Beer Crawls For All is our new series of craft beer crawls where everyone gets a beer, including gluten free drinkers. Every stop on the route pours or sells TWØBAYS gluten free beer, so nobody at the table is stuck on unwanted alternative drinks while their mates try the local brews.
First up is Marrickville in Sydney's Inner West, which has one of the densest craft beer scenes in the country. This gluten free beer crawl covers five venues over about 2.4 km of mostly flat walking. It starts near Marrickville station and finishes a short walk from Sydenham station, with a succulent Chinese meal at the end.
The Marrickville gluten free beer crawl at a glance
- Stops: 5 venues
- Total walking: about 2.4 km between venues (roughly 32 minutes on foot, spread across the day). It’s about 3 km from station to station.
- Start: Thirstville Bottleshop & Bar, 300 Illawarra Rd, where TWØBAYS is on tap (about 3 minutes from Marrickville station)
- Finish: The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, 8–12 Sydney St (about 6 minutes from Sydenham station)
- Best days: Thursday to Sunday. Mixtape is closed Monday and Tuesday and Pickled Monkey is closed Monday.
- Suggested timing: Start around midday on a Saturday and sit down for dinner at the Bob Hawke by about 5pm.
Walking route map
Here's the full walking route, from Thirstville to the Bob Hawke.
Open the walking route in Google Maps →
| Leg | From → To | Distance | Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | Marrickville station → Thirstville | ~200 m | ~3 min |
| 1 | Thirstville → Henson Park Hotel | ~1.1 km | ~14 min |
| 2 | Henson Park Hotel → Pickled Monkey Brewing | ~400 m | ~6 min |
| 3 | Pickled Monkey → Mixtape Brewing | ~150 m | ~2 min |
| 4 | Mixtape → The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre | ~700 m | ~10 min |
| Home | The Bob Hawke → Sydenham station | ~450 m | ~6 min |
Getting there and home by public transport
Getting to the start (Marrickville)
- Metro: Marrickville station has been closed since September 2024 while the Sydenham–Bankstown line is converted to Sydney Metro. The M1 metro is expected to start running through Marrickville from mid-to-late October 2026. Once it opens, you'll have a direct metro from the CBD and North Shore to the start of the crawl.
- Until the metro opens: Take a train or metro to Sydenham, then catch the free Southwest Link SW1 all-stops replacement bus one stop to Marrickville. In peak times a bus comes every few minutes.
- From the city by bus: Route 423 (Martin Place to Kingsgrove) runs via Newtown and Enmore and stops at Marrickville station.
Getting home from the finish (Sydenham)
- The Bob Hawke is about a 6-minute walk from Sydenham station. From there the M1 metro runs to Central, the CBD and Chatswood, and T8 Airport & South Line trains also stop at Sydenham.
- Late night? The N40 NightRide bus serves the Marrickville area.
Services change often, especially while the metro opens, so check transportnsw.info or the Opal Travel app on the day.
Where to eat gluten free at the start of the crawl
Thirstville doesn't serve food, so have your first TWØBAYS on tap there and eat properly at Stop 2, the Henson Park Hotel. Gluten free items are marked on the Henson's menu, and the pub reportedly has a dedicated gluten free fryer. A proper feed at the Henson sets you up for the rest of the afternoon. Tell staff you're coeliac when you order.
The stops
Stop 1: Thirstville Bottleshop & Bar
300 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville · Open daily 11am–9:45pm
We start at Thirstville for one simple reason: you can start your crawl with a TWØBAYS on tap. Gluten free beer on tap is still rare, so this is a good way to begin. Thirstville is a bottle shop with a bar attached, a short walk from Marrickville station. Downstairs has fridges and a rotating tap list, and upstairs is a quieter lounge with a pool table. It's dog friendly too.
Stop 2: Henson Park Hotel
91 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville · Walk: ~1.1 km / ~14 min north along Illawarra Rd
This is the longest walk of the day, and it takes you to the Henson, a big, relaxed local pub with several indoor and outdoor areas and a large beer garden. Order a TWØBAYS at the bar and grab a table for lunch. This is your gluten free food stop at the start of the crawl. GF items are marked on the menu and the pub reportedly has a dedicated gluten free fryer. If you're a group, it's a good idea to book on Saturdays.
Stop 3: Pickled Monkey Brewing
127 Victoria Rd, Marrickville · Walk: ~400 m / ~6 min · Closed Mondays
From here you're in Marrickville's brewery district. Pickled Monkey has a large, open brewhouse with a full kitchen and wood-fired pizzas. While your friends work through the tap list, you'll have a TWØBAYS in hand. Ask staff about gluten free food on the day, because options can change.
Stop 4: Mixtape Brewing & Bar
142A Victoria Rd, Marrickville · Walk: ~150 m / ~2 min, just across Victoria Rd · Open Wed–Sun
This is the shortest walk of the day. Mixtape is a warehouse beer hall with a retro music theme, lots of greenery and a lively crowd on weekend afternoons. It's a fun place for one more TWØBAYS before dinner.
Stop 5: The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre (for a succulent Chinese meal)
8–12 Sydney St, Marrickville · Walk: ~700 m / ~10 min south towards Sydenham
The finish is part brewery, part 1980s pub and part country-town Chinese restaurant, with free pool and plenty of Hawke memorabilia. It was named Beer & Brewer's BrewPub of the Year in 2025. Order a TWØBAYS and head for the Lucky Prawn bistro.
After the crawl: gluten free Chinese at the Lucky Prawn
The Lucky Prawn kitchen inside the Bob Hawke serves retro Chinese-Australian classics. Diners say much of the menu is gluten free and clearly marked, and Mongolian lamb is one of the dishes gluten free diners mention most. Tell your server you're coeliac when you order and double-check anything battered or fried. Reviews of how well the kitchen handles cross-contact are mixed, so this matters.
- Kitchen hours: Mon–Wed 12pm–8:30pm, Thu 12pm–9pm, Fri 12pm–10pm, Sat–Sun 11am–9pm
- Happy hour: Mon–Thu 4pm–6pm
- Bookings: Up to 20 people online, with a 2-hour table limit. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking is recommended.
Tips for a gluten free beer crawl
- Always ask for TWØBAYS by name. Most craft brewery beers are made with barley or wheat. "Gluten reduced" isn't the same as gluten free. TWØBAYS is brewed without any gluten-containing grains.
- Tell every kitchen you're coeliac. None of these venues has a dedicated gluten free kitchen.
- Pace yourself. Five stops is plenty. Drink water between venues and eat properly at the Henson and again at the Bob Hawke.
- Check opening hours on the day, especially Monday to Wednesday.
- Leave the car at home. The route is walkable, and it starts and ends near stations.
FAQs
Where can I drink gluten free beer in Marrickville?
Thirstville Bottleshop & Bar, Henson Park Hotel, Pickled Monkey Brewing, Mixtape Brewing and The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre all pour or sell TWØBAYS gluten free beer, and together they make up this walking crawl.
How long is the Marrickville beer crawl?
It's about 2.4 km of walking across five venues, or roughly 32 minutes on foot. With a drink at each stop and dinner at the end, allow 5–6 hours.
How do I get to Marrickville by public transport?
Marrickville station is on the Sydney Metro M1 line, which is expected to reopen from mid-to-late October 2026. Until then, catch a train or metro to Sydenham and take the free Southwest Link SW1 bus, or catch the 423 bus from the city.
Is the food at the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre gluten free?
Many dishes at the Lucky Prawn kitchen are marked gluten free, but it isn't a dedicated GF kitchen. Tell staff you're coeliac when you order.
Is TWØBAYS beer gluten free?
Yes. TWØBAYS is an Australian craft brewery that only makes gluten free beer, brewed without barley, wheat or rye.
Coming soon in Beer Crawls For All: more suburbs where gluten free drinkers can join in. Know a venue that pours TWØBAYS and should be on the next crawl? Tell us on Instagram. Can't make it to Marrickville? Shop TWØBAYS online.
