Customs House Hotel

Customs House Hotel brings together a restaurant, bar, beer garden and event spaces in a heritage-listed building on Newcastle’s harbour foreshore. Built in 1877 and formerly home to Australian Customs offices, the Newcastle East venue retains its Italianate Renaissance Revival character while offering a more contemporary setting for meals, drinks and celebrations. It is a place that can work equally well for a casual catch-up, a long lunch or an evening meal with friends.

The kitchen, led by Executive Chef Sean Townsend, takes a straightforward approach to Australian dining, with an emphasis on local produce and uncomplicated flavours. The menu ranges from raw-bar selections such as Coffin Bay oysters and Ulladulla tuna to shared plates including Tasmanian salmon rillette, charcuterie and hand-rolled potato gnocchi. More familiar pub-style choices include steak frites, Australian ling with chips, the Customs Angus burger and a ciabatta crumbed schnitzel, while the grilled Daintree barramundi, poke bowl and slow-roasted Upper Hunter lamb shoulder provide broader options for a full meal.

There is plenty of choice for different types of visit. The beer garden is set up for relaxed drinks with friends, while the dining room suits a more settled meal. Families are catered for with a children’s menu for those aged 12 and under, and the menu includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options or alternatives across selected dishes. For something smaller, the casual menu includes options such as Hunter olives, a prawn roll and baked South Australian scallops. Desserts include churros, lemon cheesecake and chocolate marquise.

Customs House also has a substantial events offering, with several spaces suited to weddings, corporate functions, private dining and informal gatherings. Customs Hall accommodates up to 200 guests for cocktails or 120 for seated dining, with a harbour-facing bar, marble fireplace and in-house sound equipment. The Harbourmasters Lounge offers timber floors, high ceilings, harbour outlooks and space for up to 60 cocktail guests, while the Collectors Room and Examiners Room provide more intimate settings. Smaller groups can reserve the Old Pool Room section of the bar for a drinks-focused occasion. With its mix of historic detail, waterfront position and flexible spaces, the venue suits everything from a solo drink at the bar to a family meal or a large Newcastle celebration.