Published:
June 29, 2024
About The Illawarra Hotel
Vibrant, modern venue with a courtyard, for themed party nights and DJs playing retro hits.
Dine in
Takeout
Delivery
Service Options
Highlights
Bar games
Great cocktails
Live music
Live performances
Sports
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Dancing
Food
Food at bar
Happy hour drinks
Hard liquor
Wine
Atmosphere
Casual
Planning
Accepts reservations
Parking
Plenty of parking
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Amenities
Restroom
Crowd
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Pets
Dogs allowed
Map
The Illawarra Hotel Reviews
What a venue. Never disappoints. Cocktails, food or atmosphere you name it, tick tick tick. The Illawarra can do no wrong.
- Helena Ribeiro
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
What a bad experience we had at this pub.
We were on the road from Sydney to Melbourne and we decided to stop there to have diner.
From the start they almost refused us the entry cause my partner was wearing a short… Didn’t know there was a dress code for pubs!
The girl behind the bar, located in the loud area (where people were singing) was so unfriendly. Needs to learn how to smile.
Also, I had ordered a market fish without being advised that they didn’t have any more keiphler potatoes. Instead of that my dish came with cold chips… I went to see a manager to explain my situation, he didn’t bother listening to me entirely and handed me 2 tickets for free drinks even thought we were not drinking alcohol. Well, we had 2 free sparkling waters, amazing !
Apart from that bad experience with the kitchen running out of items which I can understand on a busy day like that. My partner parma’s was the worst I’ve ever tried. Chicken tasted like dirty fried oil or a bit more like cardboard… + market fish itself with green beans tasted even more terrible, swordfish is not liked by everyone and should be cook a different way than they do. Or if they don’t know how to cook swordfish just don’t bother selling it, it is gross.
Just go somewhere else. This place is a shame.
- Dan Duncan
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
We visited here twice on our weekend in the Gong. Great service, good variety of on-tap beers and the food was fresh and delicious also. Definitely had a lot to do at this spot. We played pool and also danced a little when the night moved on and the music started. Multiple bars to choose from
- Toni Pecoski
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
We had a great time celebrating my husbands 50th at the illawarra last saturday!
Nikki and team couldnt do enough for our last minute event! Within 2 weeks the team
Organised food, drinks balloons and an area for our 45 guests with no trouble at all! Thankyou Nikki we couldnt be more grateful for a fabulous night or eating, drinking and dancing
- Kelly Tagalan
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
We don't just like this hotel, we love it. Dog friendly, and lots of decent seating, along with a good atmosphere... it's the perfect spot.
- jared jeffery
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
We came here two nights in a row it was a fun place to party. Was visiting from Queensland for a friends wedding and ended up here till 3am both nights. The dancing and security were the best thing about the venue, they were really welcoming both nights and set the tone for a fun and safe night. The bar staff on the Friday night were really friendly. Some not so much on the Saturday night. Overall we still had a really enjoyable time visiting and dancing till the early hours.
- Jessica Shellis
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Waited 55 minutes for our food - a burger and the fish and all I can say was it was very underwhelming. We would've sent it back but we were both so hungry, had waited so long and needed to get back on the road.
The brisket burger was dry and overcooked, the bun was a frozen one reheated - you could tell because it was all wrinkly on top, not smooth like a burger bun should be. The chips were lukewarm, tasted like they had been sat under the hot lights 'keeping warm'
The swordfish was overcooked and dry, the only thing it had going for it was the sauce and veggies.
Very disappointing experience, and this is going to be our new 'local' - looks like we will need to find somewhere else.
- Harry Byrnes
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
The place was just fantastic, great staff who were very friendly and knowledgeable about their products. Music was great and they’ve got so many events on during the week it’s fantastic! Highly recommend 10/10
- farah naz nidhi
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
The food was great, the calamari with eggplant and cauliflower pakora appetizers were very tasty. And also, will definitely come for the silent disco in the near future.
Note: The meat isn't halal. But they do have excellent alternative options in seafood for halal consumers.
- Daniel Turner
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
The chips were cold and still chewy on the inside, the parmi itself was good. It was a decent size for value, I just wish the chips were more cooked and not still hard. The popcorn chicken bites were decent and wish more pubs did them, I would recommend anyone to try them. Live music was a great addition as well
- Elly Byrnes
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Such a great pub for an afternoon session. The staff can’t do enough for you, the barmaid even offered to help carry my drinks to our table, never come across that before. Highly recommend!
- Dee D
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Seriously why would anyone serve this? Yes cut in to the meat and it was rare but it was so dry on the outside and you the burnt flavour was all you could taste. When asked if where the salad was it stated on the menu was told "yeah it says salad but we don't do that anymore". Don't eat here!
- Ellzy90
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Over an hour wait time for lunch whilst on our work lunch break, the pub wasn’t overly busy either. When we did finally receive our food, it was so overcooked and bland.
Extremely disappointing.
- Sarah Cleverley
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Nice enough pub. Trouble in the kitchen when we visited, but my party was in a rush, eating before work and booked a dinner regeneration for 5pm, but the kitchen didn't open until 5.30, so why take bookings?
We expressed how we were in a hurry and make sure our orders were put in exactly at 5.30, so first up. All our dishes came out separately and definitely not first. We heard there was recent changeover in kitchenstaff, but there needs to at least be an update to the website to reflect that. We would've booked elsewhere if we had known our information wasn't correct, and times were listed incorrectly online.
- Zenna Avirez
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Nam Jim pork belly bites are delicious! Decent amount of spice but not overwhelming. Highly recommend 👌🏻
- Luke Mitchell
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Met a mate for lunch. Had the steak sandwich from the kitchen, it was really good. Came out medium rare, exactly how it should. The flavours were great with a hint of char from the bread which made a great note in your mouth. The hotel has had a major refurbishment and looks great compared to the old interior of the hotel. The noise was a factor, with a few groups of loud patrons with no personal space restrictions. The smell of the back bar reminds me of when I used to open a pub in the morning after a big night previously, that mix of stale alcohol and a hint of vomit that has dried up in the carpet but reactivated by new fluids being dropped on it. They were the main reasons for a 3 instead of 5 stars. I would eat there again.
- Reece Matias
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Just wanted to say thank you to Nikki and the team at Illawarra hotel for hosting our baby shower the team went above and beyond with service and not to mention the food not a single complaint from anyone who attended
Definitely recommend The Illawarra hotel to host your next function
Thanks heaps
Reece and Hayley
- Amy Jasmondo
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
I haven't been here since the new owner/s took over, but a big round of applause to them. The place looks great, with an emphasis on trying to maintain the heritage look of the pub. We had some of the counter lunches, and they were very tasty and generous portions. Before we knew it we had spent more than a few hours at this venue, and capped it off with a coffee. We'll be back really soon. Keep up the great work.
- Stephanie Gold
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
I had a great time at The Hotel Illawarra on Saturday night! The live music created an amazing atmosphere, the bar staff (particularly a red-head and a blonde girl) did everything they could to ensure my partner and I had a good night, the steaks were superb and the cocktails looked fantastic - definitely will order one next time!!
- crystal c
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Honestly was not expecting such a fun and thrilling night but it exceeded expectations!! Loved the fact there was three channels and so so fun. Yummy food too
- Maryn Budiman
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Had a great dinner here with my partner. we both had the chicken burgers and they were delicious. Cool place to sit outside and have a drink.
- Ashton Gillespie
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Guy in kitchen was so friendly I loved it, food was amazing too. At 330 pm on Friday 17/5
- Simon W-S
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Great pub, renovated to create a warm, heritage, oldie-world vibe. Good array of craft beers and even had a real fire going!🤗
The pub grub is good, but a bit pricey, so we opted for the $18 Lunch Specials! Great place to drop into after a hectic day shopping!😉🍻👍
- Terry Sperring
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Great inner city pub, popular with local as well as visitors, great food, great vibe, a bit loud at times but that's popularity for you.
- Rhys Travel
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Good service and friendly staff but the food was a bit mixed. The pies looked good, the parents were happy about them. The premium sirloin steak was good too according to my partner. However the rump steak wasn't, it was cooked medium rare when I asked for medium and half the meat wasn't edible as it was quite veiny. The chips were below average.
- Jeff L
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Food generally good but I just had the 💯 worst chicken pizza I've ever had. Absolute rubbish, smothered in cheese and very little chicken
- luc1vr
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Damo the security guard deserves a pay rise one of the best seccys i’ve ever met always on top of his job already great bloke
- Gary Meta
5 Fri 2024 at 11.55 pm
Busy Friday night...kitchen didn't cope. Staff tried to clear our table to open dancefloor....we still hadn't eaten at 8:20pm. Arrived at 5:30pm. Place was packed.
- Lauren Lazarevski