Strand Hotel

It's a backpackers upstairs and a pub downstairs... So you always have a range of people walking through.

They do have food that's cheap and reasonably well cooked and offered up. They have huuuuge serves, so go in knowing this. And the food delivery is pretty quick too so perfect for that workday lunch break.

There is also a regular there with a bird on his shoulder. Who is always immaculately dressed. I always wondered where the bird poops - obviously it's not on him!!!

But anyway, it's a nice little pub with nice staff and good affordable tucker.

I have to say that this place really didn't impress me all that much. Okay, it wasn't bad but it certainly doesn't go on the list of favourite pubs to visit. Despite having been here twice, I must say that it didn't really impress me. Okay, there wasn't anything particularly wrong, and the staff certainly weren't rude (far from it), but there was something about this place that made me think that it was basically boring. All they seem to have is a pokies room (one of them for smoking, which still surprises me to no end) and a sports bar/restaurant out the front. They have the standard beers on tap – nothing fancy – and that was about it. Next time I am down this way I'll probably walk straight past it (despite the fact that I've been here twice, but I do have to be accurate with my reviews).

This place is by no way a standout bar, but a completely acceptable place to stop at if you are wandering up to the Cross or back from the Cross and wanting to break up the journey. Their food isn't actually too bad either - pretty typical pub grub - and is very reasonably priced.

I've only ever ended up at this pub after going out somewhere else but it's always been an OK place to have a few drinks late at night when the bars in kings cross get a bit too much.