Darby Street's iconic watering hole has officially opened its doors
Following an extensive renovations, Darby Street’s iconic watering hole, The Del, reopened its doors in 2025 with the team welcoming locaks in to experience their fresh identity, stunning new interiors, and top-tier food and drink offering.
Under the guidance of Sydney-born, now Newcastle resident, Venue Manager Jacob Flanagan, The Del is once again the destination for food and drink on Darby Street.
Working with the talented team at EJE Architecture, the downstairs space has been transformed into an atmosphere that balances sophistication with approachability. Modern, beautiful, and fresh, the venue is still inviting and casual.
The refreshed downstairs space exudes a relaxed and modern interior, with the dining space making the most of the double-storey ceiling height and flooded natural light.
Moving into the bar area, you’ll notice quite a few interior changes, our favourite being the refreshed approach to highlight The Del’s iconic well – complete with a custom-made circular stone bar with attached seating – which we think may just be the hottest spot to sit in the venue.
The team’s attention to detail during the renovation showcases The Del’s commitment to exceptional service and memorable dining – a place where casual meets classy and everyone has a seat at the table.
With Executive Chef, Stephen Scott, and Head Chef, Jeff Rofe at the helm, the food offering is just as intentional as the space itself. With a dedication to high-quality and local ingredients, Jacob believes this fresh direction will see people coming back multiple times a week.
Dig into a selection of simple yet tasty share plates like the crumbed olives with creamy whipped feta, hot honey fried chicken with chilli honey, bbq king prawns with spicy salami butter, and zucchini flowers served with honey and ricotta.
The salads are worth a mention because they’re not your standard pub concoctions. All three – poke bowl, kale Caesar, and freekeh and quinoa tabouli – are loaded and packed with flavour.
The classics are simply put, classic – but with a signature Del twist. Whilst you’ve got your traditional schnitzels, burgers, and parmigianas, the standouts for us have to be the pork coteletta with rocket and fennel, grilled salmon with peas and bacon, and the whole roast snapper served with lemon caper butter and steamed greens.
The pizza's are one of the highlights of the menu with nine pizza toppings to choose from – all served on their sourdough-based, cold fermented overnight – and two of which are vegan friendly! Down for an Italian feast? Choose from one of three pastas to go alongside your pizza.
Among the highlights from The Del’s kitchen is without a doubt, the soon-to-arrive premium French Rotisol rotisserie oven that has been imported from overseas.
“We’ll be able to do our Sunday roasts straight from the rotisserie. Think roast rolls, half chicken, or half pork with sides,” Jacob said.
Another element worth noting is the locally sourced steaks from the Hunter Valley, further showcasing the heart of the Hunter’s culinary culture.
Upstairs, The Del has been reconfigured to cater to both casual and formal gatherings, with flexible spaces that can host everything from intimate cocktail parties in the outdoor terrace area as well as large corporate and sporting events; making it one of the largest and most adaptable event spaces in Newcastle.
“We can separate upstairs into sections. The outdoor courtyard can fit up to 80 in a cocktail setting. The whole upstairs can fit 400-500 in a cocktail setting, and for a sit-down function, you could easily still fit 250-300 guests.”
Looking to engage Newcastle’s vibrant sport culture, The Del also plans to make its mark as the home of AFL in Newcastle, with every Swans game set to be screened on the big screen upstairs.
If you're yet to visit, The Del is eager to welcome you into their space and experience this iconic food and drink destination.
