Enmore Hotel

The nostalgic clatter of a break shot on green felt is something you’ll hear most nights at the Enmore Hotel, the compact corner pub on the bustling stretch between Stanmore Road and the King Street junction. Housed in the three-storey Victorian building that once played host to legendary nightlife spot the Sly Fox, owner Ged Dore (The Salisbury Hotel, The Henson), restored the building to its former glory as a quintessential inner-west boozer in late 2020.

The pub’s classy interior revamp, led by designer Lucia Braham, nailed the brief; spot the wraparound bar serving an eclectic range of beers with a marble top, classic tailing and silver trim. Reschs, VB and Tooheys Old are tapped proudly between local makers such as Philter and Grifter Brewing Co. Chilled tins of Melbourne Bitter and Young Henrys glisten side by side in the fridge.

You can pull up a stool at the front bar or you may opt for a seat in the sunlit public bar, which is fitted with orange chenille high-top seats and banquettes punctuated by tall windows looking out onto Enmore Road. There’s an AC/DC pinball machine, a glowing jukebox and – if you’ve come to watch the footy – there’s a dedicated sports section with screens and a grandstand for the full viewing experience.

It’s a perfect spot to loosen up or wind down either side of a meal if dining at one of the suburb’s eateries, or catching a show at Enmore Theatre. And while the pub has no bistro, there’s a hotbox behind the bar loaded with proper London-style pies, delivered daily by Stanmore’s Hardcore Pies. There’s a free-range chicken pie, a slow-cooked beer and beef number, and always something for the veg crowd.