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The Captain Cook Hotel Reopens in Paddington with a Heritage-Led Revival
- Deb Carr
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
One of Paddington’s most enduring pubs has officially reopened its doors — and it’s done so with heart, history and a very good pizza oven.
The Captain Cook Hotel reopened on 11 February following a thoughtful, heritage-led regeneration by hospitality group Bird & Bear, who took custodianship of the historic venue in December 2025. Known for operating community-focused pubs that balance strong identity with genuine inclusivity, the group also sits behind well-loved venues including The Village Inn and The Navy Bear.
For Bird & Bear, the vision for the Captain Cook was clear: restore the soul of a true neighbourhood pub, while re-energising it for modern Sydney life.
A Pub Steeped in Paddington History
The Captain Cook Hotel has been woven into Paddington’s social fabric since the late 1800s. Operating as a hotel from 1882, the current building was designed by prominent architect John Burcham Clamp and rebuilt in 1914 after a fire destroyed the original structure.
After years of shifting identities, the pub has now returned to its roots — anchored in sport, food and local community — with its original character proudly intact. The iconic central round bar remains a focal point, while considered upgrades have brought renewed purpose to the hotel’s four distinct yet complementary spaces: the Sports Bar, Bistro, Joe’s Kitchen and the laneway Beer Garden.
Joe’s Kitchen and the Reinvention of the Laneway
The most significant transformation sees the former pokies room reborn as Joe’s Kitchen, a light-filled, Italian-inspired eatery now crowned with a skylight that floods the space with natural light. Fronting Josephson Lane — the namesake for Joe’s — the laneway itself has been completely reimagined as a leafy, European-style beer garden.
Wrapped in greenery, fairy lights and music that shifts seamlessly from day to night, the laneway is dog-friendly and designed for long lunches that turn into relaxed evenings.
Roman-Style Pinsa Takes Centre Stage
At the heart of Joe’s Kitchen is Roman-style pizza, known as pinsa — a lighter, highly digestible flatbread with an airy, crisp crust and soft centre. The menu is led by Eric Tan, Head of Culinary for Bird & Bear, alongside Head Chef Gil Dela Cueva, who have collaborated closely with Rome-born, Italian-trained pizza consultant Alessandro Sistopaoli.
Working with Italian supplier Alberto Facci of Quality Centre, the team has developed a bespoke pinsa dough using Australian flour blends, cold-fermented and refined with traditional Roman techniques.
Toppings range from crowd-pleasers like The Farmer — Italian sausage, tomato, stracciatella, pesto and hot honey — to the vegetable-forward Verdure Verdi with silverbeet, garlic confit, eggplant and Taleggio. Weekly blackboard specials lean Italian and seasonal, with dishes such as stuffed zucchini flowers, pork cotoletta and mafaldini in vodka tomato sauce.
The wine list is deliberately approachable, blending Australian and Italian varietals designed to elevate the food rather than compete with it. Aperol, Limoncello and Hugo spritzes set the pace for leisurely laneway sessions.
Sport, Bistro Dining and Old-School Pub Energy
Inside, the Sports Bar delivers classic pub atmosphere just steps from the SCG and Allianz Stadium. The tap list includes Australian favourites such as Resch’s, Carlton, Balter Eazy Hazy and XPA, alongside Heaps Normal Quiet XPA — one of the few pubs in NSW to offer it on tap.
Flowing on from the bar, the refreshed Bistro (also dog-friendly) bridges old-school pub energy with contemporary dining. Italian-leaning pub classics are designed for sharing and repeat visits, with highlights including house-made focaccia, Roman-style arancini, burrata with charred seasonal fruit, and a standout porchetta pinsa sandwich layered with salsa verde, rocket and pickles. Pub favourites are elevated rather than reinvented, from a generous herb-crumbed chicken schnitzel to a comforting eggplant parmigiana.
A True Paddington Local, Reimagined
Reopened and reimagined, the Captain Cook Hotel feels both timeless and refreshed — a place where lively sport, excellent food and a welcoming community spirit come together naturally.
Whether it’s Roman pizza in the sunlit Joe’s Kitchen, a pre-game pint in the Sports Bar or evenings spent under fairy lights in the laneway beer garden, this Paddington pub has confidently entered its next chapter — without forgetting where it came from.
Where to Stay Near the Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington
Visiting Paddington for a game, long lunch or weekend away? There are several excellent hotels within walking distance of the Captain Cook Hotel and close to the SCG and Allianz Stadium.
