Surry Hills’ historic White Horse Hotel has re-emerged as a destination for modern Australian dining, blending its 1930s pub bones with a kitchen that The Sydney Morning Herald called “the pub’s most delicious iteration yet”. This guide unpacks the venue’s menu, reviews, rooftop, and what to expect from the relaunched pub-restaurant.
Last checked: 2026-10-27
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Venue name: White Horse Hotel · Location: 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney · Type: Three-storey public hotel with restaurant, public bar and outdoor terrace · Signature feature: Rampant silver stallion on the roof
How we researched this guide
Last checked: 2026-10-27.
Sources reviewed: Official White Horse website, Sydney Morning Herald, Time Out Sydney, Broadsheet, Sydney.com, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Wikipedia.
We did not conduct an on-site visit, staff interview, or independent price verification. All claims are based on published sources and verified facts.
White Horse Surry Hills at a glance
- 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 · Lunch Fri–Sat 12–3pm; dinner Tue–Sat from 5:30pm; Sun 12–9pm (last booking 7:30pm) (Official site)
- Modern Australian, local and ethical produce with native ingredients (Sydney.com)
- Dishes from A$24 (beetroot millefeuille) to A$58 (butter-poached marron) (SMH) (Sydney.com)
- About 100 bottles, strong on Australian and European organic/regenerative producers (SMH) (Time Out)
- Every wine by the glass under A$20 (Time Out)
- Dinner for two about A$180 excluding drinks (SMH)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue name | White Horse Hotel |
| Location | 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney |
| Type | Three-storey public hotel with restaurant, public bar and outdoor terrace |
| Signature feature | Rampant silver stallion on the roof |
White Horse Surry Hills: Venue specs
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 (Official site) |
| Executive chef & partner | Jed Gerrard (Broadsheet) |
| Junior chef | Jun Hwang, Gourmet Traveller Best New Talent award winner (Sydney.com) |
| Restaurant hours | Lunch Fri–Sat 12–3pm; dinner Tue–Sat from 5:30pm; Sun 12–9pm (last booking 7:30pm) (Official site) |
| Wine list size | Approximately 100 bottles (SMH) |
| By-the-glass wine ceiling | Under A$20 (Time Out) |
| Estimated dinner for two | About A$180 excluding drinks (SMH) |
Timeline: key moments in the White Horse’s recent history
- 1930s – The White Horse Hotel was built at 381 Crown Street (Wikipedia).
- April 2024 – Broadsheet covered the relaunch, noting the modern Australian menu and chef Jed Gerrard (Broadsheet).
- May 2024 – The Sydney Morning Herald published a glowing review, calling it “the pub’s most delicious iteration yet” (SMH).
- June 2024 – Time Out Sydney reviewed the venue, praising the food and wine program (Time Out).
- 2025 – Official contact page reflects current hours (Official site).
What is the White Horse Hotel in Surry Hills?
The White Horse Hotel is a three-storey public hotel at 381 Crown Street in Surry Hills, Sydney. Built in the 1930s, it retains the bones of a classic corner pub while now housing a ground-floor restaurant, a public bar, and an outdoor terrace. The Sydney Morning Herald described it as “a highly tuned pub-restaurant with fine-dining capability”.
History and architecture
The building has been a local fixture since the 1930s, originally serving as a straightforward corner pub. The current relaunch – led by chef Jed Gerrard and his team – transformed the interior into a more polished dining space while keeping the original public bar. A silver stallion weathervane still sits on the roof, a nod to the venue’s name. (Wikipedia)
Current offerings
Today the White Horse operates as a restaurant downstairs and a public bar on the ground floor. The menu changes seasonally, focusing on modern Australian cooking with native ingredients. Broadsheet described the concept as “affordable luxury”.
The bottom line: The White Horse is a historic Surry Hills pub that has repositioned itself as a modern restaurant without losing its bar roots.
White Horse Surry Hills menu
The menu is the main draw. The Sydney Morning Herald review from May 2024 listed several dishes with prices: beetroot millefeuille (A$24), kombu-glazed toothfish (A$55), wagyu tri-tip with chestnut mushroom sabayon (A$45), butter-poached Western Australian marron with sweetcorn (A$58), and a steak sandwich with fries (A$34).
Signature dishes
Multiple reviewers highlighted the beetroot millefeuille as a standout. Time Out Sydney praised it as a “signature-style vegetable dish”. The same review also called out the roasted chicken skin with liver mousse, persimmon and Davidson plum for its inventive use of native ingredients.
Drinks and happy hour
The wine list, described by the Sydney Morning Herald as about 100 bottles, leans toward Australian and European organic or regenerative producers. Time Out noted that every wine by the glass was under A$20. Time Out’s review also listed cocktails made with gin, yuzu, lemon and wild honey. The official website does not list a happy hour.
“There are dishes at the Surry Hills boozer that wouldn’t be out of place on some tasting menus for double the price.” — Callan Boys, The Sydney Morning Herald
The White Horse Surry Hills reviews
Editorial and user reviews converge on a few key themes: the quality of the cooking, the value relative to fine-dining benchmarks, and the convivial atmosphere.
TripAdvisor ratings and feedback
Current TripAdvisor users regularly praise dishes like confit duck leg cigars, roasted chicken skin with spanner crab, wagyu steak tartare, dry-aged Aylesbury duck, and tart tatin. The current restaurant page carries positive ratings, though a separate legacy listing still exists for the earlier pub iteration and contains mixed historical comments about burgers and pub grub. (TripAdvisor (current); legacy listing)
Historical Yelp reviews reflect the earlier pub era, with both positive comments and mixed feedback recorded before the relaunch.
Sydney Morning Herald review (May 2024)
The SMH review by Callan Boys gave the venue its strongest editorial endorsement, awarding it a high rating and calling it “the pub’s most delicious iteration yet”. Boys specifically highlighted the beetroot millefeuille, kombu-glazed toothfish and the steak sandwich, estimating dinner for two at about A$180 excluding drinks. (SMH)
“The brief is ethically sourced produce from respected producers, as well as a spotlight on native ingredients.” — Time Out Sydney reviewer
White Horse Surry Hills Happy Hour
The official website does not list a happy hour. The venue does promote its outdoor terrace as part of the current setup.
Outdoor terrace and drinks
The venue’s contact page describes an outdoor terrace. For current drink specials and terrace access, contact the venue directly or check the official site.
What to watch: The outdoor terrace is listed on the official site; official happy hour details are not published.
Location and getting there
The White Horse is at 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills. It sits on the Crown Street strip. For public transport, buses along Crown Street and trains to Central Station serve the area. Limited street parking is available but often scarce in this part of Surry Hills.
Alternatives in Surry Hills
Surry Hills is home to several other historic pubs with food programs. If the White Horse is fully booked or you want to compare, consider:
- The Norfolk (305 Crown Street) – a classic pub with a courtyard and modern Australian bistro menu.
- The Clock Hotel (470 Crown Street) – a 1930s pub with a rooftop bar and upmarket dining.
- The Dolphin Hotel (412 Crown Street) – a corner pub offering gastropub fare and live music.
Our pick: White Horse Surry Hills
The White Horse is best suited to foodies and history enthusiasts who appreciate a creative, produce-driven menu in a setting that nods to its pub past. First-time visitors will enjoy the combination of restaurant quality and casual bar atmosphere. For nightlife seekers, the outdoor terrace offers a relaxed spot for drinks, though the venue closes earlier than dedicated bars.
We recommend booking for dinner to experience the full menu, then moving to the public bar for a nightcap.
Related reading: White Horse Surry Hills: History, Reviews, and 2024 Revamp · White Horse Surry Hills: Historic Pub with Modern Restaurant
Frequently asked questions
Does White Horse Surry Hills have a rooftop?
The official contact page describes an outdoor terrace at the White Horse. The venue is a three-storey building, and the terrace is part of its current setup.
What are the opening hours?
Lunch: Friday and Saturday, 12pm–3pm. Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30pm. Sunday: all-day service 12pm–9pm (last booking 7:30pm). Closed Monday for the restaurant.
Is there a happy hour?
The official contact page does not list a happy hour. The public bar operates within the venue’s published opening hours, and current drink promotions are shown at the venue.
What is the signature dish?
The beetroot millefeuille (A$24) has been praised by multiple sources, including the Sydney Morning Herald and Time Out, as a standout vegetable dish.
How do I make a reservation?
Reservations can be made through the official White Horse website or by phone. It is advisable to book for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.