Lord Wolseley Hotel

I stayed around the corner from this pub, and let me tell you, I ate there three times for dinner because it’s that good. The food is unbeatable. If you’re a man of taste, you need to try the steak—it’s perfection. The chicken schnitzel? Absolute must. This place delivers quality

Dear Lord Wolseley bar Manager, I would like to make a formal letter regarding your bar and to bring to attention of the two young gentlemen that work as bartenders by the name of Mark and Grant. They were exceptionally outstanding as bartenders and the hospitality is the epitome of excellence. If other bartenders could watch them work, listen and understand the reasons to work in a pub, that was it! They acknowledged the patrons in a friendly and hospitable manner, they served me with great respect and the customer service was impeccable. Having been a former bartender and lived in new Orleans among other cities, Mark and Grant could teach other Sydney bartenders a thing or two to keep patrons coming back, Keep up the great work fellas! 10/10.

The service was friendly and fun. Locals were lovely acknowledged but newcomers were welcomed. The lamb special I had was unbelievably great. One of the best dishes I’ve had in a long long time. Sitting on the patio watching children play as the sun went down while sipping wine felt pretty idyllic.

Absolutely loved The Lord Wolseley! This old-school gem in inner Sydney is a rare find. The charm and character of the place are unmatched – they simply don’t make pubs like this anymore. The outdoor area is perfect, especially in good weather, providing a relaxed and welcoming vibe that’s hard to beat. One of the best parts? No pokies here – just a genuine, traditional pub experience. If you're after a coffee, head to a café and respect what this establishment stands for. Whether you’re after a casual drink or a hearty pub meal, this spot delivers on all fronts. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is authentic, and the history of the place adds to its unique appeal. A true local treasure!

Absolutely love it here! Perfect spot to have a relaxed beer on a sunny corner - quiet and local, and very close to the hustle and bustle. The schnitzel was supreme! Light, crispy crumb, juicy juicy meat, very tasty slaw 👌🏼

Lovely location, got the Wednesday night $25 steak and chips. The steak was overcooked but still nice. Good atmosphere nice area, good cocktails. I’d come again!

Charming place to stay, old-school homely hospitality and lovely local feel. Plus best Bloody Mary I’ve ever had ❤️

A very relaxing afternoon had at Lord Wolseley Hotel thank you to Barman Grant! Friendly, knowledgeable and a conscientious and committed cocktail maker. Thank you for your exceptional service.

Despite this being one of those hidden pubs, when I arrived here one saturday afternoon it was literally bursting at the seams. In fact it was pretty difficult actually finding a place to sit down (though I did eventually find one in the corner). While I would say that the patrons had even spilt out onto the road, there were a number of barrels out the front where they would consume their beers and chat with their mates. As a pub it is actually really nice, and has quite a lot of character. There is even a really nice restaurant out the back. Okay, it is pretty small (and really crowded when I was there), but it is still one of those pubs that I would definitely want to visit again.

Oh, the Lord Wolseley Hotel, you stalwart Ultimo institution. May you live for another hundred years, keeping up mysterious old traditions, boozing up old men and backpackers. As a former Ultimo local - and representative authority on all things Ultimo, AND all things related to the former NSW Government Printing Office - the Lord Wolseley has at times been the focal point of my world, both social and academic. What a mad, crazy thing to say about a pub. That's probably not very helpful for YOU, is it, since you want to know about the pub itself. Right. The Lord Wolseley has a great history. Built in 1881, the Woz was the drinking hole of the infamous Sydney crim Neddy Smith, and company ... and also the favoured pub for the letterpress printers at the NSW Government Printing Office. At five minutes to 1pm on a weekday, the publican would line the bar with 30 cold schooners, and at 1 minute past 1, the printers would rush in. 5 minutes later they were all heading back to the bar for a second shout. In recent years the Lord Wolseley has changed hands a fair bit. For a while we were worried it would close down. It is now owned by TV mogul Errol Sullivan, who has allegedly promised to keep it as a "good old pub" and not ritz the place up. His sons might be running it, and they might be twins. (For probably inaccurate details on Errol Sullivan's hilarious party, bringing in the change of ownership, see http://penultimo.tumblr.com/post/13470430184/errolwolseley) The reason the Lord Wolseley has changed very little is that it's on a small bar licence (or something like that) and it's heritage listed. It's also a little off the beaten track, so not attractive to developers and the big-bar owners of Sydney. What to expect? It's a bit run down, and rather narrow. You can drink outside in the village green, if you behave yourself. The drink price is average, and you might get some raised eyebrows if you try to order a fancy cocktail or an upmarket wine. There are plenty of old locals milling around, happy to engage you in conversation or tell you what a wanker you're being. Oh yes -- one of the best things about the Lord Wolseley is that it HAS NO POKIES. Ok, I think I need to repeat that. THIS PUB HAS NO POKIES. Wait! I'm sort of wrong. Technically the Woz has pokies, but they are decommissioned and turned off, shoved into a room in the basement. It makes me grin whenever I see those dead machines - they look like dead daleks. Victory to the Dr! The kitchen at the Woz has in the past been pretty dire - very greasy stuff with a bit of a Thai twist. But with the new ownership, things may change in the back, we shall see...

This characteristic pub in my neighborhood is really good to enjoy a few beers with mates after work. Don't expect any fancy cocktails here. Attached to the bar is a restaurant offering typical pub food and on the upper floors they have rooms available to rent. One of my friends happened to stay there once and I had the chance to have a quick look at his room. They offer hostel style rooms with 2-3 bunk beds in a small room and shared bathrooms on the aisle. But they also have a few normal rooms available. The rooms, bathrooms and kitchen facilities for the guests aren't clean and require renovation. However if you're on a budget and you want to stay close to the city this might be worth a try.

This is my favourite pub in Ultimo. It has a relaxed atmosphere, Grifter pale ale on tap and the best burger in Sydney, ishichunot. I just hope all those hipsters waiting in lines in front of some burger joints in Sydney don't find out how good the burgers are here. The beef is medium rare with so much taste that you crave this burger every day. It's a must try. Plus the outdoor area is priceless.