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The Woollahra Hotel

  • Bars
  • Woollahra
  • price 1 of 4
  1. Tables in terrace with plant wall
    Photograph: Supplied/Woollahra Hotel
  2. Pates of fish with garnish on top
    Photograph: Supplied/Woollahra Hotel
  3. Plates of good with birdseye view
    Photograph: Supplied/Woollahra Hotel
  4. Three cocktails
    Photograph: Supplied/Woollahra Hotel
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Time Out says

With its living vertical garden and contemporary Asian flavours, the Woollahra Hotel moves beyond classic pub fare

Behind a somewhat austere stone facade, the Woollahra Hotel is all about abundance. It’s a pub, sure – but it’s a pub in Woollahra, a little pocket just off the tail end of Paddington and home to pretty terraces, tree-lined streets and one of the city’s highest median incomes. 

While the hotel’s been around forever (since the 1930’s, to be exact), it’s just reopened its doors after a three-month hiatus and a well-deserved glow-up. Walking upstairs from the main entrance leads you to a picture-perfect semi-outdoor terrace complete with a vertical living garden – fern fronds will gently brush you during dinner, like it or not – and an expansive, glass-walled dining space. 

Courtesy of the new head chef, Jordan Muhamad (ex-Rockpool, Spice Temple and Chin Chin), the menu is distinctly Asian-inspired. Muhamad has directed his fine-dining sensibilities towards creating a menu of polished, creative dishes – at a pub-friendly price point. Steamed snapper swims in a light, soy and ginger broth, while salt and pepper squid, a pub favourite, is enhanced with the addition of a tangy nuoc chaum – a Vietnamese dipping sauce. The rump steak comes with an Asian-inspired pesto, and there are, of course, hot chips on the menu – they’re just dressed up with chilli sauce and a sprinkling of chilli salt.

Fresher options abound, too. The raw tuna salad pairs perfectly with a chilled rose while the sun streams into the outdoor terrace, and the wok-tossed Asian greens are an ideal side dish to assuage any guilt about an otherwise beige-toned meal. The house special Thai green curry is made with Thai eggplant, snake beans & baby corn – and yes, you can order the curry at this particular pub. 

Moncur Cellars’ Mark Blake is in charge of the wine list, which includes a solid array of organic, vegan and preservative-free wines, cherry-picked to complement Asian flavours. Cocktails are also a hit – the Full Moon Margarita is made from Espalon Blanco tequila, blood orange and grapefruit juice, while the G&T is a better option for those who’d rather keep things fresh and simple. 

The refreshed dining space is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 pm, and Friday to Sunday from noon. The lounge space downstairs is also open for drinks and function spaces are available to book out. 

Written by
Divya Venkataraman

Details

Address:
116 Queen St
Woollahra
Sydney
2025
Opening hours:
-Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri, Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm

What’s on

Curry Night at the Woollahra

Sometimes, a Thursday night in winter can be a bit, as they say, ‘bleak’. Deciding what to eat for dinner can feel like Everest (not to be too dramatic, but seriously) and the thought of having to physically cook something warm and nourishing can feel a wee bit much for those of us who would rather lie horizontally whilst listening to dolphin noises in their dark living rooms. For all ye weary folk, we hear you. That’s why the weekly Thursday curry night at the Woollahra Hotel is such a catch. Reinstated by new head chef Jordan Muhamad, who has cooked up a spice storm at the illustrious likes of Chin Chin and Spice Temple, this Thursday extravaganza is all about rich, complexly flavoured curries that pack a bloody punch. House-made curries include a steaming Hiramasa kingfish and prawn, sizzling pumpkin tofu, creamy beef massaman and a good ol’ classic Thai green chicken, with all these bowls of goodness coming with steamed rice and a house beverage to liven up your week.   Kicking off every Thursday from 5pm, this dinner saviour could become your newest weekly staple during our chilliest months. There’s no need to book, but you can stay informed on any weekly substitutions or specials by checking out their website for any curry-related updates.  Want to think about making dinner less, and eating yummy cheap food more? Look no further than our list of Sydney's best cheap eats. You're welcome.

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