They brought us St Patrick’s Day and strong beers, Oscar Wilde and the Pogues. The Irish certainly know how to have a good time, and continue to do so at the Norwood Hotel, a heritage-listed hotel on the Parade, a street in Norwood full of drinking holes, eateries and shops. Locals gather here to catch up over a beer at Finn McCool’s Irish Pub, the venue-within-a-venue. There is a wide range on offer, including, of course, Irish lagers and Guinness, as well as a mixture of local, interstate and international wine and spirits.
One dining area is done up like a street fitted with street lamps and shops displays – you might as well be in downtown Dublin. The front bar has a fireplace for the cooler months, while sport lovers hover around the large TV screens showing UFC, live and loud. The pub often books out for its live music nights where tribute acts predominate. Steak night is a highlight with $15 rump steak with chips on salad. How could you go wrong? Pop in 4-6pm on a weekday and you can get a pint for $6 ($6!), or come in on a Sunday for the $15 roast.