Top 5 Inner West Bars
So close to the city yet so far away, these inner west bars have got proximity and style.
By Myffy Rigby
1 Nude, Glebe
Park yourself near the fireplace on red velvet antique sofas or
leather furnishings under the ornate chandeliers accented by sheer
curtains. The old fashioned dark wood bar at the centre of this former
brothel is grand, but the little surrounding floor space makes getting
to it difficult – persevere, it’s worth the effort. And is there a
better bar in all of Sydney in which to have a chingwag? The music is
low enough to promote a bubbly level of conversation – except on
Thursdays when there’s an in-house DJ to ramp up the energy.
Nude 63 Bay St, Glebe 2037. (02 9692 0414 ).
2 Madame Fling Flong, Newtown
It’s Sydney actor Brendan Cowell’s favourite bar (he likes the chairs). They make a very drinkable Margarita, the tatty seats are half broken but very squishy and there’s Connect Four. In true Newtown style, they mix it up with vintage movie nights, Sunday afternoon music and cocktails to boot. Keep it simple with Campari and
sodas or gin and tonics and prop up the bar with a cheese plate. These guys have the monopoly on cool when it comes to drinking in the ’hood, but it’s a suburb that could stand to have a few more like it.
169 King St, Newtown 2042 (02 9565 2471).
3 The Welcome, Rozelle
A huge range of beers both bottled and on tap (our favourite is the soupy, rich Old Speckled Hen) and they are famed for their beef and Guinness pie. Get in quickly for that one: the weather’s turning a little too warm and cheery for pie eating. They often have bands and things but even if it’s a regular old evening it’s a great spot to settle in for a session of sweet, sweet beer drinking.
91 Evans St, Rozelle 2041 (02 9810 1323).
4 The Golden Barley, Marrickville
An excellent venue for trivia with the likes of $50 drink and food vouchers as well as CDs and DVDs to be given away. It’s also the bar where the gritty 1999 Aussie flick Erskineville Kings (starring Hugh Jackman) was filmed. With a bright, sunny beer garden (one of the few good ones left) featuring a barbecue area and actual grass, it’s a prime example of an inner west pub that’s resisted total renovation and benefited as a result.
167 Edgeware Rd, Enmore 2042(02 9565 1166).
5 Vanilla Room, Leichhardt
This awesome little place has been tastefully styled with moody
shades of red and a mesh wall doubling as a light box complete with
deliberately smashed light bulbs here and there. Cool. They’ve got
plenty of wine by the glass as well as some interesting straight
spirits like the Agwa de Bolivia which is a mix of coca leaf extract,
ginseng and guarana taken shot-style with a piece of lime. Very sweet
indeed, at $10
a pop.
Vanilla Room 153 Norton St, Leichhardt 2040. (02 9569 9411)