Bar Hop by Light Rail in Newcastle
Explore Newcastle’s burgeoning small bar scene on a bar hop by light rail. Hop on and off at six stations along the 2.7km route for bespoke cocktails, locally crafted beer, fine Hunter vinos and the largest whisky collection outside of Sydney.
Explore the latest offers and packages from Crystalbrook Kingsley in Newcastle.
Newcastle Beach
Load up your Opal card and catch the Newcastle Light Rail from Civic station alighting at Newcastle Beach at the line’s eastern end. Stroll over for a peak at the beach before joining the millennial crowd at the Falcon Bar for southern state inspired comfort food, Mexican beer and stellar cocktails.
Also in the east end is Saints Bar (the beach end of King Street). Sink into a comfy chesterfield lounge and have bar tender and co-owner Jackson Dunlop mix you something special from the menu of 50 plus gins. These bars in Newcastle are perfect after a day at the beach.
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Queens Wharf
Alight at Queens Wharf station for the short stroll to Tiki inspired rum bar Blue Kahunas. Found behind unassuming doors at the top of the Hunter Street Mall this tropical rum shack offers mix matched furniture, fishing nets and the best of Tiki culture. Don’t leave without sampling this Queens Wharf bar’s signature cocktail, Barrel O’ Nanas.
Image Credit: Destination NSW
Crown Street
Next stop on your Newcastle bar crawl: Crown Street. Duck through to King Street for glamorous 1920s inspired whisky bar Babylon. Found within the 1903 Methodist Mission Building, award-winning Crown Street bar, Babylon, claims to have the largest collection of whisky in NSW outside Sydney. Best go check. Just to be sure.
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Civic
Back onboard the Newcastle Light Rail, alight at Civic Station where Coal and Cedar are found (admittedly, it can take a little searching) concealed behind a barbershop wall in one of Newcastle’s many heritage buildings. This cool prohibition style speakeasy is lauded as one of Newcastle’s best cocktail bars where inked bar tenders craft top shelf cocktails like Apple Hooch made from tart Granny Smith apples and epic whisky sours.
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Honeysuckle
From Honeysuckle Station saunter back over to Hunter Street for gyoza and bespoke cocktails at Japanese inspired speakeasy, the Koutetsu. Australian gins and Japanese whiskeys dominate the cocktail list. Allow the attentive mixologists to customise your drink to suit your palette.
Next hang a left for boozy rum cocktails at the Rum Diary Bar brought to Newcastle from the team behind the original in Melbourne’s North. With a rollicking shipwreck theme, secret passageways lead to three distinct drinking spaces while the upper terrace houses Newcastle's first cigar lounge. If you’re feeling peckish, order something from the Caribbean inspired menu. If you desire a cocktail like no other, these bars in Newcastle are what you’ve been looking for.
Image Credit: Destination NSW
The Interchange
It’s the end of the line but not for watering holes. Cross Stewart Avenue, duck down Beresford Lane and turn right on Bellevue Street. On the corner of Hunter Street you’ll find Bar Mellow – the latest venture from Byron Marzinotto and Prudence Farquhar from the aforementioned Blue Kahunas. Located in the historic Bank Corner building, Bar Mellow focuses on natural and minimal intervention wines and elevated bar snacks.
Loop back to Civic Station and alight for the Crystalbrook Kingsley, Newcastle’s first five star hotel. Round off your Newcastle bar crawl with a nightcap or two from the seasonal cocktail menu at glamorous rooftop bar Rombergs, named after the building’s Swiss trained architect Frederick Romberg. Take in twinkling city lights and the clock tower on the neighbouring Town Hall before rolling down to bed for some well-earned shut eye.
Prefer bar hopping on foot? Discover Newcastle’s boozy history on a fun walking tour with local Becky Kiil from Newcastle Afoot. The 3.5 hour tour explores Newcastle’s past, present and future punctuated by creative cocktails concocted by local bartenders, interesting stories and the chance to meet friendly Novocastrians.
Top image credit: Destination NSW