This is one of those old man pubs that I really do like. Well, it probably has a lot to do with the…read morebalcony upstairs, which you could sit and pretty much watch the world go by, especially when the day happens to be one of those really nice days, as was the case when I happened to be here. Okay, they didn't have a huge selection of beers on tap, but sometimes I have come to expect that of places like this one. Yet, it was basically the upstairs area that really attracted me to this place, in particular the balcony, which was pretty quiet when I was there as well. I could have spend hours up there.

Everything about Gary Owen Hotel gives you the sense that you've stopped off here with your…read moregrandparents after a day at the trots. The downstairs decor is dingy, the lighting dull, the wireless radio is punching out the latest race results and the lady behind the bar is the same lady who sold you hot dogs down at the track earlier in the day. Everyone's holding a schooey of New/VB/Old (I asked for a schooner of cider. No deal.) and as the regulars roll in they're greeted by the patrons as if it's an episode of Cheers. At least this is the way the scene replays in my head. And I think most of it is true ... except that perhaps there were no wireless radio's held to ears, but instead plasma TVs showing the football. And I can't be certain that the bartender also sells hotdogs. But other than that, pretty spot on. "Upstairs is better," my friend told me excitedly, sensing my apprehension. "Just wait. You'll love it." So we made our way upstairs and, as it turned out, she was right. Kind of. Upstairs was better, but as for my loving it she was a little off the mark. The "vintage chic" she had described involved a couple of tattered tapestry couches reminiscent of my Pop's bowls partner's lounge room, and the faint mixed aromas of moth balls and beer followed us up the stairs and onto the balcony. Whilst I'm not going to be heading back there in a hurry, upstairs was a reasonably nice and quiet place to meet up with friends for a week night drink. The lady behind the bar was lovely and none of the patrons were too upset when we snagged the meat tray.

This is a fabulous hotel!…read more The rooms include: - Separate bedroom - Separate Bathroom - Living Room - Kitchen - Refridgerator - Work desk - Washer & Dryer There's a store called "Public Espresso" interconnected with the building on the ground floor. This is where you can get your coffee/tea/breakfast (not included). The hotel is modern and clean. They have their own garage parking if you needed it. This hotel is close to the airport. The ONLY thing missing is a rewards/loyalty program =) Giving this a 5-star review because I would most definitely come back.

Good location not far from the airport and only about 20 minutes from Sydney Darling Harbour. It…read morehas all the amenities of home it was very comfortable! There wS a gym and swimming pool as well as a restaurant right outside the lobby . They also offer a delivery service . Check in was easy and the rooms were very comfortable. I would definitely recommend this place and stay again .

Glebe is a very friendly hostel for long term residents and short term guest free BBQ on Thursdays,…read morefree breakfast all week not far from the city with bus stop right outside. Super friendly and cool staff!!!

From the owner: The Village Glebe is located in the beautiful and buzzy neighbourhood of Glebe. Our friendly hostel…read moreis spread across two charming Victorian- style buildings. Wander down Glebe's tree-lined streets, eat your heart out at the string of endless cafes, browse through trendy vintage stores or discover a quirky bar. Popular with students, musicians and artists, Glebe is the perfect place to mix in with the locals while being just a stone's throw away from the city! Darling Harbour, the CBD and all of Sydney's famous attractions are just a short bus ride away. Our social communal areas are the perfect place to meet fellow travelers. Chill out in our tranquil, leafy courtyards and enjoy our social outdoor dining areas. Cook up a hearty meal in our large communal kitchen, or start some friendly competition with a game of pool. Sit back with a movie in our comfy TV lounge and relax after a big day of sightseeing, before doing it all again tomorrow! With our schedule of weekly events including BBQ's and Movie Nights you'll never be bored. Our friendly staff will help you feel right at home, and we'll get your day started the right way with free breakfast provided everyday.

This pub was rather nice, particularly with its interior décor - that really nice shade of dark…read moreblue that covered the walls. It actually made the place somewhat pleasant and relaxing. It even has quite a nice beer garden out the back. However, there really wasn't a huge selection of beers, or at least none that really grabbed my attention. Well, not so much, but the staff were pretty friendly though, so I'll give it that.

I have to admit that the Merton was nicer than I'd anticipated…read more Despite its seemingly unfortunate location on Victoria Rd, the front dive bar was reasonably busy (although not a scratch on Ruby's, two doors up). A couple of guys on guitars and vocals were crooning by the door, surrounded by the Merton's usual suspects, and a couple of ladies sat talking over glasses of wine in the lounge. Whilst the restaurant was empty (it was around 10pm by this point) it looked nice enough - basic, reminiscent of a miniature Yamba Golf Club, and the menu is decent and inexpensive. The beer garden out the back is probably the nicest place in the pub. Resembling a resort pool-side deck, complete with white umbrellas, this section also hosts a pool table - a welcome addition. It's a pretty relaxed area that catches the sun during the day and is lit a little more intimately at night, making for a decent and quite place to meet up. The room itself is actually quite cosy, but with a large mirror taking up the far wall it looks far bigger than it actually is. The real hook here is that the beers and ciders are pretty cheap. And that's what matters, right?

I'm really not sure why I went for a walk around Drummoyne when I was last in Sydney - it's not…read morelike there was anything there that is worth seeing - however that was what I did. Anyway, on my trek I came across this pub and I have to say that it was pretty cool. Okay, it was around noon so it was pretty quiet but that generally suits me pretty well (especially when it comes to suburban pubs). Well, the first thing I checked out was the beer garden and it was pretty impressive. The main bar itself was also pretty nice, especially all the wooden panelling - it still had the charm of the old style pub. Okay, it had your typical sports bar and VIP lounge, but that is generally expected. Oh, there was also a room called the library which, as is expected, was a library, but it also contained a pool table - which was pretty cool in itself.

I used to love it here and go for dinner frequently but it does seem to have been going gradually…read moredownhill since new ownership. The staff are always friendly and welcoming but our recent dinner was far from good. It was flavourless. We asked for everything to come at once as we were only having an entree and side salad. Instead the side salads came out after the entree. It was a very odd eating experience. The salt and pepper squid had no spice what so ever, it was bland and the coating was doughy so all i could taste was raw flour. It was presented on a large, over dressed salad with the aioli over it making it soggy and to top it off, it was cold. The bread was hard and had only the merest whiff of garlic. Very disappointing..thank goodness the wine and company saved the evening. Quick update - having been through my receipts from the weekend, I have just noticed that we were not charged a handling fee when in the restaurant but when we went downstairs to the bar, I was charged 1%. Both payments were made with paypass / debit card and I absolutely was not told there was a surcharge for using my card in the bar. While I do not agree with businesses passing on merchant fees generally, at the very least, I expect if they do that they advise their patrons so they can make an informed decision on whether to use their card or use cash.....3 days on from my visit and even less happy. might be my local, but will not be returning (reduced rating from 2 to 1 star as a result of this)

I was in Sydney for business, and Circular Quay had been my cocoon. It's a bit hard for me to get…read moreout of this comfort zone unless there are solid reasons or motivation. This time, my old friend, who is a local, invited me to The Vic On The Park for dinner. Through the street filled with lots of Mom 'n Pops shops on Enmore Rd, I arrived at the destination. It looks like an ordinary pub, but it has a patio in the back and even a basketball court! Wasting no time, I ordered the Chicken Schnitzel and a pint of beer. They had a pretty extensive list of craft beer. The chicken schnitzel was a bit different from what I usually eat. It was covered with ham and smothered with tomato sauce, somewhat leaning toward Chicken Parmesan. I guess the breading makes it more Chicken Schnitzel than others? But besides this little fuss, it tasted as good as it looked. Juicy-Inside-Crispy-Outside was perfect despite being endangered of getting soggy by the tomato sauce. A bit of a stretch from where I usually stay, but it's definitely a great place to be with locals instead of tourists.

Woah! This pub was awesome. It doesn't look like much from the front, but wander out into the…read morecarpark and you will discover that they have converted it into a basketball court, and they have plenty of outdoor seating as well. But that wasn't the only thing that made this pub awesome, particularly since I don't play basketball. There was a good selection of craft beers, it wasn't all that crowded, and even better, there was some great works of art decorating the walls. It is a little hard to find, being in the backstreets, but it is an awesome pub nonetheless.

This was actually a pretty good pub. A hidden gem if you will. Yeah, it's not that easy to get to,…read morebeing hidden in the backstreets of Annandale, but I guess that is what I liked about it - it was out of the way, quiet, and rather relaxed. You could say that it is a local pub, but it is one of those local pubs that are pretty cool. Oh, and they had some nice beers on tap as well, which always grabs my attention.

I couldn't have been more wrong. There is no soul. There is no heart. There are just burgers and…read moresome year 12 graduates serving you at the bar. I weep for what it once was. Burgers are great, but they've ruined this venue beyond the pale.

If you're visiting Sydney or any of its peripheral neighborhoods, you should do yourselves a huge…read morefavor by staying at Bet's B&B. In addition to the beautiful interior design, the prime and central location near Sydney and public transportation stations, Bet's B&B offers many other things that other B&B's cannot offer. Firstly, Bet's B&B provides its visitors with literally everything that they might need while traveling: a full kitchen fully-stocked with breakfast provisions, a laundry machine and dryer, sofas, spacious cabinets, free WiFi, etc. While staying there, I never had to go shopping for anything, which allowed me to relax and better enjoy my trip. Next, unlike most B&Bs, Bet's B&B is located in a building unit separate from the owners' house. As privacy was of great importance to me, I was immediately drawn to Bet's B&B because I could come and go into the studio as I wanted, without worrying about any lack of privacy or about disturbing anyone else in the house. Staying in Bet's B&B Studio was almost as if I was staying at my own private house. Lastly, I have never experienced as warm of hospitality as I did while staying at Bet's B&B. The owners of the B&B, Bet and Keith, were quite possibly the sweetest couple that I have met, and they were incredible hosts. They really did whatever they could to make sure that my stay in Australia was completely perfect. I definitely would not have known where to go or where to see or how to get from place to place if it were not for their advice. You will not regret staying at Bet's B&B!

Let me begin by saying that Bet and Keith, the owners, are by far the sweetest, most hospitable…read morepeople that I've had the fortune to meet. They truly go the extra mile to ensure that your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, and I for one had the time of my life with them. From the very start, they made me feel like a part of their family or an old friend, or both. They are more than just hosts-- conversations with the two of them are both entertaining and enlightening, so definitely take advantage of the opportunity to get to know them. Moving on the B&B itself: the guest house is separated from the main house by an adorable courtyard. The separation gives a great sense of privacy, perfect for couples of all ages. It was constructed only a few years ago, and it has a modern feel-- definitely a step above a creaky old Victorian home that was my first impression of what a B&B traditionally is. The room comes complete with a private bathroom as well as a kitchenette. The entire facility is incredibly clean and cozy, but you should see for yourself! The location for the B&B is ideal for visitors who are intending to use public transportation, as it's only a block or two away from the nearest bus stop with service straight into the heart of downtown. I would suggest using public transit anyway-- if you have any questions, Bet and Keith will give you advice and assistance. Even if you have your own vehicle, I would suggest public transportation; that being said, there is parking available at the B&B if needed. There are restaurants within a 5 minute walk if you choose to spend an evening "closer to home" or if you want to grab a quick bite on your way into town, including a place with the most delicious Australian pies that I have ever eaten. I should mention that you are also within walking distance of the Anzac bridge, and this morning stroll is a beautiful way to start to the day-- I definitely suggest this if you have a free hour or so, or if you're a runner, as I am. If any of this has even slightly piqued your interest, send an inquiry and begin to set up your stay. You won't find this quality of accommodation anywhere else!