Bald Rock Hotel

Overlooking the industrial wasteland of White Bay between Rozelle and Balmain, the Bald Rock Hotel is as classic a pub as you can get: sandstone walls, pokie room and a half-covered courtyard full of mismatched furniture and rambunctious locals. The pub's blue-collar history (it was erected in 1876) gives it a particular charm, evoking memories of greased-up dockland workers, Saturday-night scuffles and boozy afternoons in the sun, the latter of which you can still enjoy today. The best time to visit Bald Rock is during the weekend, when the pub plays host to live blues and roots bands (Saturdays from 7.30pm) and jazz and folk outfits (Sundays from 6pm). Sample one of the ten beers on tap and line up for some old-school pub grub, which includes your usual burgers, salads and chicken parma as well as some more interesting choices like a hefty Chicken Mansfield and beef and Guinness pie. If that's not authentic enough for you, you can always try abiding by the pub's motto - "There are no strangers, just friends you haven't met yet" - by chatting to one of the friendly bar staff or the locals at the next table over.