Sydney is known for its diverse drinking scene, with plenty of storied pubs, pint-sized wine bars and glitzy bars with water views. Harbour city dwellers are famously adventurous with their happy hour tipples — here, big-brand beers are often skipped in favour of locally crafted brews.
From the coastal pale ales of the northern beaches to the artisanal rice lagers of the inner west, Sydney’s microbrewery scene is as lively as it is flavourful. While the heartland lies in the city’s inner west — there’s even an Inner West Ale Trail — boutique breweries are popping up everywhere, turning tired warehouses into hip community hubs with live music, food trucks, family-friendly zones and one-of-a-kind brews. Here’s our roundup of the best breweries in the city.
1. The Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre, Marrickville
Nothing beats a trip to legendary Hawke’s Brewery, tucked in Marrickville’s back streets. Not only is there plenty of tank-fresh craft beer tapped from large steel vessels visible throughout the venue, but there’s a retro Chinese bistro, Lucky Prawn, serving nostalgic takeaway-night classics. The sprawling leisure centre has The Public Bar serving beer, cocktails and wine; a moody pool room with conversation-starting Bob Hawke memorabilia; and The Patio, perfect for shooting the breeze with a Hawke’s Patio Pale.
Where: 8-12 Sydney Street Marrickville
hawkesbrewing.com
2. Felons Brewing Co, Manly
Fancy a beer with a view? Felons sits right on the water at Manly Wharf. The Brisbane-born brewers took over the Manly Wharf Hotel in 2024 and they’re making beer right there on the harbour. You’ll find all their award-winning beers on tap, as well as a few special editions created just for Manly. Like the Japanese Rice Lager, brewed with a slow fermentation of jasmine rice and barley. It’s light and crisp with notes of fresh lemon and cherry blossom – perfect for a summer day by the beach. The food is step up from your usual brewery fare or if you want to go fancy, Felons Seafood is more fine dining than fish and chips. Stay late to catch a gig at Felons Barrel Room.
Where: E Esplanade, Manly Wharf
felonsbrewingco.com.au/pages/felons-manly
3. 4 Pines Truck Bar, Brookvale
A pioneer of the Aussie craft brewery scene, 4 Pines began in 2008 as a small brew pub in Manly. The original locale still brews top-notch beers, and 4 Pines has two other Sydney sites: Brookvale and Newport. Brookvale is our top pick for retro-style enthusiasts, with a distinctive 21-tap bar built into a vintage 1960s Dodge truck. The whole setting has a chic functional aesthetic with brewing equipment and food vans amidst the working warehouse collective. Moving beyond the pale? Try the Dry Irish Stout with an ebony hue and creamy mouthfeel.
Where: 4 Pines Brewery HQ, Brookvale
4pinesbeer.com.au
4. Young Henry’s, Newtown
As you might expect in the indie-cool hub of Newtown, Young Henry’s is every bit the lively micro brewery with street art, food trucks, an urban rock’n’roll ambience and phenomenal tap beer. Their flagship flavour, The Newtowner, is a crowd-pleasing pale ale with a semi-sweet maltiness, refreshing bitterness and a spike of citrus. In fact, the entire range is full of character, from the tropical hoppy notes of The Stayer, to the West Coast-style IPA with a dry finish.
Where: 76 Wilford Street, Newtown
younghenrys.com
5. Modus Brewing, Mona Vale
With a passion for homebrew and a humble dream, married couple Jaz and Grant Wearin launched Modus in Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 2014. Modus is still 100% family owned, and proudly operates on 100% green energy. Brews here are usually small batch and limited runs, so enjoy a rotation of one-hit wonder beers at the relaxed pub-style Mona Vale warehouse. True to its coastal location, two of their most popular creations are the Modus Pacific Ale, a classic style that’s juicy and flavourful, and the crisp Mexican-style beer, the Cerveza Modus.
Where: 14 Harkeith Street, Mona Vale
mobrewing.com.au
6. Mountain Culture, Redfern
Bar staff welcome you like old friends at this hip pub and brewery in Redfern. Step inside to a modern gritty setting with killer tunes, fresh Mountain Culture ales on tap, glowing neon signs and no-nonsense pub fare. The microbrewery is within strolling distance of Redfern Train Station, but if you’re out West, Mountain Culture has outposts in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains too. Kick off with their Status Quo beer — full flavoured and hazy, to dial down the bitterness and up the fruity flavour.
Where: 158 Regent St, Redfern
mountainculture.com.au
7. The Squire’s Landing, Circular Quay
It’s not often you get to sip craft beers while looking out over two national icons, but you can do just that at The Squire’s Landing. Perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour, smack bang between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, this is Sydney at its most spectacular. Grab a seat in the beer garden or behind the floor-to-ceiling glass walls of the ground floor brewhouse for a schooner of James Squire’s signature 150 Lashes Pale Ale or one of the seasonal brews. Upstairs, the restaurant serves up modern Australian cuisine with plenty of seafood and some seriously good steaks.
Where: Circular Quay W, The Rocks
thesquireslanding.com.au
8. Lord Nelson Brewery, Millers Point
Lord Nelson sits on a street corner in one of Sydney’s most fabled hoods, Millers Point, and is Australia’s oldest pub brewery. Opening its doors in 1841, the micro brewery was added during a 1986 renovation. Lord Nelson’s award-winning 100% natural ales are brewed with malt, hops, yeast and water, with no added sugars, preservatives or additives. Fermented on site then matured in the cellar directly below, the beers are channeled fresh through taps to the first-floor bar. Three Sheets Pale Ale is malty, citrusy, and not too hoppy — named after the phrase ‘three sheets to the wind,’ (meaning drunk)!
Where: 19 Kent Street, Millers Point
lordnelsonbrewery.com
9. The Grifter Brewing Co., Marrickville
Grifter have been brewing malty goodness in craft-beer central, Marrickville, since 2012. This brewery brand doesn’t take itself too seriously, with a penchant for quirky design and down-to-earth energy — the massive grain silo out front, painted like their flagship pale ale in searingly bright orange, gives a hint of things to come. The sprawling tasting room features raw brick walls, a pool room with vintage charm, and a lively energy. Beer o’clock? Serpent’s Kiss is a fave, with its refreshing profile and unique trace of watermelon. Pair it with a tasty slice from Grifter’s pizzeria, Fortune.
Where: 1/391-397 Enmore Road, Marrickville
thegrifter.com.au
10. Yulli’s Brews, Alexandria
Yulli’s story is one of food first, beer second, beginning as a beloved vegan eatery in Sydney in 2008. When Yulli’s staff brewer James Harvey started experimenting with 100% vegan craft beers and winning a swag of awards, Yulli’s Brews was born. The Surry Hills venue dishes up tasty vegan and gluten-free dishes washed down with Yulli’s beers, as does Yulli’s Brews in Alexandria, where the microbrewery is housed. The hip industrial space has vintage finds, cosy amber-hued lighting and fruity beers with playful character names like Slick Rick Rampaging Red Ale and Karaoke King Rice Lager.
Where: 75a Burrows Road, Alexandria
yullisbrews.com.au
