Affectionately known as the Eddy, the Edinburgh Castle Hotel has been a refuge for Sydney’s thirsty since 1885. Legend has it Henry Lawson spent a great deal of time inside its walls penning poems and stories.
You’ll often find the main bar area packed with the city’s workers loosening their collars come 5pm or crowded around the big screen watching whatever game is on that day. There’s a lounge bar upstairs if you want to escape the crowds and an outside courtyard with a leafy canopy.
The fitout doesn’t forget the Eddy’s heritage, while still being stylish and comfortably modern — there’s lots of brass, wooden fixtures, Art Deco lighting and geometric stained-glass windows.
The menu nods to the old and new as well, featuring modern and sophisticated takes on Aussie pub classics. Chicken wings are doused in Korean flavours and spice; vegan options include jackfruit tacos and cauliflower croquettes; and salads feature toppings like coconut tofu, papaya and edamame.
There’s plenty of beers on tap, the majority of the wine list leans local, and the short cocktail list includes a couple of different Spritzes, a spiked watermelon lemonade, a Salted Caramel Martini and a few extras.
