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The Beresford has got it right. The recent refurb has maintained its traditional pub roots - tiled walls, beer garden, sport on the tv's - but cleverly blends it with everything you'd expect from a trendy Surry Hills bar - cocktail bar, well chosen decor (including retractable tv's), painfully good looking bar staff...

There's plenty of space for the crowds, and crowds there are, with the happy hour offer of $5 pints, a good menu, cocktails, and a choice of sitting in the regular bar, the cocktail/dining lounge, or in the garden.

It's good to see that just doing things right is trendy again, without all the gimmicks.

For years I simply knew this as 'the pub with the rooftop', which is far and away it's main attraction. At street level it's a typical Aussie pub (by which I mean how an Aussie pub would have looked pre-90's: original interior, filthy carpet, standard tap beers, gambling facilities and not much else), but take the journey up the stairs behind the TAB corner and you'll find yourself on a rooftop with one of the best views back across Circular Quay to the Opera House. Thankfully they've now got a bar built on the rooftop, avoiding the hellish trip that used to be involved in buying a round.

Despite having a great location and avoiding the 'Sydney bar makeover' trap, I can't give a full 5 stars: the drinks selection is limited and the food, while perfectly fine, is a bit... same-ish.

An out of the way gem in The Rocks, 'hidden' above the Argyle cut. Even though the name and native-fauna topped pizza menu are blatant tourist-pullers, it is by no means a tourist trap.

Plenty of quality and quirky beers on offer, with a new 'guest' beer each month. Space inside is limited, but there's plenty of seating on the footpath. Being an Aussie pub, there is the obligatory tv tuned to whatever sport happens to be on, but it's tucked in a corner out of the way and easily ignored.

Great little local bike shop, with in-built cafe. The staff are really helpful, and happy to offer a good deal on their bikes. Being a small store, they don't carry a huge range of brands (Merida seems to be their main brand), and they may not have something in the right size ready to ride out the door. I found them extremely helpful, happy to build up/order in anything I needed, and provide great service.

As well as bikes, they offer repairs and services, clothing and accessories. And of course a refreshing coffee at the top of Lilyfield Rd after a ride around the bay!

They miss out on the 5th star only because they managed to sell out of the bike I wanted first time.

Found myself stopping here for a coffee and a late breakfast (all day breakfast menu, but limited to a small, but diverse range - toast, fry ups, muesli and acai, or french toast w/ bacon), but flicking through the menu, the all-you-can-eat churrascaria is clearly the real reason to come here. Will definitely be returning to check it out...

A really pleasant boozer with a few different faces. Often, the bar is propped up by posties from the shockingly misnomered Mount Pleasant sorting office across the road (or as I like to call it: 'Postal Guantanamo'); or it's heaving with a crowd of football fans, largely gooners; or a couple of locals will bring their dog in for a drink and a chat, or to get some 'work' done using the free wifi...

It's easy to see why it appeals to such a range: friendly staff, good selection of ales and lagers, a good ol' pub grub menu, interesting 'local history' decor on the walls not entirely overwhelmed by the multiple tv screens so the punters can watch several broadcasts at once, and outdoor tables for the smokers with views of Guantanamo.

From the menu, the chips deserve a special mention. Hand cut, skin still on (not wedges but thin cut), golden fried and served with a wholegrain mustard mayonnaise... to die for. Quite possibly literally, if you have cholesterol issues.

Meh. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all.

Pushy service, mediocre cocktails, over-priced, and unoriginal. Such a shame, imagine what could have been done with this space if the people behind Shunt got their hands on it, instead of turning it into a cocktail Starbucks...

If you do get dragged here, don't be tricked into ordering house wine because it's too dark to read the drinks menu - they choose a mid-range bottle that'll set you back nearly £50. Clever little scam, that.

Definitely worth hunting this place down. The ground-level cocktail bar is a pleasant place to have a few drinks, but it's the dining and performance space downstairs that sets Volupte apart. With cabaret and burlesque performances to entertain you, and friendly waitstaff dodging between performers and tables to bring you your food, it makes for a fun night out.

The menu is a tad limited, but well prepared and presented, and reasonably priced considering the usual markups you're forced to endure at 'performance/dining' venues. Likewise, the cocktails are at standard city prices, and the wine list includes some quaffable and affordable options.

Casting around for somewhere to have dinner with an old Latin scholar friend, we couldn't go past this based on the name alone. I was hoping we would dine on stuffed peacock while wiping our greasy fingers in the hair of nubile slaves in the flickering light of pyres of burning Christians (study some Latin, it's all there!)... but unfortunately this just turned out to be one damn fine restaurant. Classic cuisine, rather than classical. At least there was a floor mosaic at the entrance.

Dining on the fixed pre-theatre menu is an affordable way to enjoy the venue and service, but adding sides and drinks will easily double the bill. The menu seems to change regularly, so I'll only mention the bitter chocolate mousse that I tried for dessert - outstanding!