| Three Wise Monkeys Pub, Sydney CBD |
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| Written by Administrator | ||
| Wednesday, 27 February 2002 | ||
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Three Wise Monkeys Pub, 555 George St Sydney CBD (cnr Liverpool St), 02 9283 5855. The type of pub name I hate, but an ironic one: on our (somewhat drunken) visit, we saw evil, heard evil and spoke evil in abundance. Still, as it was all our own doing, I suppose we can't blame the pub. A once very popular pub that has become inexplicably less so. The Three Wise Monkeys suffers from its lack of age. Even if you didn't know that this building was an ANZ Bank until a couple of years ago, you could guess that it hadn't been a pub for long. It just doesn't look or feel like one. The renovations have been extensive (they've built a whole mezzanine floor), and they have opted for a mock-Brit feel: an imposing, dark-and-highly-polished wood bar, scarlet ragged paintwork on the walls, tall handle-less pint glasses. But it all feels a bit just-out-of-the-box, and not a little mismatched. Witness the Carlton Black tap (in the shape of an art deco stunner holding what might be a sheaf of barley) and the Cascade Pale tap (disguised as an alto saxophone!What?!)There are three bars here. The ground floor bar with its high ceilings and tall windows is comfortable and airy, if a little cramped. At least it's a short walk to the bar from any corner. The mezzanine bar is just too dark and claustrophobic for my tastes. The ceiling here is so low that I felt I was below decks on a submarine. Up the stairs again is the pool bar (two tables). This is brighter and more open and includes the stage (live music every night apparently). This pub was considered very fashionable for the first year after it opened, and is now considered just as unfashionable. Even the Sunday Telegraph recently listed it as 'out' in their listing of what's in and what's out. If the trend gurus and style-meisters at the Sunday Terrorgraph think it's unhip, then I daresay it must be. Word of mouth that has reached me seems to indicate that the Three Wise Monkeys has now become a den for the alleged Asian and Lebanese crime syndicates that are said to hang around the George St cinema precinct. Maybe. All I can say is that on our lengthy Thursday afternoon-into-evening visit, we didn't spot a single 'gangsta' or 'homey': there wasn't a Fubu tracksuit in sight. In any case the beers were cold and expertly poured by very friendly barstaff. I like this place without the remotest chance of ever loving it. Beer Serving:
Seating Arrangement: Downstairs is 'all-tall'; the mezzanine about half low and half tall ; the upstairs 'all-tall'. Food/Type: A bistro in the groundfloor bar. It serves a Carvery-type menu: Roast of the Day, Bangers and Mash, Hot Dogs, Chicken Scnitzel etc... no indication of vegetarian food. And (pet hate) the menu reads 'Nachoes': as though one corn chip with cheese on it is a 'Nacho' and 'Nachoes' is therefore the plural. Aaaaargh! Pool Tables: Two tables in the upstairs bar. Poker Machines: Yep. A host of them in a neatly tucked away little bar. JukeBox and Selection: Didn't spot one, but didn't go out of my way. I was quite happy with the music being played by the bar staff. Decor: As above, try-hard wannabe plush quasi-Brit elegance direct from Stylish Olde Pubs 'R' Us. Crowd: Suits, tourists and to a lesser extent, scruffy whitecollars from nearby offices. Possibly wack brigade gangstaz from Campsie Massive plotting turf-war with the Burwood Posse, but this remains to be proven. Operating Hours: Stay tuned. Live Music: Yes. Every night, though they seem to be a bit cover-band orientated. And if there's a nightclub on Tuesday, then where are they putting the live music? TAB: No. Other Entertainment: A nightclub called Soho on Tuesday nights. Map:See The Map Surrounding Suburbs: The Rocks, Surry Hills, Broadway.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 January 2005 ) | ||
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