The Golden Sheaf Hotel

Double Bay locals and ex-pats flock to the Sheaf year-round for good reason. Established in 1936, The sprawling, heritage-listed venue has five bars and transforms into a bona fide nightclub on weekends.

The neon signage at the Kiaora Lane entrance is becoming just as iconic as the art deco frontage on New South Head Road. But there are a few more icons inside, too. A gallery of rock memorabilia in the public bar usher patrons through to the main attraction – the Sheaf courtyard and its giant, fairy-lit fig tree, which casts lazy afternoon shade over the garden. 

The Garden Bar, with its subdued lighting, timber booths and burgundy rugs, was redesigned by Alexander & Co in 2018. It hosts live bands, international DJs and the popular Wednesday student night which draws hundreds each week. 

The restaurant’s menu serves crowd-pleasing pub classics, with an emphasis on seasonality. The Sunday roast – which includes grain-fed beef and Yorkshire pudding – has a following of devotees who have been coming back for over 40 years.  

The rooftop bar is secluded enough to feel like a whole other venue, offering a little escape from the din of the bustling courtyard below.