Shakespeare Hotel

Known to neighborhood regulars simply as “the Shakey,” this 19th-century Surry Hills institution pairs cold draught beers with unpretentious comfort. Settle into a weathered corner of the dog-friendly ground floor bar—where strangers quickly turn into tablemates—or head up the stairs to discover a maze of parlor-style sitting rooms accented by vintage fireplaces and an antler chandelier. The kitchen serves an honest pub feed: charred rump steaks with mushroom sauce and chips, stacked burgers, and reliable weekly specials that keep tabs low. For budget-conscious travelers, the upstairs offers basic, clean boarding-style rooms with shared bathrooms right above the hum of Devonshire Street.