This city bar above the Grand Hotel is a wonderland of naval artefacts and super-cute décor. Navy blue walls, lots of rope, Sailor Jerry-style sailor girl decals and old books go hand in hand with hanging pirate ships and seafairers' sayings painted on the wall (‘red sky in the morning, a sailor’s warning, red sky at night a sailor’s delight’, reads one). It's big with the after-work crowd, who are all either huddled together discussing the Next Big Thing and loosening the top buttons on their Ralph Lauren shirts.
The pub spans two levels. The upper part has no bar but it does boast a whole bunch of comfy lounges, as well as pool tables and tiny table and Bentwood chair sets. Downstairs, you can grab a spot at one of the communal benches and order some beer battered onion rings or maybe a rack of sweet, sticky pork ribs. It’s beer food, to be sure. And with 30 different beers on offer to try, it’s good to have the option of a little ballast. Of course, you’re only a five minute walk from Rockpool Bar and Grill and its incredible burger, so you might want to hold out.
It’s a pretty nice pub, despite the giant plasma screens planted around the room like Venus eye-traps. And while the bar staff are less than friendly, a schooner of any of the full James Squire range will only set you back $6.60. The jukebox, while fairly undistinguished (the usual mix of Powderfinger, JJJ compilations, Sinatra, Stones and Blondie) still turns up some gems and you could definitely spend five bucks in change in worse ways.
When you're inthe mood for some inner city naval gazing, drop your anchor at 30 Knots.