East Village

The East Village has always been an almost-but-not-quite-there pub. They’ve been good when it comes to cheap meals, decent booze both on tap and on the shelf and a great range of tequila, but never really felt like somewhere you’d want to stay for more than one beer. But that’s all changed now brothers Dylan and Justin Fairweather have taken it over and renamed it. The Village is now just about the most un-pubby pub in the east. Want a pub you can take your mum to? This is it. The inside has been gutted so the room is flooded with light; there are fresh-cut flowers on all the tables and, to our enormous joy, cold tinnies of Tsing Tao behind the bar. The Village has drastically reduced what’s on the top spirits shelf but their beer selection is excellent (and really, if you want great spirits, head to Eau de Vie, Shady Pines or Duke). While there’s a big, beautiful roof bar that affords you views of the city, it’s more often than not booked for private parties and functions. But there’s nothing stopping you from doing the same thing and booking the space for a summer drinking session. The Village is a pub you can settle down with – it’s the perfect marriage of airy, inner-east chic amid the bones of a great old pub.