It’s that time of year again when we pause, reflect and commemorate to honour our soldiers’ contribution to our nation. Whether you choose to do so by waking up at the crack of dawn, wearing a red poppy or downing one (or half a dozen) tinnies, ANZAC day unites all Aussies and Kiwis.
Post Dawn Service, forget hunting for the perfect brunch, bevvy or venue to try your luck at the infamous (and otherwise illegal) two-up, we’ve got you covered.
Here are all the best spots open in Sydney this Anzac Day.
The Dolphin Hotel
Surry Hills
Haul yourself over to The Dolphin on Anzac Day from 10am for the largest two-up ring Surry Hills has to offer. Plus, some special additions to the infamous sanga menu (RSL sandwich anyone?) and the full bar open till late.
Bondi Beach Public Bar
Bondi Beach
BBPB are holding a dawn service and breaky from 6:30am, then reopening for more bites, booze and two-up from 10am till late. Did we mention the Meat Pie Pack up for grabs, served with Aussie and NZ tinnies…? You’ll catch us knocking back one (or two) of those!
Harpoon Harry
Surry Hills
Accompany your two-up wins with the ultimate Anzac burger served up by the gang at Harpoon Harry. Open from 10am until late, grab your mates and cold Aussie or NZ brew, with all donations going to the Salvos.
The Bucket List
Bondi
Open from 11am onwards, Bucket List are serving up a beach BBQ, we’re talking lamb and rosemary pies (yes, pleaseeee). There’ll be Aussie tunes playing allll day, and your fave party tracks through the night. Could you get more true blue than that?
The Salisbury Hotel
Stanmore
Brace yourselves, Brew Truck Burger are parking themselves at the Salisbury this ANZAC day. This $20 burger is served up with a free beer of your choice, and with two-up running from 1pm to 6pm, it’s defs a win-win situation.
The Australian Heritage Hotel
The Rocks
What better way to commemorate Aussie heritage and history, than at the Australian Heritage Hotel? They’ll be open from 6am for a diggers’ breakfast, then the two-up ring going allll afternoon and bevvies until 12am.
The Glenmore
The Rocks
From 8am, one of Sydney’s most infamous rooftops will be saluting our diggers. Two-up will be running from midday and the dranks will be flowing until 10pm.
Manly Wharf Hotel
Manly
From 11:30am, Manly Wharf will be serving up jugs from one of our fave locals, One Fifty Lashes, for just $16. Try your luck at a game of two-up on the wharf jetty, and boogie through the night on the df with some of Syd’s best DJs.
Cuckoo Callay
Newtown, Surry Hills
This Newtown fave and its younger Surry Hills sibling will be serving up their delish coffee and eats to Sydneysiders Anzac day. Keeping things nice ‘n’ simple, Cuckoo Callay will open at 8am, with the kitchen closing at 3pm #sorted.
Belles Hot Chicken
Barangaroo
Open for lunch and dinner from 1pm this ANZAC day, dig your mitts into some juicy…and bloody hot chicken. And why not wash it down with a delish bevvy, craft beer, waffles and chicken anyone?
Ume Burger
Barangaroo
Between 12pm and 9pm, you’ll be able to get your much needed Ume Burger fix. The ultimate collab of burgs and Japanese food, this public holiday won’t stop you from sinking your teeth into that chicken katsu burger.
Two Sticks
Barangaroo
If Chinese hot noodle soups, salads and pot rice dishes are calling, thankfully Two Sticks will have their doors open. Grab lunch or dinner here between 12pm and 8pm on Anzac day.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
Watsons Bay
If the east is calling this Anzac day, head to one of our fave beachside joints, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. With a two-up ring kicking off at noon and live music and DJ sets all day, book your table now!
East Village Sydney
Darlinghurst
East Village are serving up an Anzac day trifecta…two-up, a huuuuuge beer raffle (yep, forget meat raffle, this is what we’re talking about!), and Bob Hawke lager. Oh and did we mention Aussie and NZ tunes on repeat across all 3 levels of the joint?
Frisco Hotel
Woolloomooloo
Prepare yourself for some road closures, Nesbitt Street will be hosting the biggest two-up in the Eastern suburbs. Plus, expect a whole lot of Pimms up for grabs, live entertainment and a full pig on a spit. Open from 10am till late, and with $5 tinnies all day, guess we’ll catch ya at Frisco.
Dee Why RSL
Dee Why
The largest dawn service on the Northern Beaches is back this year, sunrise and all. Kicking off at 5:30am right on the beach and featuring some legendary Aussies and Kiwis, the service will be followed by $6 breaky back at the RSL. Stay on until noon to get amongst the legendary two-up!
Public House Petersham
Petersham
From 12pm onwards, expect a fiery game of two-up in the carpark, some bangin’ meat and vego bites, a craft beer range to end all craft beer ranges AND customized Anzac stubby holders at Public House. Not to mention, proceeds of the day will be donated to Legacy. If that isn’t an ultimate Anzac day plan, we don’t know what is.
Three Blue Ducks
Bronte, Rosebery
Fear not, your go-to modern Aussie cafe is open for their regular breakie and lunch this Anzac day (closed for dinner). Sourcing ingredients as local as their own backyard, these humble and delish feeds are the perf way to kick start a public holiday.
Black Star Pastry
Newtown
Although they’ve slightly shortened their day, Black Star Pastry have given us enough time to get in there and smash one (or three) of their freakin’ delish and stunning treats. Open between 8am and 3pm, the genius’ at Black Star have also made up the cutest little Anzac bickie bundle, with all proceeds going to the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.
The Boathouse Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach
Open for regular trading hours on Anzac Day means the opportunity to eat delish food, sip on a cold pressed juice and people watch the swimmers/surfers/tanners at the beach. From 7am to 7pm, one of the most Insta-worthy beach venues will be waiting for you.
The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room
CBD
Two-up with a side of oysters…? Hell to the yes! The Morrison are getting ANZAC day started at 8am with good ol’ bacon and egg rolls, and will keep things running until 10pm with burgers, a sausage sizzle, drinks and a performance by the LCC Southern Cross pipe band.
Acre Eatery
Camperdown
Once you’ve finished up at your local dawn service, head over the the Camperdown Commons from 8am for breakie and lunch on the Garden Terrace. The lawn will be transformed into a two-up arena for all the oldies, and there’ll be a ANZAC biscuit decorating class for the kiddies (10am to 12pm). Not to mention live music all day!
Dove and Olive
Surry Hills
Dove and Olive’s doors will be open from 10am to 11pm for two-up and a complete 4 Pines take over (we’ve got your attention now, don’t we?). With our fave Manly brew on tap and just $6.50 a schooner, $1 of each will go to Legacy. Plus, a trip to the brewery will be up for grabs in the raffle!
Here’s everything else to do this month in Sydney.
Venue | Image credit: Royal Hotel Paddington