Where2WatchIt

Day 23 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #51 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: Mosman Club

I have a bit of a soft spot for this one. Mosman Club was my local during the Covid “you must remain seated” era — importantly, it showed the rugby. 😂

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 21/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 4/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 5/5
🍻 Vibes: 3/5
✨ Extras: 4/5

I’ve watched just about everything here over the years — Rugby World Cups, Bledisloes, Bathurst and plenty more.

The massive screen is the star of the show, the food is genuinely excellent and there are a few locals who I’m fairly sure spend more time here than some of the staff.

I’ve marked it down slightly on vibes. It can be pretty quiet depending on when you visit and definitely attracts an older local crowd — but when there’s a big match on, that screen is excellent.

And once the sport is done, head upstairs. There’s a rooftop bar with some great views if a post-match cocktail sounds better than another schooner.

Reason to visit: Reliable for rugby union. 🏉

Day 22 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
AND STOP #50 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar! 🎉

Halfway to 100, so it feels appropriate that #50 is somewhere I’ve already found myself watching sport at some fairly questionable hours.

📍 The Madison Hotel, Central

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 23/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 5/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 5/5
🍻 Vibes: 4/5
✨ Extras: 4/5

The big selling point? It’s open 24 hours.

And when you’re trying to watch Premier League, Rugby World Cups or any other sport determined to ruin an Australian sleep schedule, that’s a pretty bloody useful feature.

I’ve been here for pre-match drinks before heading to Allianz, early morning beers during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and now the Premier League.

Downstairs is SPORTS. Screens everywhere, immediately. Upstairs feels a little more separated, with screens dotted around so different groups can settle in for different matches, plus pool tables.

And location-wise, it’s hard to beat. Right by Central for trains, Metro and light rail.

Reason to visit: SPORT. ANY TIME. 24/7.

50 down. Plenty more pubs to go. 🍻

Day 21 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #49 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: Hyde Park House

I’ve been here plenty of times for work functions, but never really looked at it through the “would I come here to watch sport?” lens.

Turns out — not bad.

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 19/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 3/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 3/5
🍻 Vibes: 4/5
✨ Extras: 4/5

There are good screens across the ground floor and Level 1, although I didn’t hear any commentary while I was there.

And that probably sums Hyde Park House up pretty well. It feels more like a pub/function venue that keeps the sport on than somewhere built around watching it — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The ground-floor bar is my pick. Nice old-school pub feel, exposed brick and plenty of screens without the whole place screaming SPORTS BAR at you.

I couldn’t find an upcoming sports schedule online, but it looks to lean towards AFL, NRL and UFC.

Why visit? Good for a group that isn’t all there for the sport.

Day 20 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #48 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: Lord Roberts Hotel, Darlinghurst

Affectionately known as The Bob, this one is tucked away from the main drag and feels like a proper old-school Sydney local.

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 21/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 4/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 3/5
🍻 Vibes: 4/5
✨ Extras: 5/5

There are some good spots to settle in and watch downstairs, although I didn’t spot any screens up on the rooftop.

Sports coverage looks a little more limited, I couldn’t find a regular live sports schedule online and it doesn’t appear to have Stan, so probably not your pick for rugby union or Premier League.

But I really liked the feel of this place. Historic pub charm, a genuine locals vibe and, most importantly, a Hot Dogs wall featuring photos of very cute pups who I’m assuming are regulars. Frankly, excellent pub infrastructure.

Why visit? Old-school local pub charm.

21/25 - absolutely somewhere I’d happily watch a game if what I wanted was on or have a cheeky bev.

Day 19 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #47 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: Tea Gardens, Bondi Junction

Tea Gardens got off to an excellent start with me for one very selfish reason. The NPC was already on.

I didn’t ask. I didn’t have to explain that yes, it is rugby union and no, I don’t mean the Warriors. It was just there. 😂

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 22/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 4/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 5/5
🍻 Vibes: 4/5
✨ Extras: 4/5

Why visit? When one game isn’t enough.

The ground floor has a great multi-screen setup with six different spots for sport. If you’ve got multiple games happening at the same time, this is exactly the kind of place you want.

You can settle in and keep an eye on several matches without having to sacrifice one for another. something I’m appreciating more and more during this search.

I’ve also been told that when anything Irish is on, Tea Gardens absolutely goes off.

Clearly I now need to return for scientific purposes. ☘️

22/25 - and definitely one I’d come back to for a busy sports weekend.

Day 18 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #46 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: The Sporting Globe, King Street Wharf

After quite a few pubs that also show sport, we’re back to somewhere very clearly built around it.

Loads of big screens, full sports coverage, commentary, drinks deals, food specials. The Sporting Globe knows exactly what it’s here to do.

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 23/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 5/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 5/5
🍻 Vibes: 4/5
✨ Extras: 4/5

Why visit? Built for watching sport.

There are two pretty distinct viewing areas. On the wharf side you’ve got screens everywhere but can still sit outside in the fresh air. Then tucked behind the main bar is the more traditional indoor sports-bar setup.

I’ve watched a fair amount of sport here over the years and both work well depending on the match and the crowd.

They’ve teamed up with 4 Pines, so there’s decent beer on tap alongside the usual sports-bar food and drink specials.

The only thing holding it back slightly for me? It feels like a chain sports bar.

Because, well… it is. 😂

But purely for actually watching sport, there’s very little to complain about.

23/25 - one of the strongest all-round sports setups in the search so far.

Day 17 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #45 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: The Mill, Bondi Junction

After visiting quite a few old-school pubs lately, The Mill feels decidedly more modern. Nice-looking venue, plenty of screens and a dedicated sports bar.

Although the signage pointing you towards said sports bar does lead you suspiciously close to the gaming room. 😂

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 20/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 5/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 3/5
🍻 Vibes: 4/5
✨ Extras: 3/5

Why visit? Does what it says on the tin.

The sports offering is focused predominantly on Australian and US sports, so you’ve got the usual NRL, AFL and American codes covered.

The big limitation is no Stan Sport, which means no Premier League and no rugby union — increasingly something I’m noticing really separates Sydney venues when it comes to sports coverage.

Otherwise? It’s a sports bar. It looks like a sports bar. It has loads of screens. And you can actually hear the sport.

Sometimes that’s all you need.

20/25. Solid, no-fuss option.

Day 16 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #44 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: The Rag & Famish, North Sydney

This one comes with a fairly sizeable asterisk: The Rag is currently mid-renovation, with a decent chunk of the pub closed off. So consider this an interim review — I’ll be back once the finished version is revealed.

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 18/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 5/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 4/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 3/5
🍻 Vibes: 3/5
✨ Extras: 3/5

Why visit? A solid Sunday pub.

The outdoor section has plenty of screens and was surprisingly busy for a Sunday in North Sydney. Food was good, there was sport everywhere you looked and overall it’s a perfectly decent place to settle in for a game.

The sound was slightly out of sync when I visited, which is one of those tiny things that becomes VERY noticeable once you’ve noticed it.

My other downside is that smoking is allowed in the outdoor viewing area. That’s a personal negative for me and something you don’t encounter as often when the sports setup is indoors.

But with half the venue currently out of action, I’m not putting too much weight on this score yet.

18/25 for now. Renovation rematch pending. 👀

Day 15 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #43 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: The Nelson Hotel

This one was recommended to me as a Sydney pub that feels a bit like an old country pub, and that’s pretty spot on.

Very retro, very old-school and, fittingly, there were a few visitors from the country settling in to watch the Wallabies when I was there.

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 21/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 4/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 5/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 4/5
🍻 Vibes: 4/5
✨ Extras: 4/5

Why visit? Feels like a country pub.

One thing I really liked is that they split the sports across the venue. The main bar was showing NRL, rugby union was on near the restaurant and AFL can go upstairs when there isn’t a function on.

I watched the Wallabies from the restaurant side, which was fairly relaxed, but I reckon the main bar would have a cracking atmosphere when there’s a big game on.

And there’s a very cute pub dog wandering around trying to convince patrons to play.

Frankly, unfair advantage in the Extras category. 🐶

21/25 I liked this one.

Day 14 of 31 Bars in 31 Days 🍻
Stop #42 in the search for Sydney’s Best Sports Bar: Concourse Bar, Wynyard

Okay, hear me out.

This may be the most questionable inclusion in the search so far. 😂

But Concourse Bar is literally inside Wynyard Station, it has a decent number of screens, and it shows AFL, NRL and free-to-air cricket. So by my increasingly broad definition of places you can watch sport… we’re reviewing it.

⭐ Sports Bar Score: 17/25

📺 Screens & Sightlines: 4/5
🔊 Sound & Commentary: 3/5
🏉 Sports Coverage: 3/5
🍻 Vibes: 3/5
✨ Extras: 4/5

Why visit? Sport isn’t really the main event.

There’s no Stan Sport, so you’re out of luck for rugby union and Premier League, and I’ve never heard commentary playing when I’ve been there.

But if you want to catch some NRL or AFL before jumping on the train home, it’s ridiculously convenient.

There may also be another reason this particular establishment attracts its clientele.

I’ll let you investigate that one yourselves. 😂

17/25.