Sydney Bars that draw the best crowds

There’s nothing like an awesome local pub/bar to bring people together and to enable the kind of social interactions that are so important (and that also ensure we occasionally converse with our friends using a medium other than Facebook Chat or iMessage). A quality venue acts as a hub for creatives and a lynchpin for the the local scene.

If a place manages to create just the right atmosphere, it will draw a crowd of people keen to hang out, to chew the fat (not literally, that’d be gross), to check out new sounds, to unwind and, of course, to get their weekend started. There are plenty of Sydney bars that we, at somethingyousaid.com, like to frequent on a (probably too) regular basis. Here are just a handful…

We’re big fans of how The Soda Factory (pictured, top) delivers themed nights such as Movie Mondays and live music on a Wednesday. Also, they’ve just launched a full diner menu (5pm-10pm daily, & a late-night menu operating 10pm-late). And if you’re an especially popular human-being, then you’re gonna love the new inclusion of long tables, accommodating larger groups. Great atmos, friendly staff. Job done.

Beware, vinyl enthusiasts. You might actually wet yourself with excitement at MojoRecord Bar. That’s right, it is indeed a record store and a bar. All in one! What a dream combination. Sift through their records and then enjoy another winning combination, like Jack Honey & Dry, in their bar area. Great tunes guaranteed, obviously.

The Norfolk is the ideal place for a mid-evening gathering with your buddies. Not least because they’ve got a massive beer garden, yummy menu and chilled vibe. Oh, and the venue is kid friendly and also dog friendly. So bring your pooch/offspring and grab a spot in the sun. Big tables, big garden, big awesomeness.

Talking of beer gardens, Zanzibar in Newtown worth venturing to. After all, finding a rooftop bar is a something of a rarity in Sydneytown, especially one with such a cool buzz to it. Plus, the lung-busting stair-climb will ensure you’ll work up a proper thirst. It’s about 10 seconds from the train station too. So top marks for convenience.

Over in Bondi, The Beach Road Hotel is legendary. You can watch your team (invariably lose) on one of the screens in the sports bar and hit pool balls around a table before checking out some live music in an intimate environment. We’ve seen some amazing bands, both local and international, for free, on a Wednesday night there, over the past few years.

If you want an intimate saloon bar experience, then you don’t need to look much further than Shady Pines, tucked away round the back of Oxford Street. We’re big fans of pretending we’re in Cheers by taking a seat at the bar, nibbling on some nuts and chatting to the staff. And with an all-inclusive “absolutely no bookings, doorlist or functions… everyone is welcome” rule, Shady Pines is our kinda place.

Something You Said and Jack Daniel’s Honey encourage responsible drinking.