Depending on how you’re counting, the Fortune of War in The Rocks is the oldest pub in Sydney. Now, after almost 200 years of serving beers on the site, it’s reopened for winter 2025 after a major revamp, with a new bistro and a makeover of its upstairs accommodation.
The historic main bar (with live music Wednesdays–Sundays) and spacious outside area for enjoying The Rocks’ ever-buzzing atmosphere on George Street remain as they were known and loved (with a fresh lick of paint here and there), while Bistro 1828's new restaurant and bar spaces offer a stylish and welcoming new area for all-day dining.
“We’re still a country pub in the heart of the city, with warm and welcoming hospitality, classic pub dishes and beers poured with passion, for quality,” says WDS Hotels co-owner Steve Speed.
Bistro 1828
Bistro 1828—named for the year the original pub was built—sits between the original pub site and neighbouring historic buildings, with heritage details like beaten copper panelling, warm timber walls, and artefacts including medicine and alcohol bottles (reflecting the site’s past as a hospital) and maps uncovered during the renovation.
Not wanting to stray too far from the beloved pub’s playbook, executive chef Mark Williamson (formerly The Woollahra Hotel) has kept things classic while adding some Sydney-style favourites.
“All the pub classics people know and love, like our beef and Guinness stew, fish and chips, and burgers are still here,” says Mark, “but we’ve also added some new dishes too, like fresh salads, pastas and shared starters.”
Bistro 1828 also serves breakfast from 7am daily, with classics like a Fortune of War big breakfast, pancake stacks and avocado on toast, plus a signature Bloody Mary bringing a much-needed new breakfast offering to The Rocks.
The Russell Boutique Hotel
Upstairs from the Fortune of War, The Russell Boutique Hotel provides a range of accommodation in the heart of Sydney’s most historic suburb.
The charming renovation of the hotel’s 28 rooms balances the original building’s old-world charm (with antique decor and original elements like marble fireplaces and sash windows) with mod luxuries.
Some rooms have internal courtyard access, and all guests can enjoy Sydney Harbour Bridge views from the shared rooftop and breakfast served in Bistro 1828. The Russell room is the largest, with a suite-style separate bedroom and sitting room, while savvy travellers will love the more affordable accommodation options sharing a bathroom with one or two other rooms, and shared laundry facilities
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Image credit: Fortune of War | Supplied