Sydney's best pub - Sydney Bar Awards 2011

The winner...

THE SHAKESPEARE

Forget the frocks and cocktails: this baby's about cold beer and tall tales, colourful characters and country charm. The Shakey, as it's affectionately known to locals, is a no-nonsense establishment with a less-is-less-is-more ethos and a classic pub menu. Don't like it? There are plenty of other pubs in the vicinity that'll serve up schmiddies with your change returned on a little tray (shudder). 200 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9319 6883).

The nominees...

THE CLARE

There's no shortage of places for a drink in Chippendale but the Clare Hotel has a charm that beats them all. Sure, they keep threatening to renovate the toilets (and they really need to), but better a Bohemian brasco than a charmless refit. This pub is one of those great examples of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it up in polished wood and chrome'. And how very happy we are about that, too. 20 Broadway, Ultimo 2007. (02 9211 2839).

THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL

This Newtown legend has one of the best beer gardens in town. They do you a ripper steak Diane, they pour legendary schooners (including their own Justice Irish red ale) and the jukebox, if you can get it to play, has an impressive range of Gunners and AC/DC. For our money, you'll find us in the front bar under the wobbly fan. 202 Australia St, Newtown 2042. (02 9519 8273).

THE OLD FITZROY

London-style pub theatre is unknown in Sydney except at the Old Fitzroy, where $35 will get you a beer, a bowl of laksa from the bistro and a professional theatre production. The front bar boasts a pair of buffalo horns and 11 beers on tap. Upstairs is where the real mischief happens: there's a supplementary bar with four brews on tap, a juke box, a pool table, couches and a balcony for the smokers. 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo 2010. (02 9356 3848).

HERO OF WATERLOO

The Hero is one of Sydney's oldest pubs, constructed using convict labour and built with hand-hewn Sydney sandstone. And the years have done little to diminish its charms. Come Saturday nights there are singalongs around an old piano, maintaining the romance of a bygone age where drunk punters were tipped down a trapdoor out back and awoke to find themselves enlisted in the Royal Navy. 81 Lower Fort St, Millers Point 2000. (02 9252 4553).

More Time Out Sydney Bar Awards 2011 coverage

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