Rag & Famish Hotel

Some 160 years of history is wrapped up in this heritage-listed pub in uptown North Sydney. Thankfully, this has prevented it from being turned into one of those nuevo-reno pubs that serve schmiddies over neon underlit bartops for $10 a pop. It’s the classic anatomy of Aussie pubdom – long wooden bar, a great beer selection, token bar wench, beer garden out the back, footy on the teev and a bistro upstairs. The wine list has quite a few good local drops from here and across the ditch as well as some French bubbly. But our bet is the beer – choose from classics such as VB, Carlton Draught and their mates, or try one of the more boutique brews like Beez Neez, Hoegaarden and the like. Fancy. Classic pub food sees burgers, pies and bangers and mash at prices that won’t hurt the hip pocket.