Sydney's best Happy hours
Get more beverage for your buck, seven days a week. By Emily Lloyd-Tait
Monday
The Clovelly Hotel
This bustling beach hotel is the perfect spot for sitting back and enjoying warm sun and cool ocean breezes of an afternoon, with local schooners at $3.50 from 4–6pm, Mon–Fri. 381 Clovelly Rd, Clovelly 2031. (02 96651214).
Darlo Bar
Monday to Saturday the Darlo gives you both $4 house beer and wine downstairs from 4–6pm and $9 cocktails upstairs 6-9pm. Cnr Darlinghurst Rd & Liverpool St, Darlinghurst 2010. (02 9331 3672).
The Duck and Swan
Hidden away from the Sydney uni crowds this often overlooked Chippendale pub provides a quiet spot where you can sit and gather your strength with a $4 schooner in the leafy courtyard on weekdays from 5.30–7pm. 74 Rose St, Chippendale 2008. (02 9319 4778).
The Porterhouse
Settle in on a Monday for $5 pints of Bulmers cider, $22 buckets of Corona and 20 per cent off the dinner menu. Local schooners are just $3.50 from 5–6pm too. 233 Riley St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9211 4454).
Tuesday
Cargo Lounge
Just another manic Monday? Tuesday blues got you out of sorts? Fortify your spirit with harbour views and something colourful from the $8 cocktail list after 5pm. 21 Lime St, Sydney 2000. (02 9262 1777).
Forresters Hotel
Few traditions fill the belly and the pocket alike, but the $5 pub steak does both and Forresters have revived this tasty institution to the joy of the iron depleted everywhere. Wash it down with $3 house drinks from 3-6pm weekdays. 336 Riley St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9211 2095).
The Australian Youth Hotel
The Aussie Youth is an upmarket hotel in a sea of local dives with a dark wood and sandstone public bar, a courtyard restaurant out back, and Nude cocktail lounge upstairs. But they haven't forgotten their roots and $5 pints, spirits and wine by the glass should have you feeling a little more NRL than Polo every day from 3–6pm. 63 Bay St, Glebe 2037. (029692 0414).
The Carlisle Castle
A true local with excellent food. From 3-5pm weekdays there are $3 schooners of local beer and house white and none of the self-conscious hipster posturing found in other Inner West establishments. 19 Albermarle St, Newtown 2042. (02 9557 4852).
The Sackville
The Sacky had a facelift and now boasts a genial air and a very solid food menu. Head in for some $3.50 schooners or a glass or two of $4 sparkling or house wine, Mon–Thu from 4–6pm. 599 Darling St, Rozelle 2039. (02 9555 7555).
Wednesday
The Australian
Although one of the few places that keeps it to the single hour, 5.30–6.30pm, the $3.50 marinated chicken wings and $3.50 fries alongside the $3.50 schooners is reason enough to get there on time. 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks 2000. (02 9247 2229).
Ruby L'Otel
This relatively new offering in Rozelle is about as family friendly as pubs get and is a great place to enjoy some pub cha or just unwind in the beer garden after a hard day's labour with 20 per cent off everything, Mon, Wed & Fri from 5–7pm. 68 Victoria Rd, Rozelle 2039. (02 9555 1900).
The Kurrajong Hotel
They don't come more local than the Kurrajong. Down the road from more trendy Erskineville pubs, this is a place to sit and not be bothered by anyone or anything while you enjoy your $3.50 local schooners on weekdays from 5–7pm. 106 Swanson St, Erskineville 2043. (02 9519 3609).
The Courthouse Hotel
In spite of its huge beer garden it can often be a little tricky finding some space in this haven for the Newtown masses – which is why we say get in early and take advantage of the daily 10am happy hour. Grab a $2.80 VB tinny or a local schooner and say "Hell to propriety!" 202 Australia St, Newtown 2042. (02 9519 8273).
Thursday
The Rose Hotel
Painted up like a Mexican whore, this colourful beer garden is an intimate spot for after-work drinks on a Thursday with two for one cocktails between 6pm and 8pm. 54 Cleveland St, Chippendale 2008. (02 9318 1133).
Martin Place Bar
Transport yourself to Venice with $5 all-day Bellinis on Thursdays, or go the two for one cocktails on Tuesdays and watch the city's financial set as they keep us out of recession and in the black. 51 Martin Pl, Sydney 2000. (02 9231 5575).
Arthouse Hotel
Join the suit parade as highflyers hustle their way into cheap sparkling, $3 a glass and $4 Heinekens for the final push to the weekend on Thursdays and Fridays from 5–8pm. 275 Pitt St, Sydney 2000. (02 9284 1200).
Friday
The Commodore
Head northside for $4 wine and $4 beer Fridays from 5.30–7.30pm. Happy! Hour! 206 Blues Point Rd, McMahons Point 2060. (02 9922 5098).
Blues Point Hotel
Another northern find, these guys feel that a Friday arvo deserves some celebrating, so pop those corks on the $3 sparkling 5–7pm. 116 Blues Point Rd, McMahons Point 2060. (02 9955 2675).
Verandah Bar
Providing one of the more generous happy hours (four hours on Fridays, 5–9pm) in the city, this is a great spot for after-work drinks with $5 Coronas and sparkling without the time pressure. 55 Elizabeth St, Sydney 2000. (02 9239 5888).
Slip Inn & Hotel CBD
Merivale's done us a solid with their 5 at 5 deals at most of their inner-city locations. Shake off the week and loosen your tie with $5 vodka with any non-Red Bull mixer, red white, sparkling or Heineken after 5pm on Fridays. Slip Inn, 111 Sussex St, Sydney 2000. (02 8295 9999). Hotel CBD, 75 York St, Sydney 2000. (02 8297 7000).
The Bald Rock Hotel
Do some good for others and yourself at the same time at this historic backwater pub with a $3.50 cold beer 3–6pm and a sausage sizzle with proceeds going to the Salvation Army. 17 Mansfield St. Rozelle 2039. (02 9818 4792).
The Greenwood
On a Friday evening the Greenwood is wrested back from the youth to provide hard-working types with much-needed liquid refreshment in the form of $4 house drinks 4–6pm. 36 Blue St, North Sydney 2060.
(02 9964 9477).
Saturday
Bondi Social
Get your Saturday started a little early with $5 Corona and Boags beer and $8 cocktails with your sweeping beach views from 4pm til 7pm on Saturdays. Lvl 1, 38 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach 2026. (93651788).
Sunday
The AB
If you're feeling a little delicate from last night's revelries ease your liver into the sober half of the week with a few afternoon cocktails (two for one for $12, 2.30–5.30pm), which will still have you home nice and early for work on Monday. 225 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe 2037. (02 9660 1417).
The Clock
If you are feeling that you still have some more weekend left in you then trade up and get top end at the Clock where all drinks are $5 after 5pm. 470 Crown St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9331 5333).
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