Shelbourne Hotel

Recently went to the Shelbourne Hotel for a work party on a Friday night and had privately hired out Linq Bar which can be located on level 2.
The décor and ambience was nice and the staff were super friendly and attentative throughout the whole night. We were served canapés which were well presented and all very tasty, they were a big hit with my colleagues. The music was fun and the location is quite good but still has a pub vibe.

Shelly B, you’ve got a hold on me… well a grasp, nay a touch, heck let’s just call the whole thing off!
With work being situated on the same block as the Bourne Shellpremacy it’s amazing I’m not seen here more regularly. Or maybe it isn’t. For one, it’s not exactly cheap. Considering that I am happy to pay top end prices at small bars, I kind’ve expect a pub to do it a bit cheaper (they have poker machines after all, so why stick me for $ 10 for a beer?).
The food here’s pretty good. I’ve had the schnitty, and it’s satisfactory by pub standards. They also have a condiment alley so you can pray to the Masterfood gods of Ketchup and American Mustard.
The indoor seating is hit and miss. They have this massive vacant area in front of the bar by the stairwell, that feels… well… awkward. You can’t really stand there without feeling like a total muppet, and there ain’t no seats, so you waddle over to where everyone is jammed in adjacent to the bar instead and try obtaining a seat there. The bench tables are sturdy, long and strong, and if you and your crew happen to nab one of these, good for you. If you don’t then your going to be crowded around one of those tall circular spinning tops where every slight bump could see that $ 10 schooey hit the deck.
There’s a niche alcove around the other side of the bar, for that intimate setting if you happen to have a date or something, and upstairs caters for functions. Naturally the best place to be at the Shellbourne is out the front in the beer garden. This is where the magic happens. The cool conversations, the people watching, and the breath of fresh air (let me clarify the usage of «fresh» here. It’s oxygen mixed with carbon monoxide expelled from lungs and belched out of car exhausts — but hey it’s still better than inside).
All in all the Shelbz is an ok place to mingle, meet for a few after work, or have a quick bite. However, if you are wanting a longer stay somewhere this place probably isn’t where you want to be. The atmosphere is suited to suits.

I’m bumping my review up to a three here. I have to say i’ve been quite a few more times after work and it’s starting to grow on me. The burgers and the chicken schnitzel are still meh, but the pizzas aren’t half bad.

I met a few friends at the Shelbourne Hotel last night (Friday) just to have a few drinks and catch up. We met them in the outdoor beer garden area of the Shelbourne and it was fairly crowded, but not overcrowded.
I was promised food if I went so that was my sole mission once I got there and I was glad to see that they offered at $ 5 pizzas at the bar. It’s hard to find $ 5 anything anywhere on a Friday night in Sydney (not even at McDonalds).
I ordered a round of drinks and we took a seat back out in the beer garden. It wasn’t too long for the pizzas to come out and they varied by type, with a margharita, shrimp, chorizo, lamb, and prosciutto. It was all really good and I’d definitely be keen to go back on a Friday night. I think the lamb was my favorite.
I only had a few drinks and stuck to gin and tonics, but it looked like they had a pretty good assortment of beers available on tap as well.

The beer garden is great here. Its a nice little haven when occasionally unchained from my desk. Ideally we aim to get down there around midday to nab a table along the vertical garden wall to settle in for a well earned drink & dine session (and usually bitch about our boss).
So… Food… I’m all excited about the things happening in the kitchen here. They’ve been talking up their new Head Chef, as coming from some of the best SMH Schooner rated venues on the city fringe. So hello, here I come chomping at the bit like a closet foodie ready for some new age pub grub! Long story short, the new food is goooooood!
Although I’ve been lead to believe «you don’t make friends with salad» I have to admit I most impressed by the baby beetroot number. It was fresh and leafy, with toasted macadamia nuts, a bit of a balsamic bite and these wicked little crumbed & fried balls of goats cheese that added the right balance of sin, to something so beautifully fresh & healthy. If I could eat like this every second day, I could happily survive as vegetarian.
My friend had the lamb chop special, which was also a far cry from a what you’d expect in a bar or pub. 2 juicy chops stacked neatly on a pea feta mint salad. It must have been good, she woofed it down and didn’t share a morsel haha!
The food tip we were given is to explore the specials, which are dishes by the new chef. But we’ll be back to check out what else is on offer when the do change the menu.

I only recently went for a bike ride down to the Shelbourne to meet up with the TIE Entrepreneur group for some newbie entrepreneur networking. We hid away in a smaller section off the back of the bar, near the bathrooms, and as it was a tuesday night, the 28 of us made it look like a bit of a private function, although it was very public.
Located on the hill that heads down to Darling Harbour nearby the monorail lines, it’s fairly easy to walk to, and for bikers, has a few park benches close by to lock up your bike.
The inside offers great views of Darling Harbour, and is spacious and airy, with a great selection of café style tables, and wooden tables against the windows. Head outside to get a view of the city slowing down after a busy day, and even escape into the half enclosed private alcove on the side.
I think this would be a great night haut in the city, and I will definitely revisit soon.

Having only recently been (ie; last night, feel my hangover, guys), the memory of Shelbourne is still fresh in my mind.
Apart from the fact that I ran into my stalker, it was actually quite a great night! Evidenced by the fact that even my sober, usually-​downer friend raved about how much fun she had!
Located just across the Pyrmont Bridge from Darling Harbour, Shelbourne is fairly easy to get to. Before 9:30pm (or before 10:30 if you’re on a guest list), entry to the club is free! After, it’s a very reasonable $ 10.
But beware the cashier-​chick… she has no qualms about taking your $ 20 and «forgetting» to give you your change back.
There’s a spacious courtyard outdoors, with tables and chairs to relax on, and even a small alcove fitted with cushioned seats and a hanging lamp if you want a little romance ;).
What I love about Shelbourne, is the fact that you can still hear and enjoy the music even when you’re outside! The outdoor sections of clubs are usually cut off from the music, and so every time ‘your song’ comes on, you need to rush inside in order to hear it better… not so with Shelbourne! You can stay seated outside, and enjoy the beat just as well as if you were inside.
And then there’s the music itself!
We were meant to head off at 1am, but every time we tried, a great song came on and we just HAD to stay and dance until the end of it… and in this vein, we ended up only leaving at about 3!
I would definitely head here again. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Located on Sussex Street in the city, a stones throw from Darling Harbour and the Pyrmont Bridge is The Shelbourne Hotel. It’s been a destination for plenty who trek over the Pyrmont Bridge and need to quench their thirst and also those city workers looking for a break during or after work.
Split across a few levels there is a roof top garden, an eating area plus the main bar area which joins on to the back beer garden. It’s a relatively new addition to the place and I must admit looks nice. If you require a slap of the pokies there’s also a small room right down stairs on the Sussex Street level for you.
There’s trivia nights, DJ’s on some nice plus plenty of good options to choose from on the bar menu but the pizza is what I go for all the time and it hits the spot. A good spot! The Shelbourne Hotel.