Sydney
Surry Hills packs more good drinking into a few blocks than almost anywhere in Sydney. The neighbourhood runs from garden wine rooms and agave dens to live-music supper clubs and late hotel bars, all within a short walk of Crown Street. This guide covers the rooms worth planning a night around, what each one does best, and when to turn up.
CROWN STREET · $$$ · WINE BAR
The Winery is the neighbourhood's garden room, a quirky wine bar on Crown Street with a leafy terrace and more than 30 wines by the glass. Best for a long, sunny afternoon that drifts into dinner. Go early on a weekday for the terrace.
FOSTER STREET · $$ · AGAVE BAR
Tio's is a tiny, loud agave bar packed with kitsch and a deep tequila and mezcal list. Best for a margarita and a standing-room session. Arrive before 8pm on a weekend or expect a wait at the door.
CROWN STREET · $$$ · LIVE MUSIC
Henrietta pairs a supper-club menu with live music and a strong punch and cocktail list. Best for a date or a small group that wants dinner and a show in one room. Book ahead for a table on music nights.
COMMONWEALTH STREET · $$ · WINE BAR
Poly, in the Paramount House complex, is a sharp all-day wine bar with a snack-led menu and a smart by-the-glass list. Best for an early drink and a few plates before the night gets going. Quiet in the afternoon, busy after work.
CAMPBELL STREET · $$ · WHISKEY BAR
The Wild Rover hides behind an unmarked door on Campbell Street, an Irish-leaning whiskey bar with live music upstairs. Best for a whiskey and a late session. Head up the stairs when the band plays.
HOLT STREET · $$$ · COCKTAIL BAR
Untied is a low-key cocktail room tucked off Holt Street, built for highballs and considered classics. Best for a quiet, technique-led drink away from the Crown Street crowd. Walk-ins work early in the evening.
COMMONWEALTH STREET · $$$ · HOTEL BAR
The lobby bar at Paramount House is a calm, design-led room for a negroni and a quiet conversation. Best for a measured first drink or a nightcap. Easy to walk into most nights.
CLEVELAND STREET · $$ · AFTER WORK
Tow Bar is an easy neighbourhood room on Cleveland Street for a beer and a pale ale after work. Best for an unfussy local drink with no plan. Busiest in the early evening.
CROWN STREET · $$ · PUB
The Clock is the classic Surry Hills pub, a multi-level Crown Street fixture with a balcony and a craft list. Best for a long pub session with a group. The balcony fills fast on warm afternoons.
WENTWORTH AVENUE · $$ · LATE NIGHT
The Soda Factory is a retro diner-bar with live music and a late license off Wentworth Avenue. Best for a late, loud finish to the night. Runs latest on weekends.
Use this guide as a route or a checklist. Surry Hills works as a single crawl because the rooms sit so close together, so a night can run from a garden wine list to an agave bar to a late diner without a cab. Reservations are flagged where they matter; otherwise the rule is simple, arrive early on weekends.
For a planned route through the area, see the Surry Hills bar crawl. For the wider city, start with the best bars in Sydney, then narrow by occasion with the best cocktail bars in Sydney, the best wine bars in Sydney, and the best date night bars in Sydney.
Editorially curated by Marcus Webb. Venue details cross-checked against official sites, Destination NSW and Sydney press in 2026.