backdrop of Sydney’s nautical heritage, while The Glenmore Hotel has a retractable roof and dishes like salt and pepper squid and red wine braised lamb shanks. Woolwich Pier Hotel is a third option, with views of Cockatoo Island and dishes ranging from nightly specials to lobster spaghetti.
Several venues on this list suit a broader group booking rather than a strictly adult crowd, including Royal Hotel Paddington with its open-air rooftop and shared plates menu, and Harbord Hotel on the Northern Beaches with its casual grill and pizza menu. Vic on the Park in Marrickville is also worth considering for groups given its relaxed, dog-friendly setup and rotisserie menu, though it’s worth checking directly with each venue on specific family or child policies before booking.
The Beekeeper in Bondi Beach is positioned around a British pub sensibility, including a Sunday roast as part of its offering alongside classic pints and elevated pub plates. Its coastal Sydney setting gives it a different feel to a traditional British boozer while keeping the same comfort food focus. For UK expats in particular, it’s noted as a taste of home, making it a strong pick if a proper Sunday roast is the specific craving.
Loved this edit of Sydney’s best pub food and on the hunt for a few more pubs to hit up? Check out our edit of the best pubs in the CBD and the best pubs on the North Shore.
