All my friends are “splitting the G”. If you know, you know. But if you don’t, it’s a Guinness thing. Well, a Tiktok thing, actually.
The platform has gone feral for the pub challenge, which involves taking a big slug of stout until the creamy head splits the letter “G” on the official Guinness pint glass. It’s actually harder than it sounds – especially when your mates are broadcasting your shoddy attempt live on social media.
But now that cooler days are here, there’s never been a better time to split a few. Here’s where to do it.
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SIGN UPThe Hook, Kings Cross
The Vermuteria team’s oyster-shucking saloon pours pints for $11 between 5pm and 6pm. We also love the Black Velvet cocktail, a chilled flute of prosecco spiked with Guinness. Or is it the other way around? In any case, don’t knock it till you knock it back.
The Magpie, Enmore
The Magpie is an ’80s sports bar fantasy with Guinness on tap and chablis by the glass. Sydney’s smallest pub is also stoking the city’s Irish coffee craze. Swoop in for a good time, every time.
The Lord Dudley, Woollahra
The best British pub in Sydney? It’s gotta be the Lord. The 1800s boozer has long been a home for expat Brits missing their Scotch eggs and pints – but it’s also home to a banging Sunday roast with all the trimmings for $27.
The White Cockatoo, Petersham
Hidden in the backstreets yet close to the train station, The Cock is the kind of pub every neighbourhood dreams of. The tap list is crafty, but there’s always at least one table splitting Gs. We also can’t get enough of the brisket lasagne here.
The Bald Rock Hotel, Rozelle
In a suburb full of cracking pubs, the “little pub on the corner” stands tall. The Bald Rock was once home to bootleggers and beer-drinking horses; these days it’s home to a Guinness tap and a golden retriever called Ava Hayes. Giddy-up.
The Doss House, The Rocks
This heritage-listed basement bar will take you underground to another time – one where whisky and opium were the poisons of choice. The former category is still alive and well, but sandstone walls and OG fireplaces also make it a match for a pint or two.
Shea’s, Clovelly
Spice bags and good craic aren’t hard to find in the eastern suburbs, and Shea’s is our pick for the best pint of Guinness this side of Centennial Park. Visit the tiny neighbourhood tavern for all your Irish needs.
Rag and Famish, North Sydney
North Sydney’s oldest pub has stood proudly since 1860, and recent additions to the Rag include elevated pub grub and a big focus on live sport. Come for a pint of the black stuff, stay for a very Instagrammable lamb shank pie.
Hero of Waterloo, The Rocks
The hero you need is a heritage pub buried deep in The Rocks. And while it sits just shy of the tourist trail and is (rumoured to be) quite haunted, it still pulls punters with ease. Hardcore fans visit for live jazz on weekends.
PJ O’Brien’s, CBD
What can you say about PJ? That it feels like a ride at an Irish amusement park? That it’s been giving Irish expats a place to work (and play) since forever? Or that a pint from its well-worn Guinness tap has the power to transport you straight to Dublin’s Temple Bar? All of the above is true.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Guinness.