Madison Hotel — Restaurant in Sydney

If you have a look through my reviews you will notice that I am lenient, positive, and keen to give positive reviews wherever I can. And this wouldn’t have been an exception if it hadn’t been for the manager of this place. I am talking about the short Asian man with glasses who runs this place who seems to always be on edge. The rest of the staff are great, it is just the manager of this place.

Anyways... a friend buys me a beer and mistakenly gets time the wrong one. This has happened many times before at many different pubs and it has never, ever, been an issue. However this time, the manager - the guy who is meant to run the business with the most experience - started causing a scene. Now, I like this place because it’s cheap and quiet. It’s really not that bad. But the fact this guy started making an issue over a beer, really made me pity this place.

So I ask, after handing back a beer which had had one sip taken from it, if he could please swap it for the beer of my choosing. At this point the manager breaks into a sweat and starts tapping his computer system as if looking through some complicated system on how to swap one beer. he’s scrolling, looking, huffing and puffing and stressing as if he were at the NASA space station during the moon landing.

Meanwhile I’m standing there just waiting. No pressure on my end, no swearing or rudeness, just waiting. He relies “I can’t do this it’ll throw my system off”. I said, dude, it’s one beer, just swap it over, if it’s more, I’ll pay the difference. After 2 minutes of scrolling, huffing and puffing and sweating, he pours a beer. I said, thank you I will pay the difference on card and I’m happy to pay surcharge. 2 more minutes and more huffing and puffing and he says he can’t as the machine won’t let him and it will throw his system off.

I said I be used this machine before and I’ll show him how to input $1.30 in this machine - $1.30... I’ll write this again, $1.30. He started sweating more and said he couldn’t do it and I had to tell my friend to pay an extra $1.30 in cash. I said no, that would be stupid and embarrassing. He kept insisting I go get $1.30 cash and pay him or I can’t have the beer...

So after this I surrendered my wrong beer and the poured beer and said “thank you, don’t worry about it”. So this sweating short man pours all the beers and continues sweating even more.

Now, this makes no sense to me as the 6 people I had with me and the many others I’d recommended there will never be going back. What kind of moron makes a huge deal over 1 beer. It’s not the money, it’s the principal.

Anyways, short Asian sweating manager, you done goofed. Rest of the staff,...

I was looking for a place close to central station to meet with a mate I hadn't seen in a few years on his travels through Sydney, we chose the Maddison originally. Upon getting there there was a large group of tradies that had occupied the outdoor seating area and decided to be as loud and rowdy (swearing and carrying on and having little wrestling matches on the sidewalk) as humanly possible, needless to say I went to the pub next door (to avoid a rowdy crowd) which was much quieter until the Madison cut off some of the tradies and they decided to move next door to the quiet pub with less than 10 non pokie patrons at the time including my wife, our friend and myself.

Not saying that the actions of the tradies are the responsibility of the bar staff but their intoxication levels definitely were and the intoxication levels of people already at the venue was more than enough to make me change meeting point last second, then again made us move to a completely different street after only 30 minutes of trying to find a peaceful place to sit where we could drink and smoke away from gambling and still be able to talk at normal volumes without people rowdily screaming next to us and trying to put macho one another.

Looks like a great pub for a lunch feed or after work gatherings. But if you're looking for somewhere quiet to enjoy a few beers with a mate on a Friday afternoon responsibly, you have to move a bit further away from central towards strawberry hills or even Redfern.

I have only based my review on external atmosphere alone, as the atmosphere was enough to keep me from wanting to enter the venue so I can't exactly review prices service or anything else beyond the fact that they don't mind people being rowdy on their sidewalk designated smoking and...

The Maddison Hotel is a true gem, offering an exceptional experience from the moment you walk in. The staff are incredibly welcoming, treating every guest like a regular with their warm smiles and friendly demeanour. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink or settling in for an evening with friends, their attentiveness ensures you feel right at home. It’s clear that hospitality is at the heart of everything they do, and it makes all the difference.

The food and service at the Maddison Pub are equally outstanding. The menu offers a fantastic selection, with dishes that are not only delicious but also beautifully presented. From classic pub fare to creative specials, every bite is a treat. The bartenders are equally impressive, crafting perfect drinks with skill and enthusiasm. The speed and efficiency of the service ensure you’re never left waiting too long, making every visit seamless and enjoyable.

Special recognition goes to the management and security team, who excel at maintaining a smooth and safe environment. The managers are always present and approachable, ready to address any request with professionalism and care. Meanwhile, the security staff provide a reassuring presence, ensuring that everyone can enjoy their time without worry. Together, they create a space that is not only fun and lively but also organized and secure. The Maddison Pub truly sets the bar high for hospitality, service,...