Bar Century (formerly Century Tavern) – Sydney CBD
The reason I’m reviewing Bar Century (formerly the Century Tavern) isn’t because I think it’s a great bar – because I don’t – but because it used to be my favourite pub back when Nirvana was still on the charts and grunge was not only huge musically but also the key motif in the Century Tavern’s interior.
Although the building has some nice art deco touches, from the curved sweep of the bar to the steep circular staircase that two of my friends have actually fallen down on different occasions, there was never anything glamorous about the Century – and this is what I and many others loved. In contrast to the nearby backpacker bars the Century had an authenticity to it, from the offbeat and often emo (not that anyone used that word back then) clientele to the great jukebox.
Then, a number of years ago, they did a renovation, changed the name to Bar Century and the place looked a lot cleaner and more sterile. To be honest I can’t recall many of the finer details, although I do remember an awful lot of pokies – and then the bar shut down. Now, however, Bar Century’s re-opened and with my gay wingman in town for the weekend (he’s also one of the friends who fell down the stairwell) I decide to see what it’s now like.
The biggest change is that a hostel, called World Square Hostel, has opened up in the building with the reception where the second level bar used to be. As such there’s only one bar now and the clientele is, as you guessed it, largely backpackers. It’s good to see that there are also still some eclectic characters there but the overall clientele has definitely changed. The music has mellowed too – as I order some beers, for example, a Michael Jackson song is playing.
What hasn’t changed is the heat: in summer it’s so hot that the GW and I have to wedge ourselves up against a window in an attempt to cool down. We’d like to give the bar owners the benefit of the doubt and say they must have cut the air con to be environmentally friendly, but our top two theories is that they either want to torture the backpackers or make them thirsty enough to keep drinking beer. Admittedly the draught beer here is only $3 a schooner, which is possibly the cheapest beer in Sydney’s CBD (although if anyone knows where you can get cheaper beer, feel free to leave a comment below), but it’s not worth suffering for – even though the view from the windows onto George Street is entertaining.
Overall, I do like Bar Century now more than I did after their second last renovation, and I’ll probably come back (especially when the temperature drops) – but it’s still not the same as it was in its grungy heyday.
Bar Century, 640 George Street, Sydney (above Hungry Jacks – entry is on Liverpool Street).
Now it’s your turn – how do you rate Bar Century?
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Ah yes, the olde Century Tavern. This is the perfect example of what has gone wrong with Sydney pubs/bars. I used to love the eclectic mix of grunge kids, ravers, goths and the old locals all enjoying a great atmosphere without an issue. This was the best pub in Sydney.
Sorry Hawko, but you obviously didn’t try going there with dreadlocks and a couple of cute girls while there was a group of skinheads drinking there. However, in all fairness, what followed was more of an indication of Nazi fascist meat heads rather than the pub, as I’ve drunk there on many other occasions without incident.
I went there as a non anglo saxon Australian and had a lovely game of pool with a pair of white supremacists, with the tatts and and swastika jewelery and such. They didnt give me any grief, and I didnt give them any.
This was the best pub in Sydney. I could have spent a whole day and night watching Sydney swarm past those massive windows.
Before and after gigs at the Metro, foozball and pool, anything but pokies. The music on the jukebox was classic.
The only pub that came close to this for me was the Underground (underneath the Criterion on Pitt St). That place was truly craptastic.
I didn’t go to the old Century Tavern but I have been to the new Bar Century.
I ask one thing who the hell wants to hang out with a bunch of Neo Nazis or so Called EMO’s.
The less of these people in the world, the better the place will be.
Great staff (Hot Bar Tenders) and a whole bunch of young travelers out for a good time.
The heat is a killer but in this day and age without pokies they couldn’t afford AIR CON anyway. Lets hope some people p-ut cash in those things so they will buy the AIR CON.
The windows are so good looking over George st and its even better when the wind is blowing, but you can’t go past $9.90 jugs before the Metro. Or even a few cheepies before a night out.
Glad its back.
I think its a great bar. Cheap drinks, always pretty busy. Good vibe. Stairs!!! They are stairs, I have been practising on all sorts of stairs since I started walking and these do not seem any more of a challenge. Maybe ya friends should use the lift till they get their “left foot, right foot, left foot” sorted.
Yep fell down those stairs a few times between 1990-96! It’s a shame that it’s headed down the slightly trendy pubs! Why don’t people appreciate the old pub styles of yesteryear, people enjoy the old style I wish publicans had to go through council to completely change our pubs as so many have been shagged! I’m going tnite for the first time in about 13 years I hope Micheal Jackson isn’t playing on the jukebox!
I used to love having a beer at the Century when I was in town as a young cop (1990). The jukebox had the good stuff at the time, Guns n Roses, Alice in Chains, Diesel etc. Just good music, cheap beer, no hassles. Good times all round. I’ll check it out to again some time…