Pizzas, live music and a comfy new dine-in restaurant
Written by: Mia Pennington
Photography: Gabby Simpson
Tucked into the heart of Cooks Hill and central to the hub of Newcastle city, the Oriental Hotel, affectionately known as the Ori, is one of Newcastle’s most down-to-earth, people-focused pubs.
Family-owned and proudly local, the Ori has been part of the neighbourhood since the late 1800s, with the current owners steering it into its modern chapter for the past 15 years.
With a strong emphasis on community, connection, and good music, the Ori has become the kind of spot where everyone feels welcome, whether you’re dropping by for a casual beer, catching a new local band, or grabbing a slice of their now locally famous pizza.
A funky, family owned favourite
The Ori isn’t your typical sports-centric pub, and that’s exactly the point. There’s no TAB, no pokies, and no wall-to-wall screens. Expect a warm, relaxed vibe where regulars mix with travellers, local musos jump in for a set, and families wander in for an early dinner.
From live music three nights a week to a growing crowd of return guests upstairs in the accommodation, the Ori appeals to anyone looking for somewhere to enjoy a genuine, intimate, and community-minded dining atmosphere.
The kitchen runs daily from 4:30pm - 9:30pm, serving piping-hot pizzas right through the evening.
The Oriental Hotel’s new look
The bistro dining has just undergone a fresh transformation, offering guests a more intimate dining space that exactly emanates the down to earth vibe that is found at the Ori. The renovation was a collaborative labour of love involving local creatives at every turn.
Newcastle designer Sophie Metcalfe, who led the space redesign, shared, “When you’re renovating a local favourite, it’s super important not to reinvent it, so I wanted to honour a bit of the Ori’s history.”
The refreshed bistro now features a diner-style booth arrangement, with décor inspired by the Art Deco period in which the building was originally designed. Sophie’s creative influence extends beyond the layout - she also illustrated the vibrant band artwork that now livens up the bistro walls.
“The Ori is a really special place for local musicians, so instead of buying art to decorate the space, I painted local musicians in pop colours to liven the space,” she said.
Each piece is a portrait of a local band that has performed at the Ori, adding a personal and meaningful touch to the venue’s identity. Catch more of her work at Sophie's website.
Even the shelving and leadlighting were crafted locally, adding handcrafted detail to the refurbishment and deepening the Ori’s ties to its community. The result is a cosy, character-filled room that still feels unmistakably like the Ori, but with a refreshed, comfortable, sit back stay a while kind of feel.
The signature pizza
When the space is small, you work with it, and for the Ori, that meant turning towards something they could do really, really well: pizza.
The pizza menu took shape during COVID, when the team opened their now well-known takeaway window. The Ori’s pizzas quickly became a local favourite where consistency, quality, and a simple, tight menu have made them a staple for dine-in and takeaway alike across Newcastle.
Live, local music
Throughout recent years, live music has become a part of the Oriental Hotel’s identity, where every Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can expect to find the pub transformed into an intimate listening room where emerging Newcastle artists, local favourites, and even touring acts take the stage.
What's special about live music at the Ori, is that the sets are deliberately curated to spotlight local emerging and original music, offering young and up-and-coming bands a space to cut their teeth without the pressure of being a classic “pub band”.
With consistent weekly gigs, a focus on fostering local talent, and a cosy room that fills quickly, the Ori has cemented itself as a beloved stop on Newcastle’s live-music circuit. You can find out who's playing each week, via their Instagram and Facebook, where they post a weekly gig guide.
Weekly specials
The Ori keeps things fun with a lineup of weekly offerings that keep locals coming back again and again, every week.
Monday, Margy Mondays
There's no better way to overcome that Monday feeling than with the Ori’s Margy Mondays. Featuring , $15 Margherita pizzas and $15 margarita cocktails, including their spicy, Tommy’s and passionfruit margaritas, and of course, pizza.
Tuesday, pints for schooners
If you need an excuse to catch up with a friend, this could be your reason. On Tuesday the Ori offers Pints at schooner prices, all day long.
Thursday, trivia Night (7pm–9pm)
Trivia nights at the Ori include music rounds, heads-or-tails, plenty of surprises, and pizza vouchers up for grabs. Free entry and walk-ins welcome where you can play from the bistro or the front bar.
Stay at the Ori
The Oriental Hotel offers eight cosy, affordable rooms in an amazingly city central location. The accommodation features shared bathrooms and simple, comfortable rooms, perfect for guests seeking a relaxed, walkable base close to Darby Street, Bar Beach, and Newcastle’s nightlife.
Thanks to the Ori’s warm reputation and unbeatable spot, the rooms stay consistently busy throughout the year, with many guests returning again and again for the convenience, community feel, and the chance to experience a true local pub from right upstairs. For bookings, visit The Ori.
Family-owned and proudly local, the Ori blends history, hospitality, and a relaxed neighbourhood vibe, all wrapped inside a refreshed space shaped by Newcastle creatives.
From weekly specials and weekend gigs to eight rooms of accommodation upstairs, there’s always something happening at the Ori. Step inside, meet the team, and discover why this long-standing pub remains a go-to for locals and visitors alike.
