If Sydney were a Monopoly board, St Leonards would be one of the utilities. Given it’s home to major infrastructure like train stations and hospitals it’s a terribly useful part of our city, but it’s not what you’d call a cultural hub. But all that public transporting and life saving can work up a thirst, which is where Gilroy’s Hotel comes to the fore. Tucked in amongst the high rises, this corner hotel has warm light spilling out over the threshold, hauling you bodily through the doors and out of the cold. You’ll feel like a giant walking up to the bar. The sunken bar sits at waist height and the bartenders are standing a few steps lower than you. It’s a pretty even split between the usual brews and craft beer offerings. It wouldn’t be a Sydney pub without the three C’s – Carlton, Cascade and Coopers – but they have Lord Nelson, Fat Yak, and Riverside Brewings 69 summer ale on tap too, plus Blue Moon Belgian witbier in bottles. There’s $13 pub food specials for each night of the week that rotate through schnitzel, steak, fish and chips, burgers and nachos and so long as the weather holds the best spot to eat them is up on the wraparound balcony decorated with potted cyclamens. They have a collection of mallard figurines, copper bed warmers and fish moulds on the walls, and in pride of place, a giant bison head mounted above the stairwell. It’s the old hunting-lodge feel that makes it such a welcoming spot in a suburb of glass and steel.
