Sydney has an eclectic range of pubs and bars, and its Irish pubs are some of the best. Experience the art of the pour as Irish-born MARCUS DERVIN, SharePoint developer, shares his picks for the best Irish pubs in Sydney…
P J O’Brien’s Irish Pub
57 King St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9290 1811
www.pjobriens.com.au/sydney
Experience a taste of Ireland at P J O’Brien’s Irish Pub. This pub is not your typical touristy Irish bar as it’s exactly what you’d see on the corner of your street back home in Ireland. Settle in with a creamy pint of Guinness or one of their many beers, wines and spirits while listening to live Irish music. The upstairs section is quiet enough to carry a conversation and loud enough to exude a good time vibe. This pub also offers a variety of savoury Irish dishes and contemporary pub meals. You have to try the piping hot Beef & Guinness Pie as well as the Irish Chicken Curry. For dessert I highly recommend the Baileys Bread & Butter Pudding with warm custard, it’s really good!
The Porterhouse Irish Pub
233 Riley Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Ph: 02 9211 4454
www.porterhouse.com.au
The Porterhouse is a friendly Irish pub right in the heart of Surry Hills. It’s spacious with a pleasant and down to earth brick décor, plus an outside porch facing an off street. The food is great and reasonably priced. I highly recommend the Chicken Schnitzel, Kilkenny Battered Fish, Salmon Cakes and Sticky Date Pudding. This Irish pub serves really good beers kept at the correct temperatures and served with a full pour. This cosy traditional Irish Pub will make you feel right at home.
P.J. Gallagher’s Irish Pub
260 Pitt St Cnr Park Street Sydney 2000 Ph: 02 9264 3093
www.pjgallaghers.com.au
Located right in the heart of the CBD, P.J. Gallagher’s Irish Pub merges the traditional pub atmosphere with the modern day style. The upstairs part of the club is for those who want a lively atmosphere and a full bar service and for those looking for a more peaceful atmosphere, head downstairs to enjoy a hearty meal with a cold drink. They serve great food at reasonable prices. Must try Irish foods are Dublin Bay Prawns, Irish Potato Boxy and you’ll never go wrong with the Irish Apple Crumble Cake for dessert.
Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel
43-49 Goulburn St Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9211 2002
www.scruffymurphys.com.au
Scruffy Murphy’s is a legendary Irish pub for cheap drinks, live entertainment, dancing and Irish style pub grub. It’s open till late and is very popular with uni students, sports fanatics, tourists and anyone looking for a cheap drink and a wild evening. It can take a while to warm up to this pub but once you do, you’ll never look back. Scruffy Murphy’s is a genuine experience – just ask the locals!
Durty Nelly’s Bar & Print Room Restaurant
9-11 Glenmore Rd Paddington NSW 2021 Ph: 02 9360 4467
www.durtynellyssydney.com.au
Durty Nelly’s is a boutique traditional Irish pub situated in the heart of Paddington. The atmosphere here is relaxed, warm and friendly. This Irish pub is famous for serving Sydney’s perfect pint of Guinness and has a huge selection of Irish beers and wines. If you’re hungry, climb the stairs for delicious Irish and European meals. The kitchen serves excellent food and my picks are the Saddle of Spring Lamb with Crushed New Potatoes and the Traditional Pork Sausages with Champ, Peas & Onion Gravy. For dessert, you must try the Lemon Tart with Raspberry Sorbet.
O’Donoghue’s Irish Pub
99 Great Western Hwy Emu Plains NSW 2750 Ph: 02 4735 5509
www.odonoghues.com.au
O’Donoghue’s is a beautiful old pub converted to an Irish pub with plenty of ambiance. It’s close to the railway station and is a great venue for events. The food is excellent – something you would expect from a fancy restaurant and not a pub. The cold beers and quaffing wines are fantastic and reasonably priced too. O’Donoghue’s is a fantastic lively spot where you can enjoy great food, drinks and live entertainment.
The Fiddler
Commercial Rd Rouse Hill NSW 2155 Ph: 02 9629 4811
www.thefiddler.com.au
The Fiddler is famous for its Irish hospitality. This pub is pretty big and has plenty to offer. You can enjoy a different form of live entertainment every night here. Aside from the good hearty pub food, this newly renovated pub has a wine bar and live music lounge for a night of entertainment. It’s also a good place to catch the weekend games on the big screen with a good steak and a cold beer.
Mulligans
137 Cleveland St Chippendale NSW 2008 Ph: 02 9319 5582
www.mulligans.com.au
Mulligans provide a true taste of Ireland. It’s homely, warm and welcoming. Although it’s not a pub, this amazing Irish restaurant deserves a spot on this list. They serve hearty, authentic Irish fare and the food at this restaurant will literally take you back to your childhood – warm hearty Irish food just like what mum makes! Portions are plentiful and wholesome and the price is what you would expect to pay for such a service. Mulligan’s is considered a tradition in Sydney and it’s a little bit of Ireland on Cleveland Street.
Marcus Dervin is the Director of WebVine, a SharePoint, Office 365 and Dynamics CRM consultancy based in Sydney. He has over 19 years web experience across industries such as Telecommunications, Accounting, and Financial Services and has also worked internationally including in New York for 4 years. Marcus’ focus is on bringing business value to SharePoint.