Australian pubs come in all forms. There are city institutions, beach town hangouts, and country joints where the locals are practically part of the decor. Now, thanks to Eddy Buckingham, there’s a New York City pub, too. Old Mates is three levels of distilled Australiana, tucked inside a 19th-century building near the city’s Financial District. Buckingham, the Melburnian behind some of New York’s buzziest restaurants (Chinese Tuxedo, The Tyger, and SoSo’s), has teamed up with Bluestone Lane founders Nick and Andrew Stone, and radio host Andy Lee to bring the vision to life.
“The Australian pub is very broad and varied, and you can’t in one venue encapsulate what it means to all people,” says Buckingham. “There’s a real return to all the principles of old-fashioned pubs in Australia. And that’s largely what inspires this place. The culture of hospitality, comfort, a relaxed approach, but high standards still exist.” True to form, Old Mates nails it.
The middle floor channels classic pub energy: dark timber, worn-in corners, and a bar stacked with Coopers alongside Smith’s salt and vinegar chips. Upstairs, the Harbour Room shifts into bistro mode, while downstairs is “the naughty floor,” primed for nightcaps and DJ sets.
The warming fit-out leans into nostalgia without veering into kitsch. An original Ken Done hangs alongside Rennie Ellis prints that capture the sunshine of ’70s and ’80s Australia, with a nod to hometown chefs (like Matt Moran) framed through black and white portraits. “It’s just so evocative of Australian culture and iconography,” says Buckingham. “I’ve tried not to go too literal with it. There are no kangaroos, but it’s a bit of fun.”
Simon Drolz-Cox (formerly Dear Sainte Éloise and 10 William Street) helms the kitchen, where pub fare tastes like chicken and eggplant parmis; barramundi fish and chips; Opal Valley lamb chops with honey carrots; and linguine tossed with clams, prawns, and calamari. There’s even an Aussie “salad sanga” built on Bourke Street Bakery sourdough and buttered with Pepe Saya, both much harder to come by in these parts.
The drinks list features over 40 Australian wines, including Penfolds, Grosset and Unico Zelo. Cocktails, named after homegrown hits, spotlight Australian drops: Flame Trees brings in Okar bitters, while Xanadu uses Four Pillars olive leaf gin. Meanwhile, the beer selection covers all bases, with Coopers Pale Ale and Sydney Lager holding down the Aussie side.
Old Mates is all about giving Aussie expats in New York a proper taste of home, but the real play is winning over the locals. Buckingham is betting that a mix of straight-up hospitality and a bit of Aussie swagger will do just the trick.
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