By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
It’s time to brush up on your Saturday brunch game and make like an early settler, with a side of smashed avo on toast!
The reopened Fortune of War Hotel - Sydney’s oldest continuously licensed pub - has just unveiled an updated chapter of its history with the launch of Bistro 1828, featuring a brand new breakfast menu and the relaunch of the fully renovated boutique hotel upstairs.
Located in the historic heart of The Rocks, the Fortune of War has been pouring beers since 1828. Now, for the first time in its 197-year heritage, it’s doing breakfast too.
Open from 7 am until late, seven days a week, Bistro 1828 now serves up everything from Sonoma honey spiced granola to oat milk dirty chai lattes (because why wouldn’t an 1828 frontiersman like a lactose-free option) as well as Bloody Marys with a secret in-house twist.
So, while pints remain on the menu, stacks of pancakes are now also part of the package!
Tucked between the bistro’s bar and dining spaces is a brand-new open kitchen - the heart of the food action and a much-needed upgrade that allows the venue to keep up with demand, particularly during peak Rocks foot traffic.
So, who's behind this reinvention? WDS Hotels’ Steve and Fiona Speed - who also own The Russell Boutique Hotel upstairs - have converted two former retail stores and the neighbouring Push Bar into a warm, welcoming 60-seater bistro that still feels every bit the local watering hole.
"When we first came down to The Rocks, we thought how great it would be to one day serve up bacon and eggs at Sydney’s oldest pub,” says Steve.
"Going out for breakfast is such an Australian tradition, so we’re thrilled to now offer it at this iconic location, whether you’re enjoying it as part of your hotel stay or passing by.”
What a breakfast it is! Expect aforementioned avo toast and ‘Sydney’s oldest pub pancakes’, as well as eggs Benedict and the kind of big breakfast that is sure to sustain sheep shearers…or just your social media feed.
Executive Chef Mark Williamson (ex-Woollahra Hotel) has curated a menu that balances Aussie cafe favourites with a hearty pub-style twist - think proper portions, premium produce and enough options to make you linger a little longer. Particularly helpful if you’ve booked a room upstairs.
Beyond breaky, the all-day menu still features all the Fortune of War favourites - beef and Guinness stew, fish ’n’ chips, burgers and nachos – plus some new additions like fresh pasta, seasonal salads and share plates. A Sunday roast is also on the horizon, which feels very on-brand for a pub with this much history.
For those making a full weekend of it, The Russell Boutique Hotel has also reopened after an elegant makeover. Each of its 28 rooms is individually styled, blending 19th-Century elegance (original marble fireplaces, antique furniture, working sash windows) with the comforts of a luxury stay. Bonus: your booking includes breakfast downstairs at Bistro 1828.
"We’re still a country pub in the heart of the city," says Steve,"with warm and welcoming hospitality, classic pub dishes and beers poured with passion, for quality.”
