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The Best Beer Gardens in Sydney

Need somewhere to pull up stumps after a long day at work, sip on a schooner and proceed to vent to about your job and love life to a few good friends? Look no further.

The quality, variety and geographical spread of Sydney’s beer gardens are a a reflection of the near-perfect weather we enjoy for more than half the year. From leafy little grottos to rooftops with million dollar views, these are the best beer gardens in the city.


Updated on 12 December 2024

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The Oaks Hotel
Bar
The Oaks Hotel
This Neutral bay destination had a major revamp in 2019 to include a new public bar and restaurant. But the best seats in the house are still reliably found in the courtyard, under the pub’s 70-year-old namesake – a towering fairy-lit oak tree.
Coogee Bay Hotel
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Coogee Bay Hotel
Coogee’s other gargantuan boozer sports has stepped up in recent years. A flash Mediterranean inspired eatery with a seafood focus joins the downstairs Garden Bar – one of Sydney's most impressive beer gardens, and the best spot in the house for seaside pub grub and schooners.
Harbord Hotel
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Harbord Hotel
This oasis by the sea had a revamp in 2020. Now, it combines heritage charm with all the modern ritz you’d expect from a standout seaside boozer. Elevated food and drinks, luxe design and one of Sydney’s best beaches down the street.
The Golden Sheaf Hotel
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The Golden Sheaf Hotel
A slice of eastern suburbs history, with a beer garden to rival any on this list. Hordes flock to it every day of the week but the Wednesday student night is particularly popular. The main attraction? The fairy-lit fig tree overlooking the courtyard bar and restaurant.
Courthouse Hotel
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Courthouse Hotel
Neighbourhood lifers and Newtown newbies alike tuck into whopping bowls of nachos – the pub’s most popular menu item – in this leafy wraparound courtyard. This is Newtown’s ultimate meet-up spot – if you live in the inner west you’ll almost certainly run into someone you know when you come here.
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Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
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Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
Of all the eastern suburbs’ landmark establishments, there’s none with a view quite like this. A waterfront session here is met with postcard views of the CBD skyline and there’ll be plenty of nautical ephemera around your table. A spectacular ferry ride to and from the city make this a true weekend destination.
The Glenmore Hotel
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The Glenmore Hotel
The Glenmore’s famous rooftop has one of the city’s most stunning views, hands down. Punters clamour for unobstructed panoramas during summer, and in winter it’s an excellent perch for the Vivid festival light works. It’s unfussy, well-shaded and – combined with that view – doesn’t want for much else.
The Henson
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The Henson
A community classic filled with citrus trees and Newtown Jets fans. On a heaving weekend night, the high-tops and picnic tables are crowded with frosty schooners and Asian-inspired pub fare. And in very Marrickville fashion, the publicans have flipped the old garage into a kids play area. It’s dog-friendly, too. Bring the whole fam.
Balmain Hotel
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Balmain Hotel
The cheeriest beer garden in Balmain. Pastel-coloured walls surround the tiered courtyard, with a shady tiki hut sitting up the back. The holiday vibe informs the list of fun, cocktails – definitely grab one of those for the full experience.
Lord Wolseley Hotel
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Lord Wolseley Hotel
The Lord Wolseley’s footpath courtyard is the subject of much speculation. Can you call it a beer garden? Is it even legal to drink schooners out here? When the weather’s right, and there’s a live jazz band playing old standards into the evening, it doesn’t even matter. Pure magic, this one.
The Golden Barley
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The Golden Barley
“Oasis” is a descriptor that’s oft bandied about for beer gardens, but in the Barley’s case it’s justified. Ferns, hibiscus and wisteria grow thick around its edges – it’s a lush, idyllic setting to imbibe within. To enter this secret garden, walk past the chic family friendly bistro or access from Edgeware road.
Public House Petersham
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Public House Petersham
A raucous undercover beer garden wraps around half of this inner-west boozer. On public holidays, the action sprawls out into the carpark, as the public bar goes pour for pour with the wild and wonderful craft taps at nearby microbrewery, Small Batch.
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Cricketers Arms Hotel
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Cricketers Arms Hotel
The Crix inspires devotion, and plenty of its hardcore followers would call it the best pub in Sydney, no contest. The grungy little courtyard downstairs is a classic.
The Norfolk Hotel
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The Norfolk Hotel
Since 1921, The Norfolk Hotel has lived many lives, from a local boozer sporting beer-soaked carpets to a grungy dive bar with an American-style seafood restaurant. These days, it’s living its best life yet, as a breezy neighbourhood watering hole with a top-notch beer garden. Weekly DJ sets happen out here from Friday to Sunday.
Opera Bar
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Opera Bar
Tied with the Glenmore rooftop for best harbour views. Aside from the nearby botanic gardens, there’s not much greenery here – just plates of freshly-shucked oysters, champagne, and a view so good you won’t even notice the tourists.
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More Options

Dick’s Hotel, Balmain
Dick’s expansive, covered beer garden might actually be bigger than the pub itself. NRL fans flood the place when the Swans are playing, but the community vibe is strong no matter when you visit, really. Don’t miss the live jazz sessions on Sundays.

Park House, Mona Vale
This breezy Northern Beaches megavenue has a mega beer garden to match. It's the best place in the house to sink summery cocktails and while away an afternoon. The holiday aesthetic is complete with tasselled umbrellas and fairy-lit trees, and you’ll also find live acoustic acts out here.

The Warrenview Hotel, Enmore
A big renovation ushered in a new era for this 1870s boozer on the corner of Stanmore and Enmore roads. Now the beer garden feels like the one it was always meant to be. Find plenty of shade for warm days, ample heating when it’s cold, and a fairy-lit WA peppermint tree starring in the centre of it all.

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