Criterion Hotel Sydney

We stopped in for lunch and were really happy with it. The food was tasty and well priced, and everyone was friendly. The pub is right on the Main Street, with a long dining room, a beer garden out back and a front bar. Its location and the nearby river view made it well worth a visit.

An old-fashioned pub with plenty of character, right in the busy Sydney CBD. I like dropping in for a quick drink after a tough day at work. The downstairs area seems to be under renovation even though it’s still open. It could become a proper British-style pub, so I hope they get the work right.

On 30/5/26, the pub staff were extremely rude to my family. A woman with curly brown hair didn’t let us know that under 18s weren’t allowed in at 1pm, even though my 16 year old brother was only joining our parents and the rest of us for a meal. After our food arrived, a woman with a blonde bun made us leave and pack the meals into takeaway containers. They should have told us before we ordered. It was completely unprofessional, and we won’t be back.

I tried to apologise for a mistake, but the manager was rude and dismissive, then walked away. Earlier, she had told me off for taking my drinks back to the table before they were finished. The bartender had gone to serve other customers after I’d paid, before finishing my drink, and had started making their drinks instead. Security had been at the bar watching our table, the closest one, and didn’t seem to think there was a problem at the time. When I tried to get the manager’s attention, she and security looked straight at me and walked past without responding. I never write Google reviews, but she may be the most inhumane person I’ve encountered in hospitality or retail. The venue itself is great, and I hope her attitude doesn’t affect other customers.