Best Pubs in The Rocks
Looking for the best pubs in The Rocks? We've gathered 10 standout spots in this corner of Sydney, each ranked by our independent Spot Score so the strongest picks rise to the top. The Rocks has its own character, and the pubs here reflect it — from neighbourhood favourites locals keep to themselves to places worth a special trip across town. Use the filters to narrow by price, rating, what's open right now and the features that matter to you, then open the map to plan your visit around what else is nearby. We re-check details regularly, so opening hours and information stay current.
The Australian pub is a social institution — somewhere to catch the footy, settle in for a counter meal or while away a sunny afternoon in the beer garden. These are Sydney's most-loved locals and historic watering holes.
10 spots in The Rocks
The Hero of Waterloo Hotel
$$Modern Australian food in a long-running, sandstone pub with fireplaces, ghost tours and live bands.
Fortune of War - Sydney's Oldest Pub
$$Cosy, wood-accented pub built in 1828, offering bistro and bar food, plus live bands and solo acts.
Hotel Palisade
$$$Colourful rooms in a trendy hotel with a vibrant pub & a slick cocktail lounge with harbour views.
Harts Pub
$$Local artisan beers, plus gourmet burgers & grills, in an old-style corner pub with a courtyard.
Mercantile Hotel
$$Buzzy Irish pub with unfussy rooms & suites, plus live music, casual pub grub & Wi-Fi.
The Australian Heritage Hotel
$$Casual property offering a bar/restaurant & warmly decorated rooms, plus breakfast & Wi-Fi.
The Glenmore Hotel
$$Stalwart pub over 3 levels with elevated fare, a cocktail bar and a busy rooftop with harbour views.
Harbour View Hotel, The Rocks
$$Lively 3-level venue for upscale pub dining, plus a rooftop cocktail bar with Harbour Bridge views.
The Oriana Sydney
$$Airy, bustling eatery offering house-brewed beers & bites in a modern space with harbour views.
Orient Hotel
$$Bistro meals & fine dining in a tri-level, 1840s pub with chic lounge areas & a leafy courtyard.
More in The Rocks
Pubs in other Sydney suburbs
Pubs in The Rocks — FAQs
What are the best pubs in The Rocks?+
The pubs in The Rocks listed here are ranked by our Spot Score — our independent editorial rating out of 100, combining reputation, popularity, category fit and how recently we verified the details. The highest scorers appear first.
How many pubs are there in The Rocks?+
We currently feature 10 pubs in The Rocks, and we add and re-check venues regularly so the list stays current.
How do I get to The Rocks in Sydney?+
The Rocks is one of Sydney's neighbourhoods — open any venue's page for its exact location, nearby public-transport stops and a map. See our Getting Around guide for tickets and fares.