The Temperance Society

Great vibes and the staff are super friendly The beer and cocktails menu is very good and the price are average range The place is also dog friendly inside and outside Will definitely be back to try the food and other things on the menu as the place is great and the music is pretty cool

What a year! I wrapped my work year up with some celebratory beverages at The Temperance Society in Summer Hill. It’s a twee little bar boasting two small parlour rooms and a courtyard in the rear, seating with a library-vibe upstairs. The front bar offers up friendly staff and bar stools, with a couple of street-side tables where—if you are lucky enough to snaffle one—you can watch the locals and their hounds parade on by. Plucked from a Little Golden Book, the one-page cocktail menu offers up eleven tipples. The list runs from the expected—a martini, a negroni, an old fashioned and a margarita ($20) that drank well enough but had an aggressive salt rim—to some more imaginative drinks. The Moscow mojito ($20) unites Russia and the Caribbean using the mule’s ginger beer and vodka and muddling them with the mojito’s brown sugar, fresh mint and lime. Not quite sure where the elderflower comes from, but it worked against an eye-catching spray of spearmint and a stick of candied ginger. A similar looking midnight tickle ($20) switches out the vodka for spiced rum and the elderflower for a house-made raspberry syrup. The pleasantly pink white lady ($20) arrives dripping froth and the promise that tiny sherbet fairies will dance on my tongue. It’s a bit like a Fruit Tingle, and while I wouldn’t want more than one of them, it was an enjoyable drink with an appropriately celebratory “we’re on holidays” feel. I’m told the baked Brie here is a winner if you want to break up the booze with some eats…

A local small bar with old worldly feel but with a modern and hip crowd. We were welcomed by one of the waitresses as soon as we arrived who took the time to explain the range of beverages and give us a lowdown of the place. Sit at the front close to the bar, the courtyard out the back, find a nook in some of the rooms downstairs or head upstairs. We only popped in for a glass of wine before dinner but a great place to linger with friends. Good range of wines and beers.

A quirky inner west bar with non pretentious vibes all around. It looks like an old grandpa house, and there is so much thought in the little details like the menus made of old children story books. Food and cocktails beats some of the most fancy venues in Sydney. Will definitely visit again!

Where do I even start? My first visit to The Temperance Society felt like something I hadnt experienced for a very long time — some great jazz playing, beautiful food, and an atmosphere that glows with warmth. But what truly moved me was the kindness and "oh my god", the customer service. The team went above and beyond, even going out to buy gluten-free bread so I could enjoy the platter with my friend. You walk in as a customer and leave feeling genuinely cared for. Simply unforgettable. 5 stars is not enough. I am a fan and will be back! ❤🙏