Albion Place Hotel

Popular with the afternoon CBD office crowd, this is one of the nicer bars along the George Street strip, if only because it is among the newest. Having opened only a couple of months ago, the decor is clean and slick, though with the high volume of traffic and general muck of the city within spitting distance, it is hard to see it staying that way for long.

Downstairs has a distinctly masculine feel, with sport-ready plasmas, tall wooden benches and a hefty bar menu full of all the usual suspects - nachos, burgers, sausages and mash. Upstairs you'll find a slightly more refined cocktail lounge set-up bound to be more popular with the ladies. Squishy low couchettes, ‘pleatherish' seats and softer lighting make the second level a good place for a relaxed drink and a catch-up with friends, especially if you feel the need to escape the more boisterous crowd below. It's generally a lot quieter and has its own bar, so there's no need to keep trekking up and down the stairs. Later in the week you'll find the whole place heaving, particularly in the early evenings when it does a roaring trade just after clock-off time. The bar staff are adept at keeping things moving, so you shouldn't have to wait too long for your drink, though don't expect to find a seat in a hurry. On weekends, the place has a completely different feel. You're far more likely to find impromptu punters and couples on dates looking for a more upmarket place to squirrel away a quick drink before moving on.

With the cinemas close by, it's well-placed to catch the overspill of the emptying theatres as well. Drinks-wise, there's something here for everyone, with a careful selection of local and imported beer, a short but reasonable wine menu and an intriguing cocktail list - think kaffir lime leaf margaritas and tequila pear iced tea. Probably the greatest attraction would be the excellent list of specials set up to lure you in. Happy hour is every day from 4-6pm, Thursday is $8 cocktail night and for what must be the best-priced Belgian experience in Sydney, get your moules et frites (that's mussels and fries) with a glass of Hoegaarden for just $15 every Tuesday.

Whether this place will stand the test of time is yet to be seen, though if its early days are any indication, it's not going to go anywhere soon.