The White Horse on Crown Street in Surry Hills reopened in April 2024 after a A$6 million renovation, transitioning from a traditional blue-collar pub into a chef-led, multi-level restaurant and bar. This review synthesizes professional critiques from Good Food and Time Out alongside user feedback to clarify what the “new” White Horse offers diners today.

Last checked: 2026-10-23

Location: Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney · Cuisine: Pub, Australian, Gastropub · Meals served: Lunch, Dinner · Price range: $ – $$ (moderate to expensive) · Renovation cost: $6 million · Constructed: 1930s

Snapshot of the White Horse Surry Hills

1 Venue Layout

• Ground-floor restaurant plus upstairs bar, terrace and private function room

2 Renovation Investment

• Approximately A$6 million refurbishment

3 Reopening Date

• Wednesday 17 April 2024

4 Cuisine and Reception

• Praised as “pub’s most delicious iteration,” featuring Australian gastropub fare

Detail	Information
Location	Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney
Cuisine	Pub, Australian, Gastropub
Meals served	Lunch (Fri-Sun), Dinner (Wed-Sun)
Price range	$$ – $$$ (moderate to expensive)
Renovation cost	A$6 million
Constructed	1930s
Refurbished	2004 and 2024

White Horse history: from working-class pub to fine dining

The building at 381 Crown Street was originally constructed in the 1930s, serving the surrounding blue-collar neighbourhood as a classic Sydney pub. It underwent a refurbishment in 2004, but retained its traditional public-bar character for another two decades.

The next chapter began in early 2023, when hospitality veteran Craig Hemmings and a group of silent partners took control of the hotel. Their vision was to reimagine the White Horse through a contemporary lens, a project that culminated in a reported A$6 million makeover (Good Food / Sydney Morning Herald). The venue closed and reopened on 17 April 2024, with a design by Farago Han Studio employing neutral tones, French oak tables, and a mix of Danish and local furniture.

“The new-look White Horse is the pub’s most delicious iteration yet.”

Besha Rodell, Good Food restaurant critic

The structural layout was entirely reworked. The ground floor now houses a restaurant, while the first floor contains a public bar, an open-air terrace overlooking an adjacent park, and an intimate private function room. This shift represents a significant departure from its identity as a standard local pub (The White Horse Events Pack). For a deeper dive into the venue’s transformation, see White Horse Surry Hills: History, Reviews, 2024 Renovation.

The bottom line: The White Horse has moved decisively from a pub with food to a restaurant that happens to have a bar upstairs. Its heritage as a blue-collar watering hole is visible only in the building’s bones.

White Horse reviews: what do critics and diners say?

Good Food review highlights

Good Food’s Besha Rodell reviewed the venue shortly after reopening, awarding it strong marks for its food, design, and wine program. The review highlighted a dish of marron with sweetcorn and ice plant at A$58, describing dishes that could compare with tasting-menu cooking at higher prices. The wine list was noted for containing approximately 100 bottles, with an emphasis on Australian and European organic and regenerative producers. Rodell estimated the cost for two people excluding drinks at approximately A$180 (Good Food / Sydney Morning Herald).

Time Out Sydney assessment

Time Out Sydney published its own review in June 2024, praising the food and dining room while explicitly noting the venue had moved away from its traditional pub identity. The critic observed that the ground-floor restaurant format meant the White Horse no longer really functions as a conventional pub (Time Out Sydney). Despite this identity shift, Time Out assessed the pricing as offering good value for the quality on offer.

The renovated venue “no longer really functioning as a conventional pub.”

Time Out Sydney reviewer

User review themes

Post-reopening user reviews on Tripadvisor give the venue a 4.6 out of 5 bubble rating, with individual diners praising dishes such as duck, marron, lobster pasta and tartare, alongside polished service (Tripadvisor current listing). Older reviews on Yelp, reflecting the pre-renovation venue, described a more relaxed atmosphere suitable for drinks and pub food, with some criticism of uneven execution and dated facilities (Yelp). Recent community discussion on Reddit characterizes the revamped venue as better suited to a dining occasion than a budget-friendly pub meal (Reddit foodies_sydney). This small sample of user sentiment aligns with the editorial consensus: the food is strong, but the experience is no longer a typical pub visit.

The pattern: Professional critics are uniformly positive about the food and design. User reviews, while limited in number, confirm the food quality but highlight the shift to a higher-price, higher-occasion format.

Where is the White Horse and how to get there?

Location on Crown St

The White Horse is situated at 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, in inner Sydney. It sits within a dense hospitality corridor, surrounded by other pubs, bars, and restaurants that contribute to the neighbourhood’s reputation as a food and nightlife destination.

Neighbourhood character

Surry Hills has transformed from a working-class suburb into one of Sydney’s most vibrant dining precincts. Crown Street itself hosts a mix of casual eateries, wine bars, and historic pubs, making the White Horse a central option for visitors exploring the area. Central Station is a short walk away, providing access from across the city.

What this means for visitors: The White Horse is well integrated into the Surry Hills food scene. Its elevated price point and dining format distinguish it from many of the casual venues on the same street.

Is the White Horse worth the hype? Our verdict

Pros and cons

Best for which diners

Alternatives in Surry Hills

For diners who find the White Horse too expensive or prefer a more traditional pub atmosphere, other venues on Crown Street and surrounding laneways offer classic pub fare at lower price points. Those prioritizing raw food quality above atmosphere can find similarly priced tasting menus at nearby dedicated fine-dining restaurants, though they will miss the pub’s relaxed but polished setting.

What is Surry Hills famous for?

Transformation from working-class to foodie hub

Surry Hills was historically a blue-collar suburb, home to light industry and terraced housing. Over the past two decades, it has become one of Sydney’s most celebrated dining and nightlife districts. The area is known for its concentration of independent restaurants, cafes, and pubs, drawing both local residents and visitors from across the city.

The White Horse as a landmark

The White Horse has been a fixture on Crown Street since the 1930s. Its 2024 reinvention positions it within the current wave of pub-gastronomy that defines modern Surry Hills. The venue’s shift from a straightforward local bar to a chef-led restaurant mirrors the broader gentrification and culinary evolution of the suburb itself.

The implication: The White Horse is not just a pub; it is a case study in how Surry Hills has redefined its hospitality identity.