The 19 best breweries along Sydney's Inner West Ale Trail

Discover our top picks along Sydney’s Inner West Ale Trail, most of which are within easy walking distance of each other.

There are few pleasures greater than a tasting flight at a local brewery on a hot day. This isn’t why I moved to Sydney’s Inner West, the unofficial capital of craft breweries, but it certainly didn’t hurt. Focusing mostly on the suburb of Marrickville, the area has long been a popular place for brewery crawls among Sydneysiders in the know, but this year it was given an official name: The Inner West Ale Trail .

exterior shot of The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre — Discover the Inner West Ale Trail. (Image: The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre)

Across six suburbs within a five-kilometre radius (Marrickville, Enmore, Newtown, St Peters, Rozelle and Camperdown) you’ll find over 320 unique brews at 18 independent breweries. Of these, 15 also have restaurants or food trucks, ranging from pizza to vegetarian Thai food, so be sure to plan some snacks between drinks. To cater for anyone who isn’t so into beer, there are also 100 wines, ciders and spirits to be found.

And each brewpub has a venue that brings the relaxed but funky Inner West vibe to life. Find an ever-changing roster of weekly events, from live music to bingo to comedy nights. Discover more and plan your next visit.

1. Batch Brewing Co.

Batch Brewing Co. sydney — Pop into one of the first breweries in Sydney. (Image: Destination NSW)

Founded in 2013, Batch was one of the first, and remains one of the most popular, breweries in Sydney. While they have now expanded to have locations in Petersham and Darling Square, their original spot was in Marrickville.

As the name suggests, Batch has a focus on unique, small-batch beers. They do have a core line of best-sellers (like Marrickville Original Pale Ale and Pash the Magic Dragon Sour) but pride themselves on a rotating menu of new, limited-release beers.

Address: 44 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville

2. Brickworks Brewing

beer and burger at Brickworks Brewing — Pair your beer with pub grub. (Image: Facebook/Brickworks Brewing)

Small but mighty, the brewers at Brickworks have been doing their thing for 20 years and counting. Find 12 beer taps with rotating brews to try, experimenting with styles from around the world.

Settle in for live music and food trucks on weekends, in the shadow of the historic brick factory and iconic smoke stacks that define St Peters.

Address: 15 May St, St Peters

3. Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co.

Chuck Hahn at Chuck & Son's Brewing Co. — Taste the brews of Sydney’s OG brewer.

While you’re in St Peters, pop into Chuck & Son’s for an IPA, hoppy hazy or amber ale. Brewer, Chuck Hahn, is also the man behind James Squire, Malt Shovel and Hahn Brewery – so you know the brews here are good. Especially when you’re sipping them on the sunny rooftop terrace.

There’s also an impressive wine list (especially for a brewery) and creative cocktails. Try the hop-infused gin negroni for a beer-related twist on an old favourite. An onsite food truck serves up burgers and rice bowls.

Address: Unit 3E-3F/1-7 Unwins Bridge Rd, St Peters

4. Future Brewing

interior future brewing sydney inner west ale trail — Taste brews that throw science into the mix.

A new(er) kid on the block, Future Brewing has quickly become popular with the locals. Taking a new twist on brewing, owner and brewer Brady Hannett was a scientist before he switched careers, so it’s no surprise the beers are beloved. Pop in on the weekend to pair your beer with tasty meals from a changing sister of food trucks.

Address: 82 May Street, St Peters

5. Hawke’s Brewing Co.

food and beer at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre — Pair classic 80s-style Australian-Chinese with your brews. (Image: The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre)

Taking inspiration from, arguably, one of Australia’s most famous Prime Ministers (for necking a beer, at any rate), The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is an icon of Marrickville and home to both Hawke’s Brewing and classic 80s style Australian-Chinese restaurant Lucky Prawn. Find the core range and limited releases on the taps here.

Everything about this venue screams RSL, from the sports memorabilia plastering the walls to the wood panelling and brown glass.

Address: 8-12 Sydney St, Marrickville

6. Hopsters Co-operative

Hopsters Co-operative sydney — Join the community at Hopsters Co-operative.

As Australia’s first brewing cooperative, Hopsters is definitely worth the trip. Fully funded and run by members, you’ll find heaps of events to enjoy with your huge range of beers (and even wines). Think trivia, comedy, Queers and beers nights, masterclasses and brewer talks.

Address: 198 Enmore Rd, Enmore

7. Kicks Brewing

exterior of Kicks Brewing sydney — Pop into this small family-run taproom.

For a small family-run taproom, Kicks packs a big punch. Focused on creating fresh, progressive (but very drinkable) beers, expect strong hop flavours, bold American-style IPAs and some very out-of-the-box flavours. Match it with a rotating international eats from various food trucks parked outside.

Address: 31 Shepherd St, Marrickville

8. Mixtape Brewing & Bar

pizza and tacos at mixtape Brewing & Bar inner west ale trail sydney — Enjoy a menu as good as the beers.

The real beauty of Mixtape , beyond its size that means it usually has space even on a busy day, unlike some of the smaller venues, is that not only does it sell its own brews (and damn good pizza), but it sells a selection of other Inner West brews as well. So if you’re only going to do one-stop, this should be it. Here, 18 taps pour Mixtape’s small batch brews, while a handful more Aussie and international craft beers. Truly one of my favourite stops along the trail.

Address: 142A Victoria Rd, Marrickville

9. Philter Brewing

bar at Philter Brewing sydney — Book ahead or get in early for this popular Sydney brewery.

Philter is one of the most reliable breweries if you’re a fan of knowing what you’re going to get. The Philter XPA, in particular, is almost a staple on bar taps around the city. The onsite restaurant also serves up pizzas, burgers, wings, snacks and share plates.

Despite the multiple levels in the converted factory space (a public bar, retro rooftop bar and sports bar), Philter is one of the busier breweries. So make a booking or aim to get there a little earlier than lunchtime to nab a table.

Address: 92-98 Sydenham Road, Marrickville

10. Pickled Monkey Brewing Co.

Pickled Monkey Brewing Co. sydney — Ignore the name and taste the beer. (Image: Facebook/Pickled Monkey Brewing Co.)

A huge 24-taps at Pickled Monkey Brewing Co. makes this brewpub more than just a funny name. But the name is odd, and it has an odder backstory. In the 1900s, a few wooden barrels turned up at the University of NSW from Oxford University. Assuming they were filled with beer, a few cheeky wharfies cracked them open. As it turned out, they were drinking the juice of pickled monkeys that were en route to the UNSW Biology Department for dissection. Gross. Luckily, the actual beers are anything but.

Unique brew flavours and a menu packed with pizzas and tacos keep things interesting in this open-plan pub.

Address: 127 Victoria Rd, Marrickville

11. Sauce Brewing Co.

delivery to Sauce Brewing Co. sydney — Sit in Sauce’s beer garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Perfect for summer, Sauce Brewing Co. features one of the best beer gardens in Sydney, though it’s usually packed full of punters with their kids and dogs. Grab one of their small, core range of beers or try a wilder, one-off flavour. Canned cocktails are also on offer, as well as a food truck roster from Thursday to Sunday, serving either burgers, barbecue or tacos.

Address: 1a Mitchell St, Marrickville

12. The Grifter

The Grifter sydney taproom — Enjoy The Grifter beers on taps around Sydney, or head to the source.

Another OG and favourite of Marrickville, The Grifter is also a popular beer to find on taps around the city. But if you head straight to the source (inside a former laundromat warehouse), find 12 taps including the core range, seasonal and one-off brews. Some of the unique tastes they’ve had over the years include watermelon pilsner, pink lemonade sour and oatmeal stout.

Address: 1/391-397 Enmore Rd, Marrickville

13. Wayward Brewing

Wayward Brewing sydney — Take in tacos and beers. (Image: Destination NSW)

Beginning life as a winery, the Wayward Brewing venue really sets a dark and intimate mood. Set underground with oak barrels, brew tanks and cosy cellar rooms, find 24 beers on tap at a time, plus an alcoholic seltzer range. The beers are award-winning for a reason – besides the taste, Wayward is committed to producing a top-quality product. All the beers are preservative-free, unpasteurised, unfiltered and made with natural ingredients.

Come nighttime (or all day on weekends), the in-house Wayward Eats food truck serves up a menu of burgers, loaded fries, tacos and quesadillas.

Address: 1 Gehrig Ln, Camperdown

14. White Bay Brewery

White Bay Brewery sydney — Be sure to order pizza with your craft brew. (Image: Facebook)

White Bay may be the furthest brewery away on this trail, but the staff are so dang friendly that it’s worth the bus ride. Not to mention the views, the cute fit-out inside a 150-year-old steel mill and the very easy-to-drink beer varieties. The wood-fired pizzas served here are absolutely delicious.

Address: 26C Mansfield St, Rozelle

15. Wildflower Brewing & Blending

Hands down, Wildflower is the most beautiful brewery venue in Sydney. Likely even in the world. Aesthetic wooden barrels and dried flowers decorate the interior, while a Melbourne-like laneway makes for a breezy outdoor area on a hot day.

They also have a particularly unique approach to their brewing. Using Indigenous yeast collected from the bush to create wild-fermented brews. The result is a very unique, tart and slightly pungent flavour. They also make natural wines, and personally, the red varieties here are my drink of choice.

Address: 11-13 Brompton St, Marrickville

16. Willie The Boatman

Willie The Boatman brewery sydney — Relax in comfy couches. (Image: Destination NSW)

This pet-friendly spot is not only adorably decked out with an 1850s oak bar literally imported from a US saloon, comfortable couches, hanging plants and vintage signs, but it also has a very agreeable roster of brews to choose from. Everything from a pale ale to a cherry sour. Honestly, one of the tastiest sours going. Head in on Friday to Sunday for a free sausage sizzle.

Address: Enter Via, Precinct 75 Suite 601 75 Mary Street, Edith St, St Peters

17. Young Henrys Brewing

mural and patrons at Young Henrys Brewing sydney — Feel the vibes at Young Henrys Brewing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another very common sight to see in pubs all around Sydney, Young Henrys’ Newtowner is basically the mascot of Sydney. Set inside a converted warehouse, listened to very Aussie tunes (hello, AC/DC ) surrounded by massive wall murals and very mulleted staff. Besides the core range, try a few experimental brews that rotate.

Address: 76 Wilford St, Newtown

18. Bracket Brewing

Coming (back) soon, Bracket Brewing is in the middle of moving house from Alexandria to Marrickville, so there’s not much to say about the decor just yet. But we’re sure many Inner Westie fans will continue to love it for its monthly new beer releases.

Address: 2/48 Addison Road, Marrickville

19. Yulli’s Brews

Yullis Brews Food — Come for the beer, stay for the Thai food. (Image: Facebook/Yulli’s Brews)

This one isn’t on the official trail as it’s located in Sydney’s Inner South, but it really should be. Just as much as the craft beer (on which there are often very affordable specials on pints and jugs), the food is hands-down the best of any Sydney brewery. Not so surprising when considering that Yulli’s started as a vegan restaurant in Surry Hills before expanding to its brewery location in Alexandria.

Find an extensive menu of vegan Thai food, from small snacks, like shitake tofu dumplings, to main meals with all your favourites – but their pad see ew noodle dish is to die for. As for beers, they have some pretty unique blends, like the tangy Mandarin IPA, along with all the staples. They also have alcoholic seltzer and ginger beer

Address: 75a Burrows Road, Alexandria

Make this dazzling stretch of beaches and natural wonders your home base for a grand adventure

Whether you’re setting out solo, bringing a mate, or packing in the whole family, no road trip along Australia’s East Coast is complete without at least a few days spent exploring the Coffs Coast. A stunning stretch of NSW coastline nestled between ancient high-elevation rainforests and magnificent, undiscovered beaches, Coffs offers amazing biodiversity, stunning natural beauty, and heaps of local charm, without the crowds. Pull up in Coffs Harbour , your perfect home base for these unforgettable day-trips.

1. Southern Beaches

The Coffs region boasts 30 of Australia’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches, directly abutting a dramatic tableau of mountains and rainforests. Drive South of Coffs Harbour to find up-and-coming surf destinations where it’s still possible to catch an empty wave. First up is the picturesque Sawtell village . Wander the famous fig-tree-lined main street packed with laid-back places to eat and drink. Enjoy panoramic views and seasonal whale sightings at Bonville Headland on the Southern end of the beach.

Nearby Bongil Bongil National Park boasts seven kilometres of empty beach, along with hiking and cycling trails through beachfront rainforests – keep an eye out for koalas living in the trees. Boambee Beach and Boambee Creek Reserve are great for families, with shallow waters perfect for kayaking and SUPing, plus an off-leash dog beach.

family eating lunch in sawtell — Experience small-town charm in Sawtell.

2. Orara Valley Tourist Trail

The Orara Valley Tourist Trail has it all: hinterland bushwalks, birdwatching, horse riding, pristine swimming holes and rolling green pastures dotted with dairy farms and historic villages. And it’s only 15 minutes west of Coffs Harbour.

Sample produce at a roadside stall, stop into Coramba Hotel for a quintessential country pub lunch, or try the Idle in Cafe in Nana Glen for coffee and scones. Then spend the afternoon kayaking the Orara River or mountain biking on Mt Coramba. If you’re feeling adventurous, follow the 4WD touring route along the Orara Escarpment in Bindarri National Park , a rugged landscape with dazzling views that winds through untouched eucalypt rainforests and waterfalls.

A family sitting by the Orara Valley Tourist Trail. — Explore the green heart of Coffs.

3. Dorrigo National Park

Enjoy a classic day trip from Coffs to forest bathe in some of the oldest subtropical rainforests in the world at Dorrigo National Park, part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. These million-year-old ecosystems promise rare bird sightings, towering strangler figs, and epic walking tracks and picnic spots. Try the 6.6 km Wonga Walk to experience dreamy Crystal Shower Falls (where you can walk behind the falls) and the Skywalk Lookout, which offers spectacular views of the valley and coast. Then stop in Dorrigo town for a homey lunch. It’s worth noting that a section of the road between Ulong and Dorrigo – which dates to the 1880s – is unsealed, adding to the area’s end-of-the-earth allure but making travel difficult in adverse weather conditions. Alternatively, head to Dorrigo via the delightful township of Bellingen .

Three people standing at the SkyWalk lookout. — Wander the Skywalk.

4. Northern Beaches

For another tranquil expanse of sun, sand and surf breaks, head north to Woolgoolga (Tourism Australia’s Best Mainland Beach for 2025. Taste the coffee and local-produce breakfast at one of several cafes, then spot whales during their migration season along the Woolgoolga Whale Trail to the headland. Emerald Beach offers clear blue waters and another headland walk, perfect for taking in views of South Solitary Island, a dramatically rocky-cliffed island with a historic lighthouse. Red Rock, some 40km north of Coffs and named for its striking coastal rock formations, boasts a gorgeous estuary reserve that’s perfect for languorous days spent picnicking, swimming, fishing, and connecting with the relaxed local pace.

Freshly caught seafood by the beach, with sparkling ocean views. — Enjoy fresh seafood overlooking Woolgoolga Beach.

5. Jetty precinct

You could easily spend a whole day exploring the Jetty precinct – from its foreshores to the marina to Muttonbird Island. Start with fresh fish and chips from local institution Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co-op , before browsing the popular Harbourside Markets held every Sunday on the foreshores.

Take a scenic walk along the breakwall to Muttonbird Island , a cultural and ecological treasure with panoramic views and rich Gumbaynggirr heritage. The Giidany Miirlarl Education Space shares the island’s ancient stories, or join a guided moonlight tour to see the seasonal return of the muttonbirds.

Back at the Jetty Strip, find a buzzing mix of cafes, bars and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, open from morning until late. Don’t miss The Jetty Pavilion , a favourite for its unique menu blending modern Australian cuisine with vibrant world flavours.

walk to muttonbird island from coffs harbour — Walk the path where land meets sea and sky.

6. Grafton

Head inland from mid-October to early November to catch Grafton’s jacaranda season, when the town’s streets and parks are covered in purple. Even better, time your trip between 24 October and 2 November to attend the famous Jacaranda Festival, with special food items, performances and more. At any time of year, follow the self-guided Grafton Heritage Trail to discover the town’s historic buildings, landmarks and stories. Or get the blood pumping with a trip along the longest mapped white-water trail in Australia – the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail. Book a tour with Exodus Adventures .

woman walking through jacaranda trees in grafton — Time your Grafton trip to see the jacarandas in full bloom. (Image: @myclarencevalley)

7. Nambucca

Just south of Coffs Harbour sits Nambucca, the ideal town for a relaxed, coastal day trip. Hire a canoe, kayak or boat to explore over 80 kilometres of waterways stretching from the hinterland to the ocean. For those who prefer to stay on dry land (or double up their adventure for the day), stretch your legs along the V-Wall – a scenic coastal walk along the Nambucca River – dotted with boulders painted by the community, sharing messages, art and local stories. Stop along the way to buy Sydney rock oysters direct from local farmers, or try your own hand at fishing. Before heading back to Coffs, refuel on fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas at Matilda’s in Nambucca .

a boat zooming through Nambucca Heads — Explore Nambucca’s waterways. (Image: Seen Australia)

Visit coffscoast.com and download the Coffs Coast Explorer App for more daytrips and trails.

The 19 best breweries along Sydney’s Inner West Ale Trail