Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle

Best Surry Hills Bars for Catch Ups & Date Nights (2025)

By Rian Howlett - Guide

Published: 23 Jul 2023|Last Updated: 17 Aug 2025

Readtime: 13 min

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Surry Hills is packed with the best bars, whether you’re chasing wine gardens, hidden whisky spots or a late-night party. Grab cocktails and gnocchi at Vasco, work through the rotating taps at Bitter Phew, or hit Tokyo Bird for Japanese whisky and yakitori. After wine? The Winery and Wyno Bar & Shop have you sorted. If you’d rather dance, The Soda Factory and Goros bring the tunes and party vibes. Here’s our round-up of the best Surry Hills bars for any occasion, from a quick catch-up with mates to a first date.

Best Surry Hills Bars at a Glance

Best for wine: The Winery
Best for dancing: Soda Factory
Best for cocktails: Vasco
Best for food: Mille Vini Wine Bar & Restaurant
Best for groups: Keg & Brew
Best dog-friendly bars: The Carrington
Best late-night spot: Low 302

What Are the Best Surry Hills Bars Right Now?

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Vasco

1. Vasco

Want Gnocchi and cocktails? Vasco has you covered. A rock n roll inspired Italian feasting joint, Vasco combines old school charm with an entirely contemporary class. A far cry from the world of Prisencolinensinainciusol, they’re authentic in everything they do. Expect to be rolled out in carb overload heaven.

Address: 421 Cleveland St, Surry Hills
Phone: 0468 574 438
Hours: Wed-Fri 5pm-11.30pm, Sat 12-11.30pm, Sun 5-9pm

Vasco

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Tokyo Bird

2. Tokyo Bird

Tokyo Bird is a good time in a small package. An unbeatable whisky list with some Japanese favourites you’ll find nowhere else, great beers, and Yakitori. What else could you need? For the uninitiated, Yakiori (Grilled bird) is a Japanese way of serving meats skewered and charcoaled. It’s a Japanese BBQ, and so much more.

Address: Commonwealth St &, Belmore Ln, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 8880 9971
Hours: Mon – Wed 4 – 11pm, Thurs 4 – 11:30pm, Fri – Sat 4pm – 12am

Tokyo Bird

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle The Wild Rover

3. The Rover

Exposed brick surrounds you, an Irish lilt tickles your ear, you’re in a warm comfortable booth and don’t quite know how you got there. Chances are, you’ve stumbled into The Wild Rover. Not feeling the need to overcomplicate, there’s a one-page menu with cocktails and sausage rolls. Pop in asking “what’s the craic” with your best Irish brogue to get roasted by the bar staff.

Address: 75 Campbell St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9280 2235
Hours: Mon – Fri 4pm – 12am, Sat 3pm-12am

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Tio’s Cerveceria

4. Tio’s Cerveceria

Tio’s Cerveceria (Spanish for Uncle’s Brewery) is the Virgin Mary x Margarita collab you didn’t know you needed. An awesomely steezy set up combined with some of the wildest iconographies you’ll find on Foster street are pushed into the back of your memory with margarita specials that are anything but pious.

Address: 4/14 Foster St, Surry Hills
Hours: Tues-Thurs 5pm – 12am, Fri-Sat 4pm-12am

Tio’s Cervecceria

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Brix Distillers

5. Brix Distillers

Brix Distillers are dedicated to the art of rum. They want to serve it to you, teach you about it, make it and give it to the masses. It’s refreshing seeing the level of commitment to a singular speciality, and it’s an education going on a tour through their distillery. Topped all off with a South American and Caribbean menu, it’s hard to go wrong here.

Address: 350 Bourke St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9360 5441
Hours: Wed – Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12pm-7pm

Brix Distillers

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Li’l Darlin Surry Hills

6. Li’l Darlin Surry Hills

Li’l Darlin, no longer exclusively what your redneck uncle calls your cousin. Now it’s carving a space out in your heart as a cool Surry Hills icon. Li’l Darlin will find what you want and give it to you. They’ve got a huge menu which covers every base of a good time. Pizza’s and Chicken wings, they’ve got you. Jugs of Sangria, say less son. Masterclasses, step up grasshopper.

Address: 420 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 8018 8926
Hours: Mon – Wed 12 – 10pm, Thurs 12 – 11pm, Fri 12pm – 12am, Sat 4pm – 1am

Li’l Darlin

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Soultrap

7. Soultrap

Soultrap Bar is an underground speakeasy that lives and breathes its theme. There’s a hint of prohibition danger throughout the space that gives you the same rush I got as a school kid playing hooky. Doubling up on the theme here you’ll find Burlesque nights to titillate you in a different fashion.

Address: 70-72 Campbell St, Surry Hills
Phone: 0468 727 004
Hours: Tues – Sat 4pm – 12am

Soultrap

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle MV Pasta & Wine Bar

8. Mille Vini Wine Bar & Restaurant

Mille Vini Wine Bar & Restaurant don’t shake a stick when given the chance to feed you what they want to. A beautiful Italian Nonna, in human form, they want to ply you with good food and give you the chance to talk about your life in excess. A comfortable setting, the perfect pasta menu, and a wine list not to be sniffed at are all the ingredients needed for a good time.

Address: 397 Crown St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9357 3366
Hours: Tues – Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat 1pm-11pm, Sun 1pm-10pm

MV Pasta & Wine Bar

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle The Carrington

9. The Carrington

The Carrington is your quintessential Surry Hills pub. Daily specials, great food and a place big enough to fit you, your mates, your dog (pop by on the Sunday for a roast and a free feed for the puppers) and that one fella who’s just always there. Classics, done right.

Address: 565 Bourke St, Surry Hills
Phone: 0497 952 889
Hours: Mon – Sat 12pm -12am, Sun 12 – 10pm

The Carrington

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle The Winery

10. The Winery

The Winery takes the concept of a beer garden and adds a little touch of class to it. The first wine garden we’ve come across they’ll surround you with greenery and ply you with wine and food till you can take no more. An incredibly reasonably priced feed me menu rounds out the place by taking the decisions out of your hands. Rock up, get fed, drink wine, leave.

Address: 285A Crown St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 8322 2007
Hours: Sun – Thurs 12 – 11pm, Fri – Sat 12pm – 12am

The Winery

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Keg & Brew

11. Keg & Brew

A three-floor behemoth, Keg & Brew bring heavy machinery to the Surry Hills bar game. If you can’t find something to enjoy from the 51 taps, entire floor of restaurant, masterclasses or sports bar rooftop you’re not trying, and we can’t help you. For anyone else, particularly large groups, you can’t go wrong.

Address: 26 Foveaux St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9212 1740
Hours: Mon – Thurs 10 – 12am, Fri – Sat 10- 3am, Sun 10am – 11pm

Keg & Brew

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle The Cricketers Arms Hotel

12. The Cricketers Arms Hotel

At nearly 100 years old, The Cricketers Arms Hotel stands as a testament to the power of good times. You don’t hand around for 10 decades without providing serious value to your patrons, hundreds of thousands of whom have walked through their doors in that time. Ask them nicely and they’ll show you iconic images taken throughout that time. What other pub will guarantee Jazz on a Wednesday?

Address: 106 Fitzroy St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9331 3301
Hours: Tues 5 – 10pm, Wed – Fri 5 – 11pm, Sat 3:45 – 11pm

The Cricketer’s Arms

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Rosie Campbells

13. Rosie Campbells

Rosie Campbells is a self-described Caribbean oasis and jerk diner. They strike a fine balance between home-style cooking and modern culinary know-how. A list of tropical cocktails closes out the sunshine experience. Described in their own words better than this writer could: “bring the fun, bring the flavour, and bring on the good times.”

Address: 320 Crown St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 7209 5469
Hours: Tues – Wed 4pm-10pm, Thurs 4pm-12am, Fri – Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 1pm-11.30pm

Rosie Campbells

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Poly

14. Poly

Poly is a restaurant in the Paramount House Hotel. An adaptation of the old Paramount movie studios, so expect a lot of throwbacks to classic cinema in the decor and atmosphere. Poly stands out with its menu. A targeted affair, it’s a series of crafted experiences. Where else will you find a garlic butter burger? A huge wine list is sure to tickle your tastebuds.

Address: 74-76 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 8860 0808
Hours: Tues – Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 5pm-12am

Poly

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Norfolk Hotel

15. Norfolk Hotel

The Norfolk Hotel is a modern, dog-friendly, pub with all the lashings of a good time that you could possibly need. Everything caters to you easily having an excellent time. The massive beer garden, the 50 cent wings on a Sunday. They’re not here for an overpriced three hatted fap-off. They’re here to get down and dirty with you. Catch them for a special and your wallet will thank you.

Address: 305 Cleveland St, Redfern
Phone: (02) 9062 5713
Hours: Tues – Thurs 3pm – 12am, Fri – Sat 12pm – 1am, Sun 12 – 10pm

Norfolk Hotel

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Hollywood Hotel

16. Hollywood Hotel

An icon on Foster st, Hollywood Hotel is a one-stop shop for dancing, drinks and times you’ll barely remember. An out and proud venue they’ll host the wildest parties you can think up of, as well as ensuring everyone’s looked after in a safe and sound way. Unpretentious and unspoiled you’ll still find aspects of the original 1920s fit out around the joint.

Address: 2 Foster St, Surry Hills
Contact: 0410 737 464
Hours: Tues – Fri 3pm – 12am, Sat 4pm – 12am

Hollywood Hotel

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Low 302

17. Low 302

Low 302 is a dimly lit, red velvet cabaret bar experience. They’re open till late, and provide delicious bevs from start to finish. Grab a date for a little late-night charm, or a group of mates for a sense of old school shenanigans. The only thing it lacks is a password for entry.

Address: 302 Crown St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9368 1548
Hours: Wed – Sun 7pm – 2am

Low 302

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle The Soda Factory

18. The Soda Factory

Hidden behind a faux 1950’s diner The Soda Factory is an all-in-one for bevs, feeds and sweaty dancing. An absolute smorgasbord of entertainment, they do pretty much everything. A cool spot to while the night away, and a Surry Hills stalwart. Worth hitting up at least once.

Address: 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9064 5808
Hours: Tues – Wed 5pm – 12am, Thurs 5pm – 2am, Fri – Sat 5pm – 3am

The Soda Factory

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle The Dolphin Hotel

19. The Dolphin Hotel

The Dolphin Hotel is a big boy, with three floors of goodness and a menu they’ll serve you anywhere. A solid Italian inspired food list will ensure no need for seconds. If you’re keen on going all in there’s one hell of a long lunch on the last Sunday of each month to spank your tastebuds into glorious submission. The food is a cut above your average pub.

Address: 412 Crown St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9331 4800
Hours: Mon 24h, Tues – Fri 12pm – 12am, Sat 11:30am – 12am, Sun 11:30am – 10pm

The Dolphin Hotel

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Goros

20. Goros

Awesome Japanese food, a karaoke bar, and a deep love for hip-hop, Goros is founded on these three principles. Happy to take you in for dinner, or the night, an extensive cocktail list featuring bubble tea bevs like The Ice T, or the Jay Z may be just what you need to build up enough Dutch courage to bring the pipes out. All in the warm glow of the neon decor.

Address: 84/86 Mary St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9212 0214
Hours: Thurs 5pm – 12am, Fri – Sat 5pm – 2am

Goros

Best Surry Hills Bars to Whet Your Whistle Evening Star Hotel

21. Evening Star Hotel

The Evening Star Hotel is a classic Aussie pub. With its roots dating back to 1882, they’ve had time to work out how to keep the punters happy. Following a recent multi-million dollar overhaul, they’re happy to offer you a mad sports bar with a TAB, a cheap and cheerful menu, $12 mains can be a godsend, and they leapt on the rollback of lockout laws and will happily take you in well into the morning.

Address: 360 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills
Phone: (02) 9281 8177
Hours: Sun – Thurs 10am – 4am, Fri – Sat 10am – 6am

Evening Star

How We Chose This List of Best Surry Hills Bars

With an editorial team full of foodies, Man of Many has had the unique opportunity to directly sample and experience the best bars in Surry Hills. Our list is primarily based on experience, in-depth research and customer reviews of these venues. It’s our job to guide readers between competing products and services. For this article, we’ve provided our independent opinion in formulating these selections. Our editors have taken into account food, price, quality and atmosphere. You can read our review policy on how we maintain our independence in our editorial lists.

Alternatives to the Best Surry Hills Bars

Looking for something a little different in the Sydney food and drinks scenes? We’ve got you covered with our guides below:

Best Surry Hills Bar FAQs

What is the best Surry Hills bar for wine?

If you’re chasing a decent drop, The Winery is hard to beat with its leafy wine garden and long list. Wyno Bar & Shop is great if you like a glass with some tapas, and Poly’s the spot if you’re into natural wines and small plates.

Which Surry Hills bars let you bring the dog?

The Carrington and Norfolk Hotel both let the pups tag along. The Carrington even sorts them out with a feed on Sundays, so everyone’s looked after.

Where’s open late in Surry Hills?

If you don’t want the night to end, Evening Star keeps the lights on until 6am on weekends. Low 302 will pour you something strong until 2am, and Soda Factory goes till 3am with tunes and dancing.

What’s the go-to Surry Hills bar for a date?

Low 302 nails the moody, late-night vibe. The Winery is a good call if you want something a bit romantic, and Tokyo Bird is perfect for whisky and yakitori in a cosy spot.

Where can I catch live music in Surry Hills?

Hollywood Hotel and Soda Factory are good spots for bands and DJs, while Soultrap mixes it up with burlesque and themed nights if you want something different.