Since shaking off the lockout law shackles in 2022, Newcastle’s night time economy has transformed into an almost unrecognisable array of bars, hotels, and brewpubs.

Locals and visitors have embraced the change wholeheartedly, encouraging the well-established to invest and expand, and newcomers to take the leap.

Bar of the Year champions the bar that stands out from the pack. The service by the staff is unmatched, the drinks are faultless, and the atmosphere has drinkers (and bartenders) returning time and time again.

The 2024 Bar Awards finalists have been announced and this year's Bar of the Year finalists are:

- Bartholomew's
- The Blind Monk
- Coal & Cedar
- The Falcon
- The Kouetsu

We now hand the difficult task of deciding who the winners are over to our esteemed judges. The winners will be revealed on August 5 at the Bar Awards event.

Here are the Bar of the Year nominees:

- Bar Romeo
- Bartholomew’s
- Battlesticks Bar
- Bernie's Bar
- The Blind Monk
- Blue Kahunas
- The Bogey Hole on Darby
- Calamari - Kitchen and Bar
- Casa Nova Honeysuckle
- Castle Del Mar
- Charlies Rooftop
- Coal & Cedar
- The Edwards
- The Falcon
- Good Folk Brewing
- The Grain Store
- Granddad's Bar
- The Koutetsu
- The Lost Souls
- Mad Poet
- Meantime on Beaumont St
- Method Brewing
- Modus Merewether
- Moneypenny
- Ms Mary
- Peregrin
- Romberg's
- Rooftop at QT
- Shout Brewing Co
- The Rogue Scholar
- The Underground
- Thynk Cafe + Bar
- Uptowns Bar
- Vecina

* This award is open to bars who are located within the Newcastle LGA.

Thank you to our category sponsor The Farmer's Wife Distillery for their support.