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Establishment

3.4 (44 reviews)
Open 7:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

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ESTABLISHMENT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Classy
Very loud
Happy hour specials

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Reviews With Photos

Sam S.

I have known this place right from the time it first opened its doors years ago and have ended up here on numerous occasions throughout the years. It used to be the place to be seen in the early days and, I think it lost a bit of glitz and, ended up being a place for people looking to pick up other people :-) It's a huge bar with a ton of seats around the whole bar and other spaces. There is a courtyard at the back and it has a nice ambience with high ceilings and so on. Not sure if it gets packed out like it used to but it was quite on a Monday night. The bar staff are friendly and quick to serve you and the drink choices are extensive. They have salsa nights here during the week and other such things to get patrons through the door. If you are in the city centre you might end up here or at one of the other trendy places nearby. I don't mind this place and have often been dragged in here with friends or colleagues after work for a drink or two.

Justine C.

This trendy establishment (no pun intended) on George Street (as you head towards the quay) is so popular that you need to (literally, I am not joking here) use the law of attraction to grab a great spot inside come after work drinks or on a Saturday night. The ambience would have you mistaken for thinking that you (no ego here) are hanging out at the Qantas domestic business class lounge at Sydney and Melbourne airports in some cases. It is simple, chic and oh so elegant. Merivale have done it again. Their cocktails also pack some punch. You have to be in the mood to be really social here; otherwise you might end up buying some McDonald's two shops down towards the quay; walk back towards the quay - and before you know it you will be on a bus or a train home in no time. The noise factor is wow its noisy; and the garden at the back (although it can look artificial at times) is a good reprieve from the noise, although you cannot escape it for too long. A sense of gratitude and thanks comes through as you feel sorry for those fellow human beings waiting (even as far as the nearby Commonwealth Bank) to come inside. A great locale for those work functions, and to watch the Melbourne cup there as well. One of Sydney's best bars.

Lydia A.

Elegant, tall, smart: all nouns to describe both the building and the people who frequent this George Street bar. Walking through the door, I instantly felt outsized and outnumbered. I was definitely the only person wearing jeans and the only person not with some smart office job. Still, it was a very cool place to come for a drink - crazy chandeliers that looked like dandelions hung the length of the room, and a combination of sofas, chairs and stools propped up the city slickers with their insatiable thirsts. I made a beeline for the Gin garden out the back, where the atmosphere was more relaxed. Cleverly, the garden had been given a large glass roof, to keep the heat in and the poo of errant pigeons out. Clever lighting made the garden atmospheric, but still light, with yet more dazzling chandeliers. The drinks menu was mind boggling - as well as about 15 Gin based cocktails, there was a selection of at least 30 types of Gin, and a choice of three house-made tonic waters. Wine also featured prominently. The barman was friendly and helpful, recommending different Gins that I should try and suggesting tonics to accompany them. Having bought two G&Ts for $21, I needed to sit down. Luckily there was plenty of space, and the seating was comfortable and well arranged. We ordered a plate of Turkish and dips to soak up the alcohol, and a generous portion arrived of deliciously charcoaled bread and some fabulous dips. After my initial worries, I did enjoy my drink here. It is a well-designed and funky place to come, but it certainly helps to be dressed smart and with a group of good looking and powerful people (it always does). Be prepared to spend quite a lot of money.

Chicken Pad Kling

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8 years ago

Best place ever on a Saturday afternoon at 3 pm. Almost empty and beautiful venue with delicious drinks.

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9 years ago

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10 years ago

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3
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86

11 years ago

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Page 2 of 2

Review Highlights - Establishment

I made a beeline for the Gin garden out the back, where the atmosphere was more relaxed.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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PJ Gallagher's Sports Bar & Bistro - Front of the hotel

PJ Gallagher's Sports Bar & Bistro

2.8(9 reviews)
1.0 kmSydney
$$

The Criterion, post PJs renos, is a standard faux-Irish pub slap bang in the middle of the city…read more(close to Town Hall). Being close to where I used to work, I'd frequent this place quite a bit, and before it was a PJs it was a mates fave city pub so we'd catch up over a few here from time to time. There's a pretty good mix of people in the street-level bar, and PJs have converted it into more of a sports bar so there are plenty of screens for the sports nuts to check out their favourite teams prospects. PJs typically have pretty good fare. In winter they have two absolute cracking dishes. The Guiness Pie with mushy peas, and their signature lamb shanks which is totally unctuous. Why such a modest score? Price kills the place. It's not one of the cheaper places to get a beer as someone incorrectly states in their tips, it's easily one of the most expensive places to get a beer. You're paying over the top prices for domestic tap beer. A cheap beer is $5 for a Coopers Pale Ale, which you can get on the same street about 200m up the road... Also... As much as I enjoy a good pokie section, this one ain't good. And by that I mean the clientelle. It brings in the undesireable types, and sours what is otherwise a sweet pub. The snug, the downstairs den, has a great looking bar, and "snug" seating, but it's kinda pointless down there. It doesn't feel snug, it feels stuffy and claustrophobic - and the bar has never been manned when I've been down there. Now, if they moved the pokies to the snug, and then opened up the entire bar at the street-level to include the room vacated by the pokie section, you'd have something. But why would they do that when they can get by with what they have.

I went for lunch here not too long ago and it was a great Irish pub. Rich Mahogany wood and a wide…read moreselection of beer on tap, with food selections that you'd find in most other Irish pubs. Being in the city, it can get quite busy very quickly and is a decently sized basement multi-storied pub. TV screens are usually are usually playing Fox sports or something similar. I order the Parmy, just to be on the the safe side. I wasn't too game to try the Pie which is supposed to be one of the best (as judged by Irish people I work with) around. The food is carefully prepared and you can tell the produce is quality and they've cooked it properly which some pubs sometimes struggle to do consistently... The chips were the standout side, crisp and crunchy! Definitely will be trying the stew or pie, that is if I'm brave enough to.

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PJ Gallagher's Sports Bar & Bistro - Guinness stew pie thing. SO MUCH YUM!

Guinness stew pie thing. SO MUCH YUM!

PJ Gallagher's Sports Bar & Bistro

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Establishment - venues - Updated May 2026

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