Bar Century

The first rule of Bar Century is no Miley Cyrus on the jukebox. A long list of banned teen pop artists is pinned to a wall behind the bar, laying down the law lest you drink too many $3 beers and become suddenly inspired to burst into a

style songfest. Once a watering hole for ageing bikies and tight-arse teens, the Century still attracts the kind of clientele that don't care much for airs and graces, and these days is partly fed by the new backpacker's upstairs. The carpet might be greasy, the glasses unpolished and the bar staff so relaxed you have to wonder if they still have a pulse, but it retains a particular brand of character and coolness that can't be drawn up in a swanky business plan. Perched above Burger King on George Street, the venue's large windows suck in the atmosphere of Sydney's main drag. The windowsill is a great place to perch while mulling the day's wins and losses over a dirt-cheap Monteiths. Spirits also come cheap at $3 including mixer, though you may want to skip the vodka. Legend has it there's a bathtub out the back with a pile of distilling potatoes, where the next batch is brewing in all its nasty glory.