Benedict Kennedy-Cox

Craft brewing has grown up a lot since pioneering Young Henrys came along in 2012. Gone are the days when small-batch pale ales were shrouded in mystery and looked upon with suspicion; craft beers have made their way into the mainstream, and we are here for it. The Australian beer landscape is now truly world class, and while we’re pretty darn spoiled for choice when it comes to places to drink craft beer in this city, there’s something special about going straight to the source. Fresh is best, after all, and it doesn’t get any fresher than that. From Sydney’s south to the Northern Beaches and Inner West, there’s always a brewery close at hand – so leave the car keys at home, set aside an afternoon and make tracks to these excellent establishments pouring the top brews in town, curated by Time Out's editors (and drinkers), including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: Prefer the pub? Head to one of Sydney's best pubs instead. Yearning for water views? Check out the best waterfront bars in Sydney.

A bar crawl in Newtown is the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure for the intrepid thirsty Sydneysider. It's also great if you simply don't like having to take more than a hop, skip and jump between venues. This eclectic Inner West 'burb has more bars than you can poke a cocktail stick at, from lazy beer gardens to rock 'n' roll vinyl joints and everything in between, found all the way down King St and up to Enmore Road. Newtown is one of our favourite boozing destinations – and here are the vert best places to check out on your next visit.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Looking for food? Check out the best restaurants Newtown has to offer, over here. Want more? Check out our guide the coolest bars in Sydney here.

After years of cult brewing at Harts Pub in The Rocks under their belt, Pickled Monkey joined the Marrickville beer scene in October 2024 with an upmarket, earth-toned brewery. Grab a stool and sip on their easy draught, tangy XPA or the smooth and approachable hoppy pale ale. A standout feature in the main bar is the brick oven where most of the snacks and meals from The Italian Gringo kitchen come from. Roman-style pizzas, deli sandwiches and tacos are the go here. Perhaps the best beer and treat combo is the bold but refreshing Cali IPA, which at 6.8 per cent, demands hot and doughy accompaniment from The Bourdain, an oozing provolone and fried mortadella pizza sandwich that you could honestly eat any time of day.  Grab your fellow beer-lovin’ monkey mates and come check out Pickled Monkey next time you find yourself in brewery land. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: These are the best breweries in Sydney right now. Check out our guide to the top bars in Sydney here.

Although there are 30 taps at Buddy’s Bar, there is no actual bar. There’s nothing for a bartender to even stand behind and furthermore, there is no bartender. Instead, staff direct you to the glassware and encourage you to get pouring yourself.  Yep. This is a moment where you’ll actually want to listen when they explain ‘how this place works’.  At the front counter, the Buddy’s staff provide you with a card that you load up with your funds ($30 should get you started). Peruse the glorious wall of taps until you find a beer, wine or cocktail that tickles your fancy, grab an appropriate glass, tap your card on the scanner above and pour yourself a cold one. This repeated process leaves you feeling a little like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, and gives Buddy’s a laidback, almost house party-like feel. The Buddy’s King street location is the former site of pay-what-you-want restaurant Lentil as Anything, proving Newtown always feels the need to do something different. The airy space has orange tiles and painted stairs, but really, the booze is the main feature. A little over half of the 30 taps are dedicated to craft beer, while the rest are split between chilled wines and premixed cocktails. The taps constantly rotate their offering based on demand, so if you particularly enjoy a drink make sure to tell the staff. Sheer choice, free-will and a general lighthearted energy are what give Buddy’s its relaxed vibe, making it a great spot to catch up with old mates, or to make ne