The Criterion Hotel Sydney

The Criterion Hotel Sydney The Irish population was left badly ravaged. Fever and dysentery were relieved only by a Cholera particularly bad throughout the Limerick area. J.J.

A proper CBD pub, freshened up.
🍺 Happy Hour Mon–Fri 5–7pm
$7 Beers & House Wine · $10 Pints · $15 Select Cocktails
🍽️ Bistro Specials Wed & Thurs
🍸 $15 Martini Saturdays 5-7pm ► The Criterion Hotel - 260 Pitt St Cnr Park Street, Sydney
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The Story Of PJ Gallagher's...

T'was the 1840s, potato famine & disease were savage. Sailing on board the John McIver, fleeing famine and disease was the family of Gallagher - Lawrence, wife Honarah, and his brother John set off for a new land in 1851, taking naught but the very clothes they wore. John and Lawrence embarked for a distant shore heading for New South Wales, the Sydney Town colony. 6-month-old Mary did not last the journey. Once on shore in a vast new land the Gallaghers became a prosperous clan. Established in Maitland, until in 1854, the Gallaghers moved to south of Dungog in
search of more. In 1853, Lawrence fathered a son, John James, or 'J.J.' as he was to become. A great entrepreneur, J.J. travelled as a young man selling utensils and clothing with his horse and a van. travelled through Dungog, Stroud and the Manning River returning back through Wallamba and Bulladealah. In the 1870's near Larry's Flat, J.J. bought land abound with the hope of establishing a new and prosperous town, now known as Krambach. The Gallaghers poured in, Lawrence and John bought all their kith and kin. He built the first post office in 1881, a general store, slaughterhouse and butchery were to come In 1879. became a married man marrying a girl of Moy, named Mary Anne J.J. then built the town's first hotel and established a large and loyal clientele. For over a decade, Krambach thrived til the railway was built and the population declined. The hotel was then run by Austin, J.J's son, thence Brian, J.J.'s grandson, took over the hotel's run and so tis a tale began in woe and poverty. But a fair land and hard work ended misery. A dynasty began with brothers Lawrence and John and 1000s of pints shared continues four generations on.

Pick a card. Stay awhile.Grab a deck of playing cards from the Basement bar, settle in and make a night of it. And when ...
24/09/2026

Pick a card. Stay awhile.

Grab a deck of playing cards from the Basement bar, settle in and make a night of it. And when it’s time to head out, leave the cards with us for the next hand.

Your table, your drinks, your game.

Your CBD home for everything live and loud.From the big game to the big fight, Criterion Bar is where Sydney’s sport com...
20/09/2026

Your CBD home for everything live and loud.

From the big game to the big fight, Criterion Bar is where Sydney’s sport comes to life. Grab a drink, settle in and catch all the action on the screens.

Midweek plans, sorted.Wednesday calls for our $24 Wagyu Steak Special, all day. Thursday, it’s $20 schnitzels and $22 pa...
16/09/2026

Midweek plans, sorted.

Wednesday calls for our $24 Wagyu Steak Special, all day. Thursday, it’s $20 schnitzels and $22 parmigianas, all day.

Good food, great value, and plenty of reason to make a day of it at The Criterion.

Happy hour, all week long.From Monday to Friday, unwind with our Happy Hour favourites, then keep the weekend going with...
13/09/2026

Happy hour, all week long.

From Monday to Friday, unwind with our Happy Hour favourites, then keep the weekend going with $15 house martinis every Saturday from 5–7pm.

Five days of after-work drinks, plus a Saturday martini ritual. Sounds like a good week to us.

10/09/2026

After your 9 to 5, stay a while in The Basement.

Head downstairs for After Hours, Monday to Friday from 5–7pm, with $7 schooners and wines, $10 pints and $15 cocktails. Then settle in for live music from 7pm every Thursday and Friday.

See you at The Criterion.

Before Criterion was the hotel you know today, this corner was home to one of Sydney’s most famous theatres.The Criterio...
06/09/2026

Before Criterion was the hotel you know today, this corner was home to one of Sydney’s most famous theatres.

The Criterion Theatre opened in 1886 and became one of Sydney’s great intimate playhouses, welcoming audiences for almost 50 years. In 1935, the theatre was demolished as Park Street was widened, making way for the Criterion Hotel that stands here today.

Stay a while in The Basement.Grab a deck of cards from the bar, settle in and make an evening of it. Play a few hands, e...
04/09/2026

Stay a while in The Basement.

Grab a deck of cards from the bar, settle in and make an evening of it. Play a few hands, enjoy our acoustic session from 7pm, and make the most of Happy Hour from 5–7pm.

Saturdays are made for Martinis. 🍸Enjoy $15 House Martinis at Criterion Hotel from 5-7pm every Saturday.Perfect for pre-...
29/08/2026

Saturdays are made for Martinis. 🍸
Enjoy $15 House Martinis at Criterion Hotel from 5-7pm every Saturday.
Perfect for pre-dinner drinks, catching up with the girls or starting date night on a high note.

Sydney Marathon is on this weekend.Whether you’re running, cheering from the sidelines or just along for the atmosphere,...
27/08/2026

Sydney Marathon is on this weekend.

Whether you’re running, cheering from the sidelines or just along for the atmosphere, swing by the Criterion for a well-earned beer.

Tonight’s plans are sorted at The Criterion.Start with Happy Hour from 5–7pm, then settle in for a live jazz session fro...
20/08/2026

Tonight’s plans are sorted at The Criterion.

Start with Happy Hour from 5–7pm, then settle in for a live jazz session from 7pm.

Drinks first, jazz after. See you tonight!

Martini o’clock starts at 5pm 🍸$15 House Martinis from 5–7pm every Saturday.Your Saturday plans, sorted. See you on the ...
15/08/2026

Martini o’clock starts at 5pm 🍸

$15 House Martinis from 5–7pm every Saturday.

Your Saturday plans, sorted. See you on the corner of Pitt & Park St.

Big flavour, small buns. Sliders, sorted.Mortadella & Swiss sliders, with tarragon mustard.📍 Cnr Pitt & Park
11/08/2026

Big flavour, small buns. Sliders, sorted.
Mortadella & Swiss sliders, with tarragon mustard.

📍 Cnr Pitt & Park

07/08/2026

Introduction our Martini Happy Hour 🍸

Every Saturday, from 5-7pm. $15 House Martini’s.

See you on the corner of Pitt & Park St.

03/08/2026

Sydney’s midweek pub feed, sorted.
Meet Robyn, one of our managers at The Criterion, as she takes you through our new bistro specials.

Every Wednesday
$24 Wagyu Rump Steak

Every Thursday
$20 Schnitzel
$22 Parmi

Come hungry.

Where Pitt St meets Park St. See you at The Criterion Hotel.260 Pitt st.
31/07/2026

Where Pitt St meets Park St. See you at The Criterion Hotel.

260 Pitt st.

29/07/2026

Sydney’s after work pick-me-up. Happy Hour at the Criterion.

Monday to Friday, 5–7pm
$7 Beers & House Wine
$10 Pints
$15 Classic Cocktails

Starting 8th of August
Saturday, 5-7pm
$15 Vodka or Gin Martini’s

Looking for something sweeter? Try our new Pavlova ice cream sundae. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. 260 Pitt st.
24/07/2026

Looking for something sweeter? Try our new Pavlova ice cream sundae. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.

260 Pitt st.

Address

260 Pitt St Cnr Park Street
Sydney, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4am
Tuesday 9am - 4am
Wednesday 9am - 4am
Thursday 9am - 4am
Friday 9am - 4am
Saturday 9am - 4am
Sunday 9am - 4am

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