GDay Ausie Pub (2) Newtown Hotel: Same Same But Different

When we first walked the streets of Newtown back in the summer of 1980 we looked for the signs of a new town, but then it was a rather stale almost old looking town with little bohemian character. How things change Newtown is a different animal in 2013. Ach, when we only knew some Beatles songs and our dictionary told us to translate every suburb literally. For example, when we strolled the the lanes of Redfern we assumed that red ferns were hidden in some Aboriginal quarters ;-)

With the catchy tagline ‘Same Same But Different’, Sydney’s iconic Newtown Hotel reopened its cage for business with a swish new makeover few weeks ago.
The 130 years young building at 174 King Street had particular significance to our community as an LGBT watering hole for many years before it closed in 2007. It reopened as a mixed bar with a ‘cheap and cheerful’ ‘Freaky Tiki’ makeover in 2010 but soon closed again for a major restoration.Creatures new and old

King Street is the main street of Newtown and centre of commercial and entertainment activity. From the air the street looks like a longest snake inside the Kakadu National Park. The street follows the spine of a long ridge that rises up near Sydney University and extends to the south, becoming the Princes Highway at its southern end.

Greek restaurant the Animal upstairs is worth tasting from a very inviting balcony from which to view all the action of King Street. The Animal boasts a tasty Greek inspired menu with share plates like braised octopus with baby onions, red wine and cinnamon and Executive Head Chef George Diamond’s Mum’s dolmades with dill yoghurt. Or get a protein hit with meat from the charcoal and wood spit. Even vegetarians like Malchkeon should not be disheartened as there are plenty of meat-free options to keep your conscience at bay. the Animal

Coda: GDay Pub 1: Paddo