Harts Pub

Here's something you might not know: Harts Pub is built into the terrace houses Margaret Fulton (Australia's first lady of cooking) once occupied, where she wrote her first cookbook.

The pub is a bit of a disappointment, actually. They've gone a bit fancy - fake fires in the fireplaces, quotes about drinking all over the walls (yes, we can Google too). And a very funny smell - like cleaning chemicals and soap. Not to mention massive flat-screen televisions as far as the eye can see.

So it sounds like a bit of a sore thumb in the midst of so many great old Rocks pubs, right? Yes and no. What Harts Pub has going for it is the bones of a great old building and some really excellent local beers on tap from the Rocks Brewing Company.

Fiercely local, the Rocks Brewing Company is run by fifth and sixth generation convict descendants. Byrne's Red Ale, for instance, is named for Richard Byrne - patriotic Irish convict and bare-knuckle-boxer-cum-publican who once stole a ship and tried to sail it back to Ireland before getting caught and dragged back to the colony. Byrne eventually opened the Sail and Mermaid, which is commemorated with the Rocks Brewing Company's beer going by the same name.

At Harts, there are 12 beers on tap that rotate regularly, mixing it up between a number of the Rocks Brewing Company's beers, plus Murrays, Redoak and some further afield such as the Hunter Lager. And if you can't decide at all, get a tasting paddle and try all of them at once. Hey, we won't judge you (hic).