Almost a decade after its last refresh, the White Horse on Crown Street has charged back into Sydney’s dining conversation. A meticulous A$6 million renovation in 2024 reimagined the historic 1930s pub from the ground up, transforming its formerly gritty public bar into a polished ground-floor restaurant while lifting the public bar upstairs. Here’s what the research reveals about its history, its rebirth, and where it fits in Surry Hills’ crowded dining scene.
Last checked: 2026-10-24
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Name: The White Horse · Address: 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 · Cuisine: Pub, Australian, Gastropub · Price level: $ – $$
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-10-24.
Sources reviewed: The Sydney Morning Herald / Good Food, Broadsheet Sydney, Australian Bartender, Tripadvisor, Hotel Australia, Sydney Travel Guide, Wikipedia.
No on-site visit, no staff interviews, no primary price verification was undertaken for this article. Menu and pricing details are drawn from published reports and may have changed since publication.
Snapshot: White Horse Surry Hills
- A$6 million makeover led by Craig Hemmings, designed by Farago Han Studio. (Broadsheet Sydney)
- Modern Australian gastropub, $$ to $$$, with a weekend lunch set menu for A$55. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
| Name | The White Horse |
|---|---|
| Address | 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 |
| Cuisine | Pub, Australian, Gastropub |
| Price level | $$ – $$$ |
Timeline: a pub in constant motion
- 1930s — White Horse Hotel constructed in working-class Surry Hills.
- 2004 — Bar and brasserie added; silver rearing-horse sculpture installed on roof.
- 2005 — Precision Group reportedly purchases the hotel for A$7.5 million.
- 2014 — Lounge, restaurant, function room, rooftop terrace and garden refurbished.
- 2017 — Rebranded as The Horse; interior lightened, craft spirits and 14 rotating tap beers introduced.
- Late 2022 / early 2023 — Craig Hemmings takes over the site and begins a full redevelopment.
- 17 April 2024 — Reopens as the White Horse after a A$6 million renovation.
Why Is the White Horse Tavern Famous?
Its fame rests on a dramatic capacity for reinvention. From a 1930s blue-collar pub to a piano bar, brasserie, live-music venue, and now a chef-led gastropub, each iteration has matched the pulse of Surry Hills’ own transformation. The 2024 reopening secured its place in the national conversation.
History of the White Horse
Constructed in the 1930s, the White Horse Hotel originally served a working-class Surry Hills community of factory and terrace-house residents. Over decades it shifted formats as the neighbourhood changed. By the 2000s it had added a bar, brasserie, and the rooftop horse that made it a local landmark. The ground-floor restaurant now occupies what was once the public bar, while the public bar has been relocated to the first floor with a green-tiled bar and outdoor terrace.
2024 Renovation and Reopening
Craig Hemmings took over the site roughly 14 months before the April 2024 relaunch and, as The Sydney Morning Herald reported, “several million dollars” were needed just to bring the place up to code. The final tab came to A$6 million. Farago Han Studio made the radical call to relocate the public bar to the first floor — a move that gave the ground floor a dedicated restaurant with a direct kitchen pass.
“We’ll have it on the menu for $45; in other restaurants, it might be twice the price.”
— Craig Hemmings, on the wagyu tri-tip, to The Sydney Morning Herald
What Do Reviews Say About White Horse Surry Hills?
Early Tripadvisor reviews have been broadly positive, with multiple reviewers praising the quality of the produce and the polished service. The opening menu featured dishes that walked a line between pub comfort and fine-dining ambition.
User experience highlights
One reviewer described a meal that included confit duck-leg cigars and Western Australian marron with risotto and creamed corn — dishes that reflect a kitchen aiming beyond the gastropub label. Others commented on the inviting atmosphere of the green-tiled upstairs bar and the quiet buzz of the ground-floor restaurant.
| Address | 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 |
|---|---|
| Reported executive chef (2024 opening) | Jed Gerrard |
| Cuisine | Modern Australian, Gastropub |
| Price level | $$ – $$$ |
| Opening menu wagyu tri-tip | A$45 |
| Weekend lunch set menu | A$55 for six courses |
| Pros |
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|---|---|
| Cons |
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Pricing: what to expect
The price range is rated moderate-to-upscale. A la carte mains such as the wagyu tri-tip sit at A$45, while a toothfish dish has been reported at A$55. The weekend lunch set menu — six courses for A$55 — is the clear value standout. Drinks continue the premium theme with Australian craft spirits and rotating tap beers.
How Does White Horse Compare to Other Sydney Restaurants?
People Also Ask data shows that users frequently compare the White Horse against broader categories and specific titles in the Surry Hills dining scene.
| Establishment / Query | Cuisine | Price range | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Horse Surry Hills | Gastropub, Modern Australian | $$ – $$$ | A$55 six-course weekend set menu; 2024 renovation |
| Farm-to-table restaurants in Sydney (general) | Varies | Varies | Seasonal, locally sourced produce focus |
| Best Surry Hills restaurant (search concept) | Subjective | Varies | Represents the competitive local dining field |
| Hardest reservation in Sydney (search concept) | Variable | Varies | Popular limited-seating venues; no specific name confirmed from inputs |
Best for which kind of diner?
- History and pub ambiance lovers: The White Horse’s layered past and preserved facade make it a choice with a story.
- Gastropub fans: The chef-led approach puts it squarely in the gastropub camp rather than a traditional operation.
- Locals seeking a revived landmark: The interior overhaul makes it a new option for a familiar address.
- First-time visitors to Surry Hills: The location on Crown Street places it right in the neighbourhood’s dining axis.
Our Pick: the weekend set-lunch experience
If you can book a weekend lunch, the six-course set menu at A$55 is the most direct expression of what the 2024 kitchen can do. It captures the ambition of the menu — which has since evolved to incorporate Korean influences such as miso-broth lobster pappardelle — without the premium of a la carte pricing. For a single visit that balances value and the full breadth of the new concept, it’s the strongest option.
Where Do Celebrities Eat in Sydney?
Searches for Taylor Swift’s dining choices, Dua Lipa’s favourite restaurants, and Nigella Lawson’s picks frequently appear alongside queries about Surry Hills. None of the sources reviewed for this article link the White Horse directly to any of these celebrities. What the connection likely reflects is broader curiosity about Sydney’s premium dining scene, where the White Horse is a notable new entrant.
What Are the Best Farm-to-Table and Must-Eat Options in Sydney?
The White Horse describes itself as a gastropub, not a dedicated farm-to-table venue. Its opening menu did feature highly seasonal, provenance-specific ingredients — Western Australian marron, toothfish with squid-ink glaze, Berkshire pork jowl — which puts it in the same conversation as farm-to-table restaurants without wearing the label. Later menu reporting noted a turn toward Korean-inflected dishes, such as Bannockburn chicken with gochujang jus.
“We focused on creating a relaxing ambience through lighting and kept the old school rock and blues tunes.”
— Justin Surplice, licensee, on the 2017 rebrand to The Horse (Australian Bartender)
Is Surry Hills a Rich Suburb?
When the White Horse opened in the 1930s, Surry Hills was unequivocally a working-class district. Demographics have shifted dramatically since then. Today the suburb is one of Sydney’s most sought-after residential and hospitality precincts. The transformation of the White Horse — from a basic corner pub to a polished dining venue — mirrors that broader gentrification story.
Location and getting there
The pub sits at 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, near the southern end of the strip and within easy walking distance of Central Station. It is surrounded by a dense concentration of cafes, wine bars, and restaurants that make up the neighbourhood’s celebrated dining circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the address of White Horse Surry Hills?
381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010.
What type of food does White Horse serve?
Modern Australian gastropub. The opening menu featured wagyu tri-tip (A$45), Western Australian marron, toothfish, and Berkshire pork jowl, with later reporting noting Korean influences such as gochujang jus and miso-broth pasta.
What is the price range at White Horse?
$$ to $$$. A la carte mains are priced between A$45 and A$55. A weekend lunch set menu costs A$55 for six courses.
When was White Horse originally built?
The venue was constructed in the 1930s.
When did White Horse reopen after renovation?
It reopened on Wednesday, 17 April 2024, following a A$6 million renovation.
Is White Horse considered a fine-dining venue?
No — it is best described as an upscale gastropub. The chef-led kitchen and design-driven renovation place it in a premium casual category rather than formal fine dining.
Does White Horse have a history as a working-class pub?
Yes. It was built in the 1930s when Surry Hills was a predominantly working-class suburb, and its multiple transformations reflect the area’s broader gentrification.
Sources and further reading
- Sydney Travel Guide — reporting on the A$55 six-course set menu, its availability, and the Korean direction of the menu.
- Wikipedia — property history covering the 2004, 2014 renovations, the 2005 sale to Precision Group, and the rooftop sculpture.
- White Horse Surry Hills Review: Worth the $6M Renovation (Hotel Australia) — dedicated review of the post-renovation dining experience.
- White Horse Surry Hills: Review, Menu, and Booking Tips (Hotel Australia) — detailed review covering later menu prices, steak sandwich and char siu pork pricing, Korean-influenced dishes.