From fairy floss martinis to sake bombs to making your own spiced rum, here’s all the bars in Surry Hills you need to visit.
When it comes to nightlife, Surry Hills has got it all. This inner-city neighbourhood is nothing short of vibrant, a haven for quirky bars and drinking spots with character, where cocktails and spirits are considered an art form. It’s a close-knit space and community, where a night out in the town often leads to a series of bar hops that feels like you’re going from one world to the next. Whether it’s cosy cocktail joints or lively hang-outs perfect for after hours, there’s something for everyone.
With so many to choose from it can be hard to select where to start, but don’t worry – we’ve narrowed it down for you. So, rally up your mates. It’s time to quench your thirst and check out five of our favourite bars in Surry Hills.
#1 Lil’ Darlin
Location: 420 Elizabeth Street
When: Sunday: 4pm – 12am
Monday – Saturday: 12pm – 12am
For a trendy and intimate setting that’s home to some of Sydney’s best inventive cocktails and gourmet cuisine, look no further than Lil’ Darlin. There’s three venues scattered around the city of Sydney, but the Surry Hills location is one of our favourites for its’ cosy atmosphere, plants and hanging fairy lights. They have signature cocktails like the Fairy Floss Martini and Gummy Beartini, as well as classics and limited features.
You can even participate in a cocktail masterclass which can be booked between 3pm – 5pm any day. Not only that, they have a killer menu of tapas and pizzas. We’re talking tempura zucchini flowers and crispy Peking duck pizza. We highly recommend popping in during happy hour which is 5pm – 7pm every day or 10pm – 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The signature cocktails drop down to $12, beers, wine and spirits are only $6. And to top it all off, you can munch on small gourmet pizzas for just $12! It’s the perfect place to hang and wind down after a day of Uni or work!
#2 Goros
Location: 84/86 Mary Street
When: Sunday: Closed
Monday – Wednesday: 12pm – 12am
Thursday: 12pm – 1am
Friday: 12pm – 3am
Saturday: 5pm – 3am
Sake and karaoke? Sign us up! Goros is like its own little world. Transporting you into a Japanese inspired hub full of neon lights, lanterns and bamboo. You can expect to find a wonderful array of Japanese Izakaya style cuisine like gyoza, yakitori and takoyaki. An added bonus is that they still serve food until 2am for those late night cravings, we’re talking Wagyu cheeseburgers and chicken karaage. They’ve got a long list of sake’s and Japanese whiskeys, as well as cocktails with popping pearls like the Sour Blackberry and Yuzu or Strawberries and Crème. Asahis, Sapporos, Goros Pales and house wines. Plus 90ml Yoshinogawa sake are always on for happy hour from 5pm – 7pm every day.
We’re huge fans of the private karaoke booths which can be booked for groups of up to 20, so you can sing to your heart’s content. With arcade games, late night DJs and good vibes, Goros should certainly be high on your list for late night hang-outs.
#3 Brix Distillers
Location: 352 Bourke Street
When: Sunday: 12pm – 10pm
Monday – Saturday: 12pm – 12am
As the only rum distillery in the whole of Sydney, you can be assured you don’t want to miss out on this place. With a collection of over 120 rums from around the world, this industrial style, open space contains a distillery, cellar door, bar and restaurant section. With their own range of white, gold and spiced rum, Brix Distillers aim to release their first rum aged in Australian wine barrels by 2021. Whether it’s a dive into the history and process of rum with one of their tours or spicing your own rum, Brix Distillers is more than just a bar. It’s an experience.
Their food menu is inspired by South American and Caribbean cuisine where you’ll find rum glazed pork ribs and honey chipotle chicken wings, making it the perfect complement to your rum cocktails. Some of our favourites you need to try are the Made of Brix and the Brix Daiquiri cocktails! We can guarantee that you’ll have a newfound love and appreciation for rum after a visit here!
#4 Tio’s Cerveceria
Location: 414 Foster Street
When: Monday – Saturday: 4pm – 12am
Sunday: Closed
If you’re after a bar that really kicks off as the night wears on, you need to pay a visit to Tio’s Cerveceria. A dimly lit Mexican joint of religious figurines, hanging banners of every colour, melted candles and neon lights – we promise you’ll have some fun nights here that’ll be hazy on the memory. They really nail the classics, the La Margarita is divine. And you better trust us on that because they’ve sold over 70,000 of them so far. You can’t go past a salty Tecate’ with lime or a shot of tequila followed by a verdita shot (a non-alcoholic minty and citrusy green liquid).
Oh, and did we mention you can score yourself a free bag of popcorn to nibble on too? If you’re hungrier, you can dive into a delicious menu of chorizo Latin fried pizza and guacamole served with pork crackling. And to take it up a notch, they have a happy hour from 4pm – 6pm every day on a rotating range of 5 drinks.
#5 Dead Ringer
Location: 413 Bourke Street
When: Sunday: 11am – 11pm
Monday – Wednesday: 4pm – 11pm
Thursday – Friday: 4pm – 12am
Saturday: 11am – 12am
Nestled in the heart of Surry Hills, you’ll find this converted heritage townhouse that serves up a warm and casual atmosphere with a killer cocktail list, exclusive Australasian wine list and locally produced beer. Known for their boozy brunches that run from 11am – 3pm every Saturday and Sunday, you can choose between a delicious set menu with either bottomless mimosas or bottomless prosecco. House baked focaccia with cured salmon and ricotta tarts with spinach….delicious!
We’re also giving bonus points for their transparency on sustainability policies they’ve enforced in their venue. Such as ‘Meat Free Mondays’, using an energy supply that’s 100% renewable and supplying toilet paper from ‘Who Gives A Crap’, an organisation that uses recycled toilet paper and donates half of their proceeds to improve sanitation in poverty. Can we just add this is only a few of their policies. Chill out in the garden terrace or have a wine in the intimate dining section. Either way you’re in for a treat. Dead Ringer will quickly become your favourite bar in Surry Hills.
Got any favourite bars in Surry Hills we’ve missed? Let us know!
