Best pubs with fireplaces

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel

The Rocks

Sydney's oldest continually licensed hotel, the Nelson is convict-mined sandstone walls built around a roaring hearth and microbrewery. Pick up a ploughman's lunch and one of six award-winning ales brewed on premises and get settled.

3 Weeds

Rozelle

You could easily while away a day among the many nooks and crannies of Rozelle's 3 Weeds Hotel. The pub has gone the same way as the suburb itself and been gentrified to the hilt, but we can't think of many better places to hole up than beside the glorious blazer best viewed with a tap beer in hand and sofa below.

The Hotel Steyne

Manly

Forget everything you think you know about the Steyne. With a snazzy new facelift the troublesome hot spot has done a swift 180 and it looks like smooth sailing from here on in. On a blustery day take shelter in one of the window booths, toast your feet by the fireside and just watch the breakers roll in.

Terrey Hills Tavern

Terrey Hills

The sprawling Terrey Hills Tavern boasts two indoor fireplaces, plus a raging outdoor firepit that will keep the winter chill at bay. They have an enormous bistro menu to warm you from the inside and if you are willing to brave the outdoors there's a schmick beer garden, complete with water feature.

The Lord Dudley

Woollahra

Enter the warmth of the Lounge Bar and you'll find an enormous fireplace roaring a welcome. Many a romance has blossomed here (including for heavyweight icon Les Darcy, who worked as a barman here while wooing the licencee's daughter). 

The Old Fitzroy Hotel

Woolloomooloo

The Fitz has considerably more uses than your average pub. The joint houses an in-demand theatre space plus there's a fireplace, a pool table, and some of the nicest bar staff in the city. They also host short film nights, trivia competitions and live music. What's not to love?

Cricketers Arms Hotel

Surry Hills

Cosy and rustic, cheap and chic – this Slurry Hills icon is the perfect place to grab a scotch or sparkling ale and while away a rainy arvo by the fire watching the footy and digging into tapas with a flatulent labrador dozing at your feet. You'll want to head there midweek for some fireside action because Fridays and Saturdays are no fire days, probably to prevent people getting singed during the weekend rush.

The Bucket List Bar and Eatery

Bondi

With the mercury rapidly dropping with every passing day, the Bucket List has started to stoke the fireplace in the dining room. Head here for a Sunday roast with some of the best views of Bondi Beach in town.

The Toxteth Hotel

Glebe

The old Glebe local has had quite the facelift and if it is too chilly to be sitting in the rather lovely new beer garden, head indoors and settle in next to the fire with a big bucket of buffalo wings or maybe some soup.

Hero of Waterloo

The Rocks

There's few pubs in Sydney we'd want to hole up in more than the Hero. Somehow, you just lose track of time here. It's probably something to do with the low ceilings, Sydney cut-sandstone walls, open fireplace and cold beers from clean lines. Simple pleasures.

Alexandria Hotel

Alexandria

During the summer months the beer garden is packed, but once the winter chill sets in the prime real estate is found in the small anteroom with the open fireplace and comfy couches facing the big screen TV mounted on the wall.

The Riverview Hotel

Balmain

A lovely old neighbourhood public house in the quiet backstreets of Balmain, the Riverview is gussied up in the style of a classic British gastro pub, its bright red doors holding the promise of a good feed and a few tall tales at the matching red-tiled bar or by the open fireplace.

PJ Gallagher's

Drummoyne

With its dark floorboards, brass trims and fireside leather couches, PJ conjures the hearty spirit of Oirish taverns and then some. Throw in grand pub grub, Guinness and Kilkenny on tap and harbour views and your eyes will be sparkling too.