The White Horse on Crown Street in Surry Hills completed a A$6 million renovation and reopened on 17 April 2024, transforming from a long-running pub into a modern Australian restaurant with a fine-dining lean, according to the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food. This fact-checked briefing covers the venue’s current menu, expert reviews, and history to help you decide what to expect.
Last checked: 2026-10-24
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Address: 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney · Type: Three-storey public hotel with restaurant, bar and outdoor terrace · Cuisine: Elevated Australian modern · Known For: Sourdough with fermented honey butter · Tasting Menu Price: $55 per person · Opening Hours: Dinner Tue–Sun, Lunch Fri–Sun
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-10-24.
Sources reviewed: Official venue website, Sydney Morning Herald Good Food, Time Out Sydney, Broadsheet, Destination NSW, Tripadvisor, user forum (Reddit).
No on-site visit, no staff interview, and no independent menu or price verification beyond publicly available posts.
White Horse Surry Hills at a glance
- Three-storey public hotel with restaurant, bar and outdoor terrace (Destination NSW)
- Elevated modern Australian menu using native and ethically sourced ingredients (Time Out Sydney)
- Tasting menu at A$55 per person (Sydney Morning Herald Good Food)
- 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills. Dinner Tue–Sun, Lunch Fri–Sun (Destination NSW)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney |
| Type | Three-storey public hotel with restaurant, bar and outdoor terrace |
| Cuisine | Elevated Australian modern |
| Known For | Sourdough with fermented honey butter |
| Tasting Menu Price | A$55 per person |
| Opening Hours | Dinner Tue–Sun, Lunch Fri–Sun |
| Reservations | Recommended |
| Website | thewhitehorse.com.au |
What is the White Horse Tavern famous for?
The White Horse building dates from the 1930s and has operated through several identities, including a piano bar, brasserie and live-music venue, according to the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food. It entered a new chapter in April 2024, reopening after a reported A$6 million renovation.
A pedigree restaurant
The relaunch was led by Craig Hemmings, whose background includes Quay, Bilson’s and Chin Chin, alongside executive chef Jed Gerrard, formerly of Tetsuya’s, Bilson’s, Hearth and Wills Domain (Time Out Sydney). This team shifted the ground floor from a traditional public bar into the principal restaurant, moving the bar upstairs.
Public bar and outdoor terrace
The upper level now houses the public bar and a leafy outdoor terrace, preserving a casual pub atmosphere distinct from the dining room below (Broadsheet).
Elevated Australian modern cuisine
The kitchen emphasises modern Australian cooking with ethically sourced produce and native ingredients (Destination NSW). Signature items include the sourdough with fermented honey butter, praised by multiple reviewers.
The implication: The White Horse has deliberately repositioned itself as a destination dining venue while retaining its bar roots, offering two distinct experiences under one roof.
White Horse Surry Hills Menu
Tasting menu highlights
The A$55 per person tasting menu offers a curated introduction to the kitchen’s style. Time Out Sydney reported that every wine by the glass cost under A$20 at the time of its June 2024 review, making pairings accessible across the price spectrum.
À la carte options
The opening menu reviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food in May 2024 featured a wide price range. A wagyu tri-tip with chestnut mushrooms and mushroom sabayon was priced at A$45. The Western Australian marron with sweetcorn and ice plant cost A$58. A kombu-glazed toothfish was A$55. More approachable options included a steak sandwich with fries (A$34) and char siu pork and prawn fried rice (A$20). A beetroot millefeuille with native thyme oil was A$24.
- Smaller plates and snacks: A$20–A$34
- Large mains: A$45–A$58
- Tasting menu: A$55 per person
- Estimated cost for two excluding drinks: approximately A$180 (Sydney Morning Herald Good Food)
Happy hour specials
While happy hour is a frequently searched term for the White Horse, specific nightly deals were not confirmed in the official sources used for this briefing. The venue’s Instagram page and website are the best channels to check for current drink specials.
The trade-off: The menu balances high-end modern Australian dishes with more casual bar bites, allowing visitors to control their spend while experiencing the kitchen’s range.
The White Horse Surry Hills Reviews
Editorial consensus
The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food review by Callan Boys, headlined “The pub’s most delicious iteration yet,” praised the marron as a go-to dish and estimated the cost for two people at approximately A$180 excluding drinks. Time Out Sydney described the food as “exciting, clever and most importantly, delicious plates of food,” highlighting the roasted chicken skin with liver mousse and persimmon, and the smoked eel dip.
“Exciting, clever and most importantly, delicious plates of food.”
— Time Out Sydney reviewer
User review signals
Some Tripadvisor users from 2024 highlight a relaxed atmosphere and specific dishes like the marron and steak sandwich. Discussions on Reddit’s r/sydney forum occasionally suggest the food is excellent and recommend the tasting menu, though these are anecdotal signals rather than formal reviews.
Distinction from older reviews
Pre-2024 reviews describe a conventional pub with burgers, mac and cheese, and halloumi, which bear no relation to the current offering. Any assessment dated before April 2024 should be disregarded when evaluating the present venue (Hotel Australia).
Pros and cons at a glance
Pros
- High-quality modern Australian cuisine using native and ethically sourced ingredients.
- Accessible A$55 tasting menu provides a curated experience.
- Well-curated wine list with affordable by-the-glass options.
- Dual layout offers both a refined restaurant and a relaxed upstairs bar.
Cons
- Main course prices (A$45–A$58) reflect fine-dining standards, exceeding typical pub spending.
- Limited vegetarian- or vegan-specific dishes on reviewed menus.
- Reservations are strongly recommended, requiring advance planning.
The bottom line: Editorial reviewers are uniform in their praise, while user reviews reinforce the quality. The key caveat is to ensure you are reading reviews that postdate the April 2024 relaunch.
White Horse Surry Hills Happy Hour
Happy hour is a common search term associated with the White Horse. However, the official website and current editorial coverage do not specify recurring happy hour times or drink discounts. The upstairs public bar and terrace create the natural setting for after-work drinks regardless of a formal happy hour schedule.
The catch: The absence of a widely published happy hour timer suggests the venue focuses walk-in trade to the bar rather than a fixed discount window, typical of many renovated Sydney pubs.
Why are pubs called the White Horse?
“White Horse” is one of the most common traditional British pub names, often derived from heraldry or a local landmark. The Surry Hills venue, constructed in the 1930s, adopted this name as part of a broader pub-naming tradition in Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food noted that the building previously featured a rooftop rampant-stallion sculpture, linking the physical branding to the name.
Why this matters: The name anchors the venue in a familiar British pub identity, creating a contrast with its contemporary Australian menu that many visitors find appealing.
Alternatives in Surry Hills
Surry Hills is one of Sydney’s most concentrated dining and drinking precincts. The White Horse distinguishes itself from the local competition by offering a tasting menu at an approachable price point (A$55) alongside a dedicated public bar. While other polished pubs in the area may excel in specific categories—burger-focused gastropubs or wine bars—the White Horse’s combination of a fine-dining restaurant downstairs and a casual bar upstairs makes it a unique option for mixed-group outings where some diners want a full tasting menu and others prefer bar snacks and a beer.
Our pick: White Horse Surry Hills
Best for:
- Diners seeking modern Australian cuisine: The A$55 tasting menu provides a focused, high-quality introduction to the kitchen’s style.
- Pub-goers wanting atmosphere: The upstairs bar and outdoor terrace offer a classic pub experience without the restaurant’s formality or price commitment.
- Happy hour visitors: While fixed deals are unconfirmed, the upstairs bar operates as a natural after-work spot. Check the venue’s social media for current offerings.
- Tasting menu enthusiasts: At A$55 for multiple courses, the tasting menu is competitively priced against other Sydney degustation offerings.
Related reading: White Horse Surry Hills: Review, Menu, and Booking Tips · White Horse Surry Hills: From 1930s Pub to 2024 Dining Spot
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dish at the White Horse Surry Hills?
Reviewers from the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food and Time Out consistently highlight the Western Australian marron with sweetcorn and ice plant (A$58) and the sourdough with fermented honey butter as standout dishes. The A$34 steak sandwich is also frequently praised for its value and generous portion.
How much does the tasting menu cost?
The tasting menu is priced at A$55 per person.
What are the opening hours?
The venue is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday and for lunch Friday through Sunday. Exact times should be checked on the official website.
Where is the White Horse located?
It is located at 381 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes, reservations are strongly recommended, especially for the ground-floor restaurant.
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes, the venue features an outdoor terrace on the first floor.
Sources and further reading
- Sydney Morning Herald Good Food: Renovation report
- Sydney Morning Herald Good Food: Contemporary review
- Time Out Sydney: Venue review
- Destination NSW: Official tourism listing
- Broadsheet: Relaunch coverage
- The White Horse: Official events materials
- Hotel Australia: Context on review eras
- Tripadvisor: User reviews