Mercantile Hotel

Every so often when I’m in Sydney I decide to go on a good of Rocks Pub Crawl, though there are a few pubs here that I do my best to try and avoid — this is one of them. I shouldn’t really be too harsh on the place since there are some that are a lot worse, however I found that the service here is actually pretty bad. In fact one time I was here I believe I was standing at the bar for five minutes waiting to be served, at which time I basically decided that I had better things to do with my time and went elsewhere (namely to a pub where I could get a beer without having to wait too long). The second time wasn’t anywhere near as bad, but unfortunately that first impression really did it for me.

Sydney is beginning to teach me the error in my ways. Yet another dark venue to which I can now appreciate. (Although from previous experience an Irish pub will always be low lit).
Polishing off a pint of Guinness isn’t something I usually do but when in Rome… Oddly has a bitterness to it I can best associate with coffee (I hate coffee!) but amazingly drank this with ease.
Now to the food. Ordering in the last 40 minutes of service isn’t advised. We were given a size able list of dishes that had sold out. Not being fussy worked to our advantage and we made back up of back up choices. I will never fib about my love of food and hefty portions and this pub grub made me smile. Full plates all around and fast service to boot! The Jameson whiskey marinade didn’t make its mark on the salmon but I liked it anyway.
On leaving I also got to hear a favourite song of my Dad’s sung live: Dirty Old Town by The Pogues.

I stayed at the hotel for three nights. The accommodations are Spartan but clean. Same for the shared bathrooms. Nothing fancy here, but you can’t beat the location at the price. You just walk across the street to see the Opera House and look up to se the bridge. Tons of restaurants and bars close by. Fantastic neighborhood. I’d never stayed in a place with shared bathrooms but it was fine. The building is old but what do you expect from Australia’s first Irish pub? Rooms have TVs and A/​C units. Great experience.

If you in the rocks there’s plenty of places to eat but I thoroughly enjoyed a good pub meal. I shared the lamb burger and fries with my partner over 2 beers in the Sydney sun. I have to say the lamb burger was pretty good, but the battered fries were my favourite. So crispy. Good place for a quiet drink on the terrace during the day if you want to sit back and relax.

ummmm can we say gross? Unless you’re in the mood for a dingy pub please look elsewhere. The «pub» smell (you know, years of stale beer and smoke mixed with some sort of unidentifiable fried food) is overwhelming to the point where you have to sit outside. No wonder there are so many tables out in front…
As for the food? I opted for the steak medium rare. What I got more closely resembled a chewy tire– super well done and super grisly as well.
Points for outdoor seating and cheap food… but unless you are HANGRY not worth it.

Warm beer. $ 20 min eftpos. 2 nopes makes me the pope of nope about this. Disappointed.

If it’s clear and yella, you got juice there fella! If it’s tangy and brown, you’re in cider town!
The Mercantile has both Bulmers and Magners on tap and probably a range of cider varietals in the fridge, such is their Irish perspicacity. However, the one drink that probably defines them more than any other, is the Irish Car Bomb. Why? Cos it looks like one went off in here, and lemme tell ya, that is half the charm :)
The bar itself is the weirdest design I’ve ever seen. It’s like a trapezoid trippin’ on Jesse’s Chilli P.
Then there’s the «no purpose» rooms. They have chairs and tables but I don’t know why you’d go in them. Sticking a telly on the wall and an ATM in the corner just confounds the situation.
There is fantastic live Irish music on Fri nights and weekends, though they do put the bands on the strangest of stages.
However, these quirks are what draws you to the Mercantile. If you are visiting The Rocks markets on a weekend or just wandering around tourist-​style you’d make a mistake of not stopping to have a couple at thirtsy Merc.
I particulary enjoy the outside seating as it is a prime location for people watching whilst you sip on your bevvy.
An Englishman, an Irishman and an Australian walk into a bar…

I’m convinced that this place is run by someone’s half blind, pseudo Irish (I’m talking 5^th generation) Grandpa.
Someone please give this place a face lift and fire the «chef». The place looks like a rec room at a raisin ranch — tattered industrial carpeting that was probably laid down during the Cold War, and the most inefficient use of space ever. I think there was what some people might call a DJ booth — either that or a pen where they chuck lost kids.
The staff couldn’t have been more lacking in personality, too, and someone literally ran away from the kitchen at the sight of patrons in the window. The food itself was awful. Chicken schnitzel that was pre-​cooked and then obliterated a second time in the fryer, burger cooked beyond recognition, and salad that was made inedible by the pool of oil it sat in.
I would never get beer here for fear they’ve not cleaned the lines since the place opened.

Live music playing oldies. What a nice place to relax while you bar hopping. Bathroom is clean and if you need condoms. Just check the toilets.
The barman is friendly and calls you Sir. At least he learned manners. I’ll come again :)

Had a meal there last night. One of the best steaks I’ve had. Scotch fillet well done. Was $ 18.50 (sirloins $ 17). Served with fries. Salad was an extra 3 bucks. Beers $ 4.20, had a Carlton Draught as they don’t serve VB which is a bit of a negative considering VB is New South Wales, and possibly Australia’s biggest selling beer. Hotel has atmosphere as other reviewers have said. Not a lot of people there but it was a Wednesday night. Mercantile has some history, was built in 1915. 100^th anniversary coming up.

A proper pubby pub. A nice big bar, occasional Irish music, lots of outside seating to watch the Rocks Market shopping crowd on the weekend, and food that’s just on the right side of middle of the road (and priced appropriately).
This is a place to have a drink.

Into your Irish music? No? Oh. Well you should perhaps avoid the Mercantile then. The extremely narrow stage is often home to group of Irish musicians playing some of your favourite gaelic numbers. Not that I can name any, but they’re pretty catchy! It’s all good fun and adds a good atmosphere to accompany your one or two (or three or four…) pints of Guinness/​Kilkenny.
If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, this place gets packed! Best get there early as I imagine you’d be struggling to get in after dark (or to be honest, after 11am — god bless the Irish!).
And if you’re just wandering The Rocks, this is a pretty good place to stop for some refreshments — I’ve not had the food, but apparently that’s not bad either!

The Mercantile Hotel at The Rocks is an old favourite for those Irish folk that enjoy a pint or two of Guiness. In fact you don’t even have to be Irish. There’s plenty that aren’t that still enjoy this Irish classic.
Quite small and often filled with people, if you are cramped inside you may have to enjoy your pint on the foot path or area just out the front. Don’t worry it’s part of the pub so it’s all legal and above board! There’s even a room downstairs if you need to escape for a while.
Depending on when you go, there’s a good chance that there is some live music playing and it’s a safe bet that someone (Irish or otherwise) will break into an Irish jig.
It’s a good fun pub and definitely worth a pint of Guiness. Or few.