Why doesn't Chatswood have any cool bars? Like, it's growing. Exploding, almost. Nobody but oil…read morebarons and foreign princes can afford property here now. But there's no small bars, and no late-night nightlife. Mike Baird, what have you done here? And why doesn't anyone know about it? Anyway, that's clearly a digression. This place bucks the no-bar trend, in fact it's the only place worth drinking in Chatty. (Chelsea Hotel and The Orchard are both soulless). It's *gasp* trendy, if I can say that and not sound like a dag. Probably too late for that. Ah well. There's craft beers you've never heard of and a thoughtful wine list and creative (and affordable!) cocktails and lots of different places to sit depending on whether you're on a date, a corporate lunch, or a catch-up with an old friend that likes playing pool. Magical trees covered in fairy lights welcome you, there's couches, and fun outdoor areas. Come. Drink. Liven Chatswood up with the sound of your laughter and Viking-like merry-making.

Good times great place. Highly recommended! The funky…read moreatmosphere is only topped by the yummy food.

They have happy hour but it's very unclear what the prices are and what's on it. It runs from 4-6p…read more The bartender said it's a gamble which ones come up. They were clear on beer though- the ones on either end- but I don't drink beer so I don't care. I ordered the Paraíso cocktail first, not on special, then a margarita, not on special also a glass of rosé wine also, not on special. The sign says- wine, beer, cocktails. The margarita was good but took 15 minutes, I think the one guy was newer and didn't know where things were. The staff was very pleasant but again, I only came because of happy hour and it being next door to my hotel.

Update 9 months later - went back for a specific night and ti see if anything had changed as the…read morelocations is convenient. This is the first time we have tried it again since the review below. Seems not much has changed and in fact has become more about what the manager wants rather than their patrons - you know, the people that put money in your POS. No real change to the wine list - dreadful options and very limited beer and alternate options downstairs. There is more upstairs but should I really have to walk upstairs every time I want to get a drink? The day we went, the sport on the TV is determined by what the manager wants to watch - even if the groups sitting in the area are all asking for a specific game. There was literally no one left sitting in front of the main screen, instead all huddled around a small screen inside. Broke up our group. Service rating down - this has NOTHING to do with the staff behind the bar who are delightful working the best they can with what they are given. This downgrade is purely a reflection of the service of the owners / managers and consideration of their patrons.

This was one of those places that I almost broke my rule of having at least one beer at any pub I…read morevisit for the first time, though I am not necessarily going to call this place a pub because that would be too nice. Yeah, if you could consider a place that only has pokie machines a casino then this is basically what this place is (and I believe that is the case in locals that happen to be overseas). Anyway, so that I feel comfortable letting people know what to expect when they come here, I decided that I would have one beer, and then go and find some place else to spend my time.

Are you a sucker for cheap drinks? Then this place is for you! Monkey Bar is established in…read moreChatswood CBD and is close to The Orchard and Chelsea Hotel Bar. Start the night off at Monkey Bar before bar hopping your way around Chatswood. The food at Monkey is of star quality and will be luring you back again for another feed. I love the fact that Monkey Bar is open until 3am from Monday- Saturday, a rarity nowadays! While the bar itself is a little on the seedy side, the cheap drinks and the delectable food sure make up for it. The frosted glass in the girls bathroom is a little off putting but after a few drinks you won't notice. The frosting barely shows anything, but at first its a bit daunting. Happy Hour starts at 5pm and ceases at 7pm. Schooners are attractively priced at $3.50 and with karaoke on Thursday evenings, it's bound to be a loose night. For those who can't get enough of Mexican food, Monkey Bar hosts an all-you-can-eat night on Thursdays. They also have functions for Christmas and Melbourne Cup. Poker nights occur on Wednesday's and is best savoured with a cheap drink or two! For a full list of weekly specials visit their website and click "menu". Champers at $2.50 on a Friday between 4-6pm is almost unbeatable in terms of price! The staff are also really talented at creative shots and cocktails.

Well, as far as Chatswood is concerned this place is okay. Then again there really isn't much to…read morechose from so I can't really complain. Sure, it's not that large, but it is large enough, though it does happen to be on the second floor. Actually, when I was here it was actually pretty crowded, so I did find it a little difficult finding a seat. However, there was a good selection of beers on tap, so I really can't complain all that much about it.

Lipstick on a Pig is what the Orchard Tavern's public bar should be called…read more And this ain't no Babe... Bloaty from Pizza Hog springs to mind. This used to be a rough and tumble, don't bring your real teeth with you, argy bargy worker pub back in the day --- and quite frankly nothing's changed. Well the decor has. Sure it looks nicer inside, but really they haven't attempted to shift the clientelle to their new look (I was in there after all ha!) The Orchard has large pointless areas, like their pool room which is about as sterile as Royal North Shore, Ward 3. They also have a large bank of TAB monitors which dominate the presence of the place. Hence they attract that unsavoury element by having them *in* rather than *adjacent to* the public bar. They do offer food, and it is generally quite good, but after half a dozen bowls of loudmouth soup, everything tastes good (even 3 month old Mrs Macs pies from 7-eleven or those nukeable cheeseburgers) so it's a little more difficult to gauge the restaurant. I'll let someone else give that a stab. In terms of the atmoshpere unless you are there to drink yourself stupid whilst punting on the tab; or getting a few cheapies in before heading somewhere else; I wouldn't bother going. If you are looking for a fun time, you'll probably find it elsewhere methinks. There's better places to chill in Chatswood, so why was I at the Orchard? Convenience, and post German beer hall, friendlier to the wallet and the liver, but ultimately I ended up somewhere else.

Great spot for breakfast; nice vibe, good coffees, tasty food and high chairs…read more We headed up here for an early breakfast in winter on a Monday morning. We had our 10 month old in tow and it was surprisingly great. We ordered 2 coffees, plus the avocado with tomato and fetta and just eggs on toast. Prices are reasonable (approx $12 a meal) and the service was lovely. Lots of delicious looking pastries and sweets and the coffee was good. For an out of the way spot in NB, there was a steady takeaway coffee crowd so we weren't the only ones that liked it. That they have high chairs is a massive win in our book and makes breakfast so much easier with a little guy. For winter, there are quite a few tables inside which is nice.

The best gin bar in Sydney as far as I'm concerned. The flights are amazing, the cocktails…read moredelicious, and the staff actually know what they're talking about. Haven't eaten here but the food looked wonderful too. Cafe during the day and gin bar at night - perfect plan!

Their bento are pretty good. Considering it's Chatswood, their price can be considered cheap and…read morecheerful. I and my friend ordered a bento each - mine was a deep-friend pork one (typcial) and hers was non-fried of the same variety. The pork was freshly-fried and the serving was generous. Taste-wise it was pretty good - and once again for the price, I was pretty happy with it.

Fantastic variety of dishes. Many of the Taiwanese night market dish including the steak set…read moredinner and Taiwanese beef noodle. There pork rice ia great. Also you get 1 free pearl milk tea when you buy one. Good for a "catch up" taiwanese taste. I do wish the place is a bit bigger.

Although I have never claimed to be good at it, I love setting people up. My thought process never…read moregoes further than "he's pretty, she's pretty, they should go home and stare at each other." Needless to say I have never had a success. I'm somewhat comforted to see that this isn't an exact science for anyone else either. Which is why I got to witness a most awkward set up with couple voted "least likely to hit it off". Thankfully this all went down at Foxtrot Inn, that wonderful small bar in Crows Nest that I always forget about because it is nowhere near anything (except Lynn's Fortuna Court - the original old-school Chinese restaurant). No one else knows it's here either. On a Friday evening it's pretty quiet. Foxtrot has everything you could ask for in a small bar. The maze-like layout means there is something to discover around every corner. The drinks and cocktail selection is extensive and the food menu is pretty good. Did I mention the condiments? Oh the condiments! Tabasco, Cholula and that white rhino of condiments Frank's Red Hot. Delightful.

Pretty cool bar with a nice open air upstairs area. Food is quite nice (truffle fries were…read moredelicious) but a bit pricey. Friendly service. Nice cozy interior with cool looking lounge area. Extensive cocktail list, but limited tap beers (one of them was very good, I think it was a pale ale) Limited space upstairs, but has a nice ambiance if you can get a spot.

The first time I've ever tried a veggie burger that reminded me of a fish taco happened while I…read moredined at The Hayberry in Crows Nest, Sydney, and boy, was I thrilled. The Vego ($15AUD) patty is made with mixed bean, corn and coriander, and topped with citrus rocket, tomato and jalapeño mayo, and this monster of a sandwich had me reminiscing being on the Rocky Point beach. The burger wasn't the only stellar reason why this bar and restaurant made me happy. Head through the dimly lit pub area to the back of the restaurant to discover a fresh air patio filled with lots of natural light and quirky decorations. It's relaxed and will make you feel right at home. Back to the food. I was so excited to try the waffle fries that usually come with the burgers and sandwiches, but unfortunately, the fryer was down -- or "f*cked," as a humorous sign pointed out. The restaurant compensated for the lack of fried potatoes by giving us complimentary chips and guacamole, normally $10. The portion was plentiful and would be a great appetizer option, and the guac was creamy and sprinkled with some heat. For those in Australia hankering for Mexican or American food, The Hayberry is a great choice because of its wide selection of tacos, fajitas, buffalo wings and burgers. Service was super-friendly, and the casual atmosphere makes it a top-notch place to stop for after-work drinks and bites, as I did, or to meet a big groups, since there are lots of spacious tables to spread out on. The cocktail menu is also fun, as it offers margaritas and fruity drinks with fresh juice. It quickly became one of my favorite places I've checked out since I've been in Sydney.

Just like that Natalie Imbruglia song (remember her?), I'm Torn. Because this place rocks socks,…read moreit's like someone bundled up a little slice of Slurry and deposited it right in the middle of the Crows Nest Eat Street that has lots of delicious but has sorely, sorely been lacking the cool factor, and in fact still has nowhere near enough. The Hayberry has tons going for it. I rocked a bad-ass burger, The Classic ($15), and it was the nit's tits, juicy and cheezy and the bun melded with the patty and made sweet sweet love to it without becoming soggy or break-y and man it was just dope, the waffle fries were great too. The $10 pints of Angry Man Pale Ale hit the spot, and the vibe was dark and dingy and smoky without being, y'know, actually smoky because that's illegal, anyway my point is it's a damn fun place. BUT. And here comes the bad. The glassie working tonight was the pits. Since we're talking songs, y'know that Kendrick Lamar song "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe"? Well this guy did that, hard. I asked if there was a menu I could look at and he shrugged and said all testy-like "They're all out on the floor" and stalked away with his tank top and his rib rattoo. Super helpful, thanks friend! Soon after we found a seat at the side of the bar and this same guy saw me waiting to order and snapped "Ya won't get served there mate. It doesn't have a bar mat, you'll only get served where there's a bar mat." Oh good, thank you, you've been wonderful. Guy needs to find a new industry because he sucks at customer service, really put a downer on what was an otherwise great night. Should also mention the rest of the staff were awesome, so props to them.