Pubs & beer gardens Sydney
Sandstone pubs older than the Harbour Bridge, beer gardens under giant trees and harbourside lawns. These are the best pubs in Sydney for a proper schooner.
The best pubs in Sydney include the historic Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, Fortune of War and Hero of Waterloo in The Rocks. For the best beer gardens, head to The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay, The Oaks in Neutral Bay, Coogee Bay Hotel or Watsons Bay Hotel.
| # | Pick | Why it's here | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel | Best historic pub | Millers Point, The Rocks |
| 02 | Fortune of War | Oldest-pub contender | The Rocks |
| 03 | Hero of Waterloo | Best for ghost stories | Millers Point, The Rocks |
| 04 | Harts Pub | Best craft beer in The Rocks | The Rocks |
| 05 | The Golden Sheaf | Best beer garden in the east | Double Bay |
| 06 | The Oaks Hotel | Best beer garden on the North Shore | Neutral Bay |
| 07 | Coogee Bay Hotel | Best beach pub | Coogee |
| 08 | Watsons Bay Hotel | Best harbour-view beer garden | Watsons Bay |
| 09 | The Henson | Best Inner West local | Marrickville |
Sandstone pub & on-site brewery
A three-storey sandstone pub on the NSW State Heritage Register at 19 Kent Street, Millers Point. It bills itself as Sydney's oldest continually licensed hotel and the home of Australia's oldest pub brewery, so order whatever's brewed on site. There's a Sunday roast and rooms to stay.
Photo: Fortune of WarThe Rocks pub, pouring since 1828
Pouring pints on George Street since 1828, the Fortune of War calls itself Sydney's oldest pub. Live music runs Wednesday to Sunday, and the alfresco Hamper Bar has a glimpse of the Harbour Bridge. Bistro 1828 takes bookings.
Photo: Hero of WaterlooConvict-built pub, est. 1843
A convict-built sandstone pub from 1843 at 81 Lower Fort Street, famous for its cellar and secret tunnel; ask about cellar tours. House bands play jazz, soul and R&B each weekend.
Photo: Harts PubAll-Australian craft beer in a heritage building
On the corner of Essex and Gloucester streets since 2009, Harts pours an all-Australian line-up across 12 rotating taps from a heritage-listed building. A good place to try local brewers you haven't met yet.
Photo: The Golden SheafDouble Bay pub with a fig-tree beer garden
A heritage-listed Double Bay institution where the beer garden sits beneath an 80-year-old fig tree. There are cocktails on the rooftop, and live music and DJs every weekend.
Photo: The Oaks HotelNeutral Bay pub built around an oak tree
A Military Road landmark known for its beer garden shaded by a big old oak tree, as well as steaks, craft beer and a sports bar. It's a North Shore meeting point on a summer evening.
Photo: Coogee Bay HotelBeachside pub since 1873
Across the road from Coogee Beach since 1873, with a big open-air beer garden (The Garden), a sports bar, a beach bar and dining, and rooms upstairs.
Photo: Watsons Bay HotelHarbourside beer garden at Watsons Bay
Right on the water at 10 Marine Parade, with sweeping harbour views from the Beach Club bar, the Top Deck and its outdoor tables. Make a day of it: walk to South Head, then settle in for sunset.
Photo: The HensonMarrickville local with a leafy beer garden
The Henson Park Hotel on Illawarra Road is the Inner West's idea of a perfect local: a public bar, a family-friendly bistro and a leafy beer garden. On Fridays the kids' menu is 2-for-1 from 3pm to 6pm.
Four of our picks are within a short, slightly uphill walk of each other. Start at Fortune of War on George Street, wander up to Harts on Essex Street, then cross into Millers Point for the Hero of Waterloo and finish at the Lord Nelson. Both the Fortune of War and the Lord Nelson claim the title of Sydney's oldest pub, so you can make up your own mind.
Want a view with your pint? The Glenmore's rooftop is just around the corner; see our best rooftop bars. For cocktails, see our best bars in Sydney.
Opening hours, menus and offers change, so check the venue's own site before you go. Listings were fact-checked against official sources in October 2026.
For history, the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel in Millers Point brews its own beer in a heritage-listed sandstone building. For a beer garden, The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay and Watsons Bay Hotel are hard to beat.
It's disputed. The Fortune of War on George Street says it has poured pints since 1828 and calls itself Sydney's oldest pub, while the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel calls itself Sydney's oldest continually licensed hotel. Both are in The Rocks.
Our picks for the best beer gardens in Sydney are The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay (under an 80-year-old fig tree), The Oaks in Neutral Bay, Coogee Bay Hotel, Watsons Bay Hotel and The Henson in Marrickville.
The Rocks has the best historic pubs in Sydney: the Fortune of War (1828), the Hero of Waterloo (1843), the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel and Harts Pub, all within walking distance of each other.
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