Hotel Sweeneys

Unsuspecting old style pub down stairs, but fantastic little rooftop all the way up the top of the stairs. Note there is no lift so be willing to take a few flights of stairs to get up there. When we were there they had some great tunes playing, misters going to cool you off and umbrellas for shade. They also had a sausage sizzle which was awesome too! Also note that upstairs they only have craft beers, so if you're after a classic then def grab one on your way up, it's quite a few stairs back down otherwise...

A great spot in the heart of the CBD. 4 levels ranging from a friendly city pub and VIP room on the ground floor, through some of Sydney’s best Thai on level 2, cocktails and amazing packaged beer on level 3 (grass roots comedy some nights) to the Crowd favourite: The level 4 rooftop bar now with 12 of Sydney’s best rotating craft beer taps. Really good friendly staff make you feel very welcome. More than 35 individual beer lines after the 2020 major renovation. Good music, great vibe.

I’ve been a regular since I was 18 at Sweeneys and have always loved the roof top terrace and the third floor. Unfortunately, the new security crew are not as accomodating and have been rather aggressive on entry the few last times I’ve been there. This time I brought my mother there, and because we were honest with the fact they we had 4 drinks each, they first threatened us with only having one drink more. They then followed us the entire time we were there even though there were others far more drunk around them on a Friday night. Being followed around was really uncomfortable and I don’t know if I could recommend this bar anymore. This is not a secret spot anymore and maybe they know and I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone anymore. LONG STORY SHORT: don’t go here for a night out.

The Thai bistro is probably the worst restaurant I have ever been to in Sydney. The tables were filled with dirty dishes, food was waiting on the counter for ages, some dishes in a dirty spot near the cashier etc. As they are in a pub they had pub classics so I ordered a steak and my friend got a salmon salad. The food took a long time and when I went to collect they had forgotten the steak. A guy was also waiting at the counter returning his vegetarian pad Thai as it had chicken in it. Eventually when they cooked my steak they had forgotten the salad and it was just on a pile of chips. After waiting even longer they finally got to my order. The steak was like a leather boot and they had no steak knives so very difficult to eat. My friend’s salmon tasted like it had been rubbed in sand and the cashews in the salad were all burnt black. She commented that it was the worst meal she had eaten out as long as she could remember. I remember eating here a few years ago and it was OK so not sure what’s happened but it is mind blowingly bad now.