An all-star cast of Australian celebrities and Aussie ex-pats opened what they are calling the “Real Aussie Embassy” last March in the former Trading Post site on John Street at the Seaport, and it’s already a hit with the young folk. Eddy Buckingham, who owns Tyger and Chinese Tuxedo, and Nick Stone, the founder of Bluestone Lane, partnered with two famed Australian comedians — Andy Lee and Hamish Blake — to open Old Mates Pub. It took two years to get it together but now Hugh Jackman leads impromptu singalongs there. (That was actually to celebrate his movie about Neil Diamond.)

When these guys were on the agenda for CB1’s Licensing Committee in October 2023, they pleaded for a license for 4a, making the argument that Australians here want watch sporting events live from the Down Under time zone. They didn’t get it, but I imagine that’s an option in the future (the Trading Post was open till 4).

(During the meeting, the applicants said there are 25,000 Australians who live in New York City. Feels like a lot more than that!)

The space is 10,000 square feet over three floors, and there’s a patio space that makes for a beer garden (they said will close that at 10p). I didn’t pick up on this — and I went with an Aussie mate! — but there are all sorts of references in the decor: the Sticky Carpet Lounge in the basement is meant to invoke a Aussie dive bar; the carpet is similar to the one at the members lounge at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; there are nods to the Returned & Services League of Australia (translation from my pal: “Very old school. Used to be a bunch of old codgers drinking and toasting the queen.”) and the Corner Hotel, a live music venue in Melbourne.

Overall it’s a great space and vibe with a HUGE center bar on the ground floor, a rollicking crowd and a hideaway-type space on the second floor with its own bar (that would be a great nook to rent out).

We ate there — it was adequate — but I would say that’s not the point. Meat pies are $14; bangers and mash is $25; there’s a Sunday roast that requires reservations in the Harbour Room on the ground floor. On draft is almost exclusively Australian lagers and ales, including an Old Mates Gold that clocks in at 3.3 percent, if you like the low-alcs like me.

“Aussies in NYC need a place to have a crisp cold Australian beer, to watch the AFL & NRL Finals, to cheer on the Matildas and watch The Ashes,” owner Andy Lee’s Instagram post said when the announced the venture. “It’s taken me three years to personally build this pub with my bare hands like Noah from ‘The Notebook’. If you don’t believe me, see the last picture where I’m clearly holding a drill*…*I helped out zero with the build.”

Old Mates Pub
170 John | Front & South
gday@oldmates.com
Monday to Wednesday, 4p to 1a
Thursday, noon to 1a
Friday & Saturday, noon to 2a
Sunday, noon to 11p
Walk-ins always welcome.
Reservations only for trivia nights & special events.