Chamberlain Hotel

Plenty going on at the C Bar - martinis 'n' manicures, $10 burgers plus a half-moon mega bar brimming with A1 booze. No wonder the theatre crowd luvvie it.

The humble but heritage-listed hotel by the name of The Chamberlain boasts honest pub grub with an upmarket twist, solid friendly service, accommodation steals for budget travellers and a dangerously well-stocked bar for the rest of us.

The Chamberlain tells the story of ever-changing Sydney: a much publicised revamp saw the C-Bar overhauled to reflect an ever more eclectic clientele and loyal patrons from yesterday now mingle with a younger, hipper crowd – most likely drawn by a show at the striking Capitol Theatre, a stone’s throw along Campbell Street.

The $10 burger and beer deal keeps the pleasant bistro busy, but the real punter-puller on an evening seems the giddy variety of themed nights: a selection seemingly to suit all tastes, these range from $20 Mai Tai jugs (Tuesdays), free manicures for the ladies (Thursdays), cheap Singha with your soccer (Fridays) and more… There’s a decent value drink-inspired deal every night (and often day) of the week.

The pub is dominated by a semi-circular bar, bristling with shiny taps and a healthy array of top brands. Behind this half-moon bar looms an enormous backlit amber panel, stretching from floor to ceiling – add a slightly lava-like artistic treatment and the whole thing glows like some kind of volcanic power source. Is beer not the only thing on tap here!?

It’s a colourful watering hole regardless: splashes of deep purple enliven the bar, while square multicolored ottomans are scatted around low tables. Pokies and plasmas are on site but squeezed well enough away for those who prefer well-oiled conversation.

Settled smack bang between the CBD, Surry Hills and Haymarket, the C-Bar is as good a pre-stager to a night at the theatre or a crawl through Chinatown as it is a lively spot for post-work banter.