The 5 Best Sydney Pub Crawls (Reviews For 2025)

Looking for the ultimate way to experience Sydney’s completely unedited, legendary nightlife? A Sydney pub crawl tour is your premier ticket to the city’s best bars, hidden speakeasies, historic pubs, and craft beer haunts – all in one unforgettable evening.

Whether you’re a solo traveler, along with your significant other, or bringing a whole friend group along, these guided bar crawls are educational, fun, and a fantastic way to explore Sydney after the sun goes down.

I’ve gone ahead and reviewed the 5 top Sydney pub crawls currently out there, that are well worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!

Best Sydney Pub Crawls

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Our 5 Top Picks For The Best Sydney Brewery Tour:

  1. Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour
  2. Sydney: The Rocks Pub Tour with Meal
  3. Sydney: Secret Bar Guided Tour with Complimentary Drink
  4. Sydney The Rocks Historical Pub Tour
  5. Big Night Out Pub Crawl

Sydney Pub Crawl Tour Reviews

1. Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour

What You Should Know About This Tour:

  • Where You Will Meet: 26 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
  • Tour Length: 3 to 3.5 hours
  • Start Time(s): 2:30 PM
  • What’s Included: Transport by air-conditioned minivan, local guide, behind-the-scenes tours at each brewery, beer tastings

What to Expect on the Tour

Let’s start things off on the right foot with the Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour, which is perfect if you have an afternoon free! By the end of the 3-hour experience, you can expect to have a broad understanding of what makes the city’s beer scene so unique!

Not only will you hear all kinds of stories and fun facts, but you’ll actually get to see where the brews are made, and get to sample plenty of the goods!

Even if you’re not a huge beer fan, I guarantee you’re going to have lots of laughs, and the time is going to fly by! Plus, you may even find a brew or two that you actually enjoy – after all, they’re much different from your average beer selection.

With an expert guide to lead the way and a convenient bus there to take you to the different breweries, everything will be taken care of for you!

What Makes This Tour Great

Of course, it’s not just information or beer tastings that make a great tour of this kind – it involves genuine passion, and a kind of VIP treatment you don’t just get anywhere. We didn’t go through the motions, learning general facts about beer and so on – rather, we did a deep dive into the process and different kinds of beers!

If you’re a history buff at all, you’ll also have a blast learning about the background and culture of the area! You’ll learn about the ingredients that go into each beer, what sets them apart from other types, how it got started in Sydney, and the types that Sydney loves most.

You’ll then sample a few while learning from the experts themselves before going to the second brewery for more tastings. The third had a wonderful outdoor area where we enjoyed the fresh air and a pint of crisp beer, chatting with the rest of our group and soaking it all in.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time


2. Sydney: The Rocks Pub Tour with Meal

What You Should Know About This Tour:

  • Where You Will Meet: The Harts Pub, at the corner of Essex and Gloucester Streets
  • Tour Length: 2.5 hours
  • Start Time(s): 6:30 PM
  • What’s Included: Choice of a craft beer, wine or soft drink at each of the 4 pubs, 2.5-hour guided walking tour, local guide, a pre- or post-tour meal with a drink (not guided)

What to Expect on the Tour

Expect a true-blue Aussie pub crawl experience with the Sydney: The Rocks Pub Tour with Meal! It’s the perfect alternative if you were planning on going out for a bite to eat and a drink, showing off scandal, history, and world-class brews!

Plus, you’ll get a fantastic introduction to the cobblestoned soul of Sydney’s oldest neighborhood, all while sipping local beers in iconic colonial pubs! Expect a passionate, local guide to lead the way, taking you through 4 of The Rocks’ most legendary drinking holes (with top-notch storytelling throughout).

It’s also quite possibly the best pub crawl in Sydney’s The Rocks, where you’ll experience 4 classic pubs, 4 drinks, 2 hours of laughs and legends with great company and not a moment to even think about being bored.

For everyone from the history buff to the beer nerd, this pub walk creates the perfect balance between informative and fun, covering subject matter you won’t get from your average tour.

What Makes This Tour Great

I have to say, that before this tour, I had no idea just how wild Sydney’s colonial days were, nor how wild the locals STILL are. Our guide was super passionate and a load of fun – the kind of person who you can’t help but feel like you’ve been friends forever.

He also just happened to be an amazing storyteller and absolute master at everything “beer”, ensuring we were always locked into our current visit but simultaneously looking forward to the next stop.

We went to some seriously old pubs – including one that claims to be the city’s oldest – savoring a complimentary beer, wine, or soft drink at each.

If you aren’t necessarily a beer drinker but still want to participate, this gives you plenty of options while you listen to stories of famous convicts, gangs, celebrities, and more. What’s even cooler is getting to walk through the cobblestone streets of the famed neighborhood before enjoying a hearty post-tour meal!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time


3. Sydney: Secret Bar Guided Tour with Complimentary Drink

What You Should Know About This Tour:

  • Where You Will Meet: Varies depending on route
  • Tour Length: 3.5 hours
  • Start Time(s): 6:30 PM
  • What’s Included: Reservations at 3 or 4 small or hidden bars, 1 alcoholic drink (beer or wine only), group photos, map with recommendations

What to Expect on the Tour

If you’re looking to go out on the town in Sydney, I highly recommend putting this one at the top of your list! The Sydney: Secret Bar Guided Tour with Complimentary Drink experience is a nice balance of hidden speakeasies, unique cocktails, and insider stories that you won’t find anywhere else.

It’s also one of the most versatile tours of its kind, with 5 rotating routes across Sydney’s CBD, The Rocks, Newtown, Surry Hills, and Darlinghurst.

Each one offers its own vibe and surprises, and a complimentary drink (you can then order as you like with recommendations from staff or your expert guide, if needed). Expect a great environment for solo travelers as well as friend groups looking for a memorable night out and a great way to get to know the city better.

You’ll not only learn about the nightlife, but lots of interesting history and cultural facts that’ll have you seeing the city differently.

What Makes This Tour Great

If you’re on the hunt for a fun night that’ll give you insight into what Sydney’s all about (both past and present), this is one of the most budget-friendly options out there. However, just because it’s affordable doesn’t mean they skimp on quality!

The 3.5-hour excursion takes you to either 3 or 4 different bars, mixing some of the most popular, trendy bars along with some hidden gems that typically locals only know about.

While at first I was a bit hesitant that they only included one free drink, I actually found this preferable, as that way I was able to take suggestions from our guide. My group got to sample each other’s drinks and get a better idea of what we like.

Oh, and to make sure you’re still in good hands even after the tour, they’ve thoughtfully included a map with all the bars you visit throughout the night, as well as plenty of their own recommendations!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time


4. Sydney The Rocks Historical Pub Tour

What You Should Know About This Tour:

  • Where You Will Meet:
  • Tour Length: 2.5 hours
  • Start Time(s): 2:30 PM, 6:30 PM
  • What’s Included: Professional, local guide, 4 drinks, Goods and Services Tax, alcoholic beverages

What to Expect on the Tour

For beer lovers who want to know more about Sydney’s varied and dramatic history, you can’t get better than the Sydney The Rocks Historical Pub Tour. Clocking in at around 2.5 hours long and with various start times available, it’s super easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules.

The small-group walking tour delivers 4 iconic pubs, with each one offering a drink and plenty of fun storytelling from your local guide! You’ll spend the evening exploring some of the city’s oldest European pubs, sampling an array of ciders and beers – what’s more fun than that?

Expect top-notch service at each stop, with a fine balance of banter, storytelling, and great drinks. Plus, you’re in for a real treat if it’s your first time checking out The Rocks – the pubs found here have changed the entire city’s beer scene!

What Makes This Tour Great

I personally found this to be the perfect lead-in to a fun night out – even more so if it’s your first night in Sydney. Trust me, you’re going to want a local to introduce you to the nightlife here; after that, you can go out on your own with the basics in tow.

This is some of the most fun I’ve had, which is saying a lot as I always have a blast in this city. We got to try 4 different drinks, and each stop was well-paced, so I never felt like we were drinking too quickly or getting overwhelmed.

Imagine drinking in cozy venues with compelling stories, and quality local drinks in every glass. We had so much fun, that we even ended up continuing with our group and going to some other spots in the neighborhood, based on what our guide recommended!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time


5. Big Night Out Pub Crawl

What You Should Know About This Tour:

  • Where You Will Meet: World Square Bar, 33/644 George St, Sydney
  • Tour Length: 4 to 7 hours
  • Start Time(s): 8:00 PM
  • What’s Included: Alcoholic beverages, all entry fees included, snacks (free pizza at one of the venues)

What to Expect on the Tour

Last but certainly not least, is the Big Night Out Pub Crawl, which is one of the best bang-for-your-buck experiences. It’s also one of the best choices if you’re looking to meet some new people, whether they be other travelers or even some locals.

You’ll get to visit 4 different venues, with each stop offering something unique from the rest! All entry fees are included, and they even include a free (and delicious!) pizza at either the second or third venue, so you don’t go hungry!

Starting off at 8:00 pm, it’s a great alternative to going out to eat and a great way to get the night started! Expect not only great storytelling and drinks, but billiards, arcade games, live music, DJs, and some serious partying (unless you want to cut the night short!).

What Makes This Tour Great

What I love about this tour is that it’s so flexible – you have 4 different stops, yet you can choose to leave anytime after midnight after you arrive to the last venue.

You can also opt to go all the way until 3 am, when the party ends, which is what we did. Our local guide was there making sure we all had a great time, and it was easily the best way I’ve ever made friends while traveling.

The itinerary flowed perfectly, starting out with a nice drink and some pool, darts, and arcade games to get things warmed up. Following it up with some live music and then pizza and more drinks at Scruffy Murphy’s, by this time the fun really began.

Side Bar was such a cool venue, and we were lucky enough that we got to see an amazing international DJ without having to pay any cover!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time


FAQs About Sydney Pub Crawls

What areas of Sydney are covered by pub crawls?

Most pub crawls focus on the CBD and surrounding areas like The Rocks, Circular Quay, and Darling Harbour. Popular crawl routes include George Street, Pitt Street, and areas around Central Station. Some tours venture into trendy neighborhoods like Surry Hills, Newtown, or Paddington depending on the theme.

How long do Sydney pub crawls typically last?

Most organized pub crawls are 4-6 hours, and start around 6-8 PM and finishing around midnight. Some shorter crawls last 3-4 hours, while marathon events can extend past 2 AM on weekends.

How many pubs or bars will I visit on a typical crawl?

Standard crawls visit 4-6 pubs and you will spend 45-90 minutes at each one. This will give you enough time to enjoy your beverage and check the place out.

What's included in a Sydney pub crawl?

Most organized crawls have a guide, entry fees to venues, drink discounts or specials, and sometimes welcome drinks or shots. Some tours include pub snacks or light food. Transportation between venues is usually on foot, though some crawls include transport for distant locations.

Do I need to book Sydney pub crawls in advance?

Advance booking is recommended, especially for weekend crawls and during peak tourist seasons. Popular crawls often sell out, particularly themed events or those with limited group sizes.

What's the minimum age for pub crawls in Sydney?

Participants must be 18 or older, as this is Australia’s legal drinking age. Valid photo ID is required and will be checked at venues.

Are Sydney pub crawls good for solo travelers?

Yes, a pub crawl is perfect for solo travelers looking to go out and not go alone. Most crawls attract a mix of tourists, backpackers and groups looking to socialize in a structured environment.

What should I wear on a Sydney pub crawl?

Smart casual attire is recommended. Many Sydney venues have dress codes prohibiting thongs (flip-flops), singlets, shorts, or overly casual clothing, especially at upscale bars. Comfortable walking shoes are essential as you’ll be walking between pubs.

Will there be a lot of walking involved?

Yes, most crawls involve moderate walking (2-4 km) between venues through Sydney’s CBD. Comfortable shoes are essential, and routes are generally planned to minimize walking distances.

Are drinks included in the price?

This varies by tour operator. Some crawls include a certain number of drinks or drink vouchers, while others provide discounted prices at participating venues. Many include a welcome drink or shots throughout the night.

What types of pubs are typically visited?

Crawls usually include a mix of traditional pubs, cocktail bars, rooftop bars, and sometimes nightclubs. Routes usually got to historic pubs in The Rocks to modern cocktail lounges in the CBD.

Do pub crawls operate every night?

Most organized crawls operate Thursday through Saturday nights, with Friday and Saturday being the most popular. Some operators offer Wednesday or Sunday crawls, but these are less common.

Is food included in pub crawls?

Some crawls include pub snacks, pizza, or light meals but many focus primarily on drinks. Participants are often encouraged to eat beforehand or during the crawl at venues that serve food.

Are there themed pub crawls available?

Yes, Sydney offers various themed crawls including backpacker crawls, rooftop bar crawls, craft beer tours, cocktail crawls, and seasonal themes like Halloween or New Year’s events.

What happens if I can't keep up with the group?

Most crawls have guides who monitor the group, but participants are generally responsible for keeping up. If you need to leave early, inform the guide. Some crawls provide maps or information to help you continue independently.

Can I bring friends who aren't part of the crawl?

This depends on the operator’s policy and venue capacity. Some crawls allow additional guests to join at individual venues but need to pay for their own drinks.
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The Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour is our Editors Choice for the best Sydney pub crawl

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Richard Remick

Richard is owner and the chief editor of Craft Beer Talk. He contributes expert content relating to beer making and brewery reviews. After graduating from the DeVry Institute of Technology, he worked in IT for over 20 years before deciding to escape the office and share his passion for wine. With a passion for the great outdoors, Richard spends a lot of time in Colorado. There he enjoys skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, cycling, hiking, and of course visiting breweries. His outdoor adventures are not confined to the continental US. Richard is an avid traveler who flies up to 10 times a year and has visited 18 countries. Because of his wealth of knowledge and experience, Richard has been invited to contribute articles to many websites, such as Florida Rambler, and has been profiled on travel websites such as JohnnyJet.
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