The Glebe Hotel

The Glebe Hotel is a welcoming upscale pub with nods to the past and the present: there’s a working fireplace and chesterfield sofas, portraits of Glebe locals taken by photographer Tom Psomotragos, and in the dining room there's a majestic jacaranda mural painted by local artists.

The pub’s been a fixture since 1862. The Glebe Hotel used to be known as the Australian Youth Hotel, where it was commonly mistaken for a cheap and cheerful hostel. The owners, brothers Daniel and Zelman Nissen decided to shake off that confusion by rebranding as a gastropub and changing its name. A renovation revamped the venue’s tired Victorian terrace vibe. As with most pub renovations, it was a delicate balancing act between retaining the historical quirks while asserting the venue as a modern public bar.

Another change is in the food. Stables Bar and Grill is run by British chef Ben Allcock. His menu includes a beef and Guinness pie with mash and onion gravy; seared scallops; handmade gnocchi with roast butternut pumpkin and goats curd; and a steak list featuring quality cuts from Australia and New Zealand. There’s eggplant schnitzel for vegans and vegetarians, a number of bar snacks, and on Sundays there’s a roast with all the trimmings.