Benchwarmer

Benchwarmer is a laid-back beer hall and takeaway bottle shop that combines an obscure beer list with an excellent food line-up. When the sun’s beaming down Victoria Street, outside tables are in high demand. The fairy-lit, astroturfed beer garden out back is a solid back-up, though.

There are plenty of long tables and window seating in the main room. During the day the white walls and tall arches keep things light; at night, the room is bathed in warm red and purple glows.

There’s always something new on the menu here. Dishes swing towards spicy, with grilled meats, stir-fried noodles and a handful of salty starters that make an excellent pairing with a beer you likely haven't tried before.

Benchwarmer focuses on stocking limited release beers – so you won’t find many core range classics. Locals such as The Mill , Hop Nation and Sydney’s One Drop are frequent guests on the 18 taps. They’re joined by esteemed internationals such as Gweilo , Cervisiam , Mikkeler and Garage Beer (not to be confused with Garage Project, which also makes regular appearances). There are also plenty of wines to choose from, mostly from local players such as Jamsheed , plus a few hard seltzers and a tidy line-up of sake.