The Wanderer

In planning my engagement party, we searched high and low across the city for something that would be fun and eclectic to match our wedding style but also wouldn’t break the bank. On a whim, we inquired at the Wanderer, as it’s just a 15 minute walk from our unit in Redfern and 400 meters from Central, so we’ve stopped in fairly often.
I can’t say enough about how great the bar was in accommodating us, our budget and our guests. The adventure themed décor make the place one of a kind in Sydney, and besides a lack of female adventurers, all the funky wall décor made for great pics our entire party.
We rented the entire bar and had food and open bar for a very reasonable price we negotiated with the bar. They were so chill about everything, from lending us a Polaroid camera and ordering the film for it to accommodating all of the dietary needs of our gluten free, veggo and vegan guests.
During the party, the service was incredible at the bar – I felt like everyone constantly had a drink in hand. The food came out in waves, and was quickly snapped up – we enjoyed a mix of quesadillas (the vego haloumi ones were incredible) ribs, sliders (again, the veg with haloumi was a big standout to me), chips and potato skins – something delicious for everyone.
They were also very accommodating with any furniture moving and bringing in my cupcakes for the party. I really can’t say enough about how great our party was because of the bars great leadership.
I would definitely go back any time because the food was a real star at our party and we’ve never been disappointed eating their on our own.
The only drawback is the size, so make sure you book or on busy nights you’re going to have to find an alternative.

A really cool little bar that has really tasty food. An amazing atmosphere that is easy to relax to, but also a room out back where there’s a N64, shuffleboard and darts. Relaxed décor and awesome maps of whiskey origins chalked on the wall, wooden furniture.
The food is really great, ribs fall off the bone and sweet potato skins that make me want to keep coming back. Staff is friendly, they know their booze and some nice craft beer on tap.
Atmosphere ⁹⁄₁₀
Food ⁷⁄₁₀
Drink 7.5÷10
Overall ⁸⁄₁₀

This was my favorite bar during my visit to Sydney. I just really enjoyed the vibe and ambiance of this place. The owners definitely added their unique details to this bar. There are personalized brass mugs above the bar and a Nintendo 64 in the back room.
Out of the assortment of cocktails to choose from, I went with the Old Fashioned. I would of tried the food, but I arrived when the kitchen closed. The bartender added his own personal twist to my cocktail and I appreciated the attention to detail. The sounds of modern rock played in the background as I relaxed and enjoyed my drink.
I would definitely come back if I’m in Sydney again.

Small little bar with some great food, couple of good beers and a rack of hot sauces on the wall. Lucky we booked; because the staff were turning away customers even when I witnessed an empty table. They also tried to block the rest of my group, lucky my mates handled the over zealous ‘bouncer’ and finally sat with us.

I can’t believe how close this was to me and just recently tried them. My only regret was not trying this place earlier. Great food. And THE drinks. Excellent selection!

I can say without exaggeration that this is my new favorite bar. My wife and I walked past this small bar on our way to dinner and decided to double back afterwards for a beer. From the moment we walked in there was a feeling of intimacy and originality throughout. The owners definitely invested a lot of personal time into adding their own flair from the Nintendo 64 in back to the personalized brass mugs for the locals. The variety of beers was great and the owner’s knowledge and willingness to discuss subtle nuances really sealed the deal. This is not a huge club with thumping music but a place to go to have a great beer, engage in great conversation, and make new friends. It’s a small bar that makes everyone feel like they’re one of the select locals. I would definitely recommend.

Reasons to visit The Wanderer:
1. Smashing staff;
2. Excellent drinks menu (Angry Man Pale Ale, nom!);
3. Pretty passable food;
4. N64. That’s right, Nintendo 64 yo!
5. GOLDEN EYE!!!

This is a great little bar, staffed by friendly, laid back bartenders, with a great selection of drinks and not too pricey for the area. Their thick cut chips are really to die for! I am not usually one to use ‘modern’ acronyms like LOL and YOLO, but in this instance the only way to describe those think cut chips is OMG! They make a perfect accompaniment to your alcoholic elixir of choice.

I was looking for a new meet up spot in Surry Hills and saw The Wanderer offered craft beer on tap. It was a bit more of a walk from Central than I was looking for, especially with the freezing temperatures we’ve been having, but eventually I saw the candle light flickering its way onto the sidewalk and I knew I had found something worthwhile.
My first visit was on a Wednesday, just for a few drinks before dinner. They only have 3 taps, which on both my visits had a Murray’s Golden, a Murray’s Pale, and an English Bitter. The bar is long and narrow, and dimly lit. There’s a funky room out back with some larger tables that can be hired out for a private function, but is otherwise fair game for patrons. I overheard the barkeep telling a patron that the room is wired so you can hook up your iPod, etc. I’ll have to keep that place in mind next time I’m booking a casual function.
I couldn’t help looking at everyone’s food as I walked by (curse of a Unilocaler). Almost everyone was eating what looked like authentic American style chicken wings. For that very reason, I found myself back at The Wanderer a mere 9 days later. I had made a booking, which had been lost. As compensation, we were given a round of beer while the bar keep found and cleared a table. I’m more than okay with that. It was an unexpected and unnecessary gesture, which was greatly appreciated and demonstrated a level of customer service you don’t often see these days.
Complimentary popcorn followed soon after we were seated. We didn’t have to wait long for our wings & sweet potato skins. The wings were good– close to what I’d get back home (vinegar based, unbreaded, & baked for those aficionados), but could have done with a bit more time on the oven to crisp them up.
The sweet potato consisted of thinly sliced sweet potato served in a bucket with sour cream and bacon. I can see why the menu lists it as the bartender’s favourite.
Overall, the food was pretty good, but it’s the atmosphere, friendly staff, and customer service that makes this place memorable for me. In any event, I accomplished my goal of finding another meet up spot in Surry Hills.

A small, hole in the wall place with SUCH a fab vibe and good music. Not too loud but a great place for casual drinks.

A little tricky to find on the first visit — which probably makes people feel like they’ve discovered something very exciting. And it is!
Great cocktails
Friendly staff
Huge boutique beer list
Free nuts (HA)
What’s not to love?

They need to update their website. Closed on Sundays even though they have specials listed online. Instead we were greeted by eight cockroaches and a closed sign.

Yay! Another place that is super friendly and gives you free popcorn. Love.
And they have a beer pong competition. You can win $ 1000. AMAZING! And they have decent $ 5 house wine. And good beers.
It’s great. Go to here.