The Dog Hotel

Like its sister venue, Surry Hills' Keg and Brew, The Dog was previously a frayed-around-the-edges pub with little to commend it. That changed in November 2015 when John Azar and his Good Beer Company bought the former Duke of Gloucester and set to work sprucing the old boozer up.

The public bar was first. It's now a comfortable space featuring high tables and stools, wooden floorboards and red booths facing the large bar. An adjoining salon was stripped back and brightened up with a large tropical mural. A pleasantly sunny courtyard was also made-over.

More beer taps were also installed. Lots of them. In total there are 59 spread throughout the hotel. The taps mostly pour local brews (Wayward, Rocks Brewing Co, 4 Pines) with a few imports, ciders and mainstream local lagers tossed in to keep everyone happy. A cheap and accessible wine list also maintains the cheer.

In late 2016, the first-floor of the pub became Duke's Bistro, a 170-seat French-American diner focused on rotisserie meats and share plates of seafood classics. Try salmon tartare, lobster medallions or Pacific oysters by the dozen. There's also beer-brined chicken, confit duck and huge kilogram-plus tomahawk steaks. To drink, there's a lengthy French-accented wine list, plus 12 beer taps.