Shakespeare Hotel

The Shakespeare Hotel has sat on its Surry Hills corner since 1879, and 'the Shakey' has spent a century and a half collecting the exact kind of regulars you'd hope for: shiftworkers, longtimers, a few writers. The ground floor runs an open fireplace, timber panelling and $20 counter meals; the upstairs dining room, refurbished in 2018, leans harder on wallpaper and banquet tables. The taps cover Coopers and Grifter, with Guinness pulled through winter. Trivia is Tuesday, meat raffle is Wednesday, drag karaoke is Saturday, and a $29 roast closes out the week.

Dogs are welcome on the licensed footpath outside and inside the front bar on a lead, with water bowls provided. It's the sort of pub that hasn't needed to renovate its personality to keep pace.