The Dock

The Dock is a small bar in Redfern. It is very small with very limited internal space for moving around/​dancing. The prices are the same as you would expect at most small bars in the area.
They do not provide food but have an agreement for free delivery from a local café or you can bring your own in, which is pretty good.
The bartender is quite often the owner and he is nice and relaxed.
On momday nighs are Sea Shanty night with an interactive sing along, which is well attended.

The first time I happened upon this place was pure happenstance. I was walking down Lawson St with my friend on the way to get Chinese food and I said something about a dog. «The Dock!» exclaimed a bearded man, «No, a dog» corrected I, «I own the Dock» persisted the hipster. «Take my business card and tell my cousin behind the bar to make you a cocktail.» And with that he disappeared in a cloud of beard hair and designer cigarettes.
ZOMFG! This place makes me want to be a pirate, a merchant sailor, a dockyard harlot and a bearded hipster all at the same time. It is the bar you wish you had local to you in every locality. The bar where creepily everyone knows your name even though you’ve never been there. The bar that is so good you think if you try to find it again people will look at you funny and tell you it burned down in odd-​six. The bar where you will be invited by some friendly stranger to their MDMA party, just down the road I swear it’s not a trick. I declined.
If you go to the Dock and get a bad reception you really need to look at yourself because you’re the problem. That’s right, you’re the problem.
The cocktails are some of the best I have had, the overall drink selection is great. They probably do food and on Monday nights the Redfern Shanty club is there singing all your old favourites. You have a favourite sea shanty right? That’s not weird.

Good pumping spot on a friday night!
Be prepared to be standing round the barrels rather than sitting, but it won’t matter, you’ll be too captivated by the cute quirky décor

Excellent bar in redfern. Started as a speak-​easy style bar, bout has now been changed into more of a dive bar vibe. They now serve dumplings, freshly made popcorn, and are open for $ 10 lunches too. Great for a few drinks or a messy night out

Small bar with large cocktail list and some decent bottled beers. Don’t come here with a crowd as it’s not the largest venue, but definitely a place you can come for a drink or two. Good vibe that feels the world away from the busy regent street outside.

Cool bar, not one for beer drinkers, cocktails are the go. I love the nautical theme.

Great neighborhood bar with no pretensions, a welcoming vibe and excellent cocktails. Go and enjoy.

This is a terrific cocktail bar at the Redfern end of Redfern Street. Super friendly staff who mix terrific cocktails. All the usual suspects are available: martini, margherita, cosmopolitan, etc etc. I had a margherita and a long island, both superb. The regular price is $ 15.50 but they have regular specials. They also serve shots and beer and wine. It’s a dark, intimate bar, which is not for everyone but i liked it. A great example of Sydney’s booming little bar scene.

Have to say I wasn’t impressed with this place.
I am trying to think of a better way to say this but really, it just felt half-​assed.
The whole vibe was meh. It is super dark, which I get is its theme but just turning off the lights doesn’t make it atmospheric or intimate. Maybe try lighting some candles?
My cocktail was below par. I had a classic but felt like it wasn’t done properly. Also was disappointed by attention to detail e.g. not fresh juice in the cocktails. When you’re paying $ 18 for a cocktail you expect it to have fresh squeezed lemon, not out of a bottle. Or at least convert it into your own squeegee bottle so I don’t see Golden Circle going into what I hoped was a carefully handcrafted drink. To add to that, the bartender was pretty uninterested in offering service to my friend and I– and pretty much completely ignored us whilst making our drinks. I think I am reasonably friendly and like a little banter with my bartender. Anyway.
Also.
They do popcorn — but it is packet popcorn that they sell in school canteens which they put in a bowl for you. Just doesn’t have the same effect compared to other Sydney bars that are doing fresh made warm popcorn with spices or goodies.
Its kinda like– if you’re gonna do something, do it properly.

The Dock is our Monday night favourite. Typically we go to Wah Fung (Chinese restaurant on Regent Street, Redfern), and then retire to the dark, cosy confines of The Dock. [EDIT on 3÷7÷12: No longer open on Sundays & Mondays!]
Normally bar staff don’t really set the tone of a place — but in this case, the Dock’s vibe comes principally from its owner.
The Baron — who runs the joint — is a dead-​set barman for life. Formerly the entrepreneur who ran the slightly illegal Beer Baron delivery service, the Baron has now gone legit, and opened The Dock, an unassuming small bar in Redfern.
The Baron wears suspenders, and often has a tea towel slung across his shoulder. He could be straight from the 1940s, andlooks like a younger version of Al Swearengen from Deadwood, except maybe not so scary or terrifyingly charismatic. Then there’s the Baroness, she’s gorgeous and friendly, and everyone is greeted upon arrival. Actually sometimes there are different Baronesses working there so maybe the term is inaccurate. Whatever.
But enough about the people. What about the place? It’s dark and a little shabby, and doesn’t seem to be trying too hard to be hipster. The popcorn is free, and they’ve just started offering dumplings and other small comestibles. The cocktails ($ 10 on Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays) are not always mixed with precision, but the servings are generous, and the cocktails on offer are classics. The beer is cheap, and they serve Skittlebrau (yep, that’s beer and skittles, as in Homer Simpson’s fantasty… it’s disturbing and amazing, all at once).
Live music has started appearing (think bluegrass and jazz). It gets super crowded on Fridays and Saturdays here, we prefer weeknights.