The Sydney

Everybody in every form never age is here. No judgement no one looking at you like you are crazy and the music is fire. You NEED to check this place out.

Man, I love this place. Sort of divey, but in a cool grungy artsy sort of way, as you'd expect in Benson. Queer safe space. Lots of great underground local musicians, comics, and visual artists show off their talents here. Cheap drinks. Bartenders treat everyone like they're a regular, not just because most of the crowd ARE regulars. I don't go here nearly enough, and somehow it always feels like I've been there a million times.

It was a dark and stormy night when I walked into The Sydney. The hipper-than-thou crowd will claim ownership and knowledge of this old neighborhood pub, of course, but it is still thought of as one of "Benson's better kept secrets," according to bartender and manager David Davis who wasted no time in getting to know me when I sidled up and asked him what kind of bar The Sydney is.   The Sydney is hidden in plain view on the north side and east end of Maple. The lights aren't so bright here and the bar hoppers don't wander in looking like they just came from a job interview. It's Benson Good Weird and punk nice inside as opposed to fresh lacquer, Eternity for Men and new money nice. The Sydney's patrons aren't there to impress or demonstrate, just chill, play pool and hear a good local band. Any well-behaved patron can grab a spot at the bar and feel like part of the hood without getting lost in the shuffle. "We get more of the neighborhood regulars and locals in the service industry," Davis said. "We don't get as much of the tourist business other bars in this area get."I like to roll with a partner on reviews, but going it alone is a great way for a well-dressed, gregarious and approachable young man like myself to find out just how gracious, neighborly and welcoming any given bar and it's patrons can be. For much as every small town claims to be friendly, so too does every bar. It took me no time at all to make friends with a regular called Alex Young, a Bensonite car salesman who pushes Hyundais in Council Bluffs. As the owner of Korean vehicles since '02, I got to gabbing about dependable (if not sexy) cars. It was also Sydney regular Mr. Young who introduced me to Mr. Davis. It was Mr. Davis who recommended I try the Wasatch Brewery Blueberry Hefeweizen draw. That was a good call. Though not as fruity as the name suggests, it did have some nice citrus high notes and a clean finish. In addition to the Wasatch Blueberry Hefeweizen, The Sydney has on tap Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, Rolling Rock, Budweiser, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Guinness Stout, Deschutes Hop Slice Summer Ale and Swivelhead Red IPA. These are bound to change with the season as are The Sydney's wide array of craft bottles and cans.In addition to cool locals, The Sydney sports three TVs, a jukebox, pool, local art and a classic piece of Americana, a Phillips 66 gas station sign that takes you right back to the '70s if you really want it to. There is a covered beer garden out back in which smokers stay dry and puffing away.Happy hours are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily and feature $1 off well drinks and tap beers. There is free pool all day every Sunday and live music Fridays and Saturdays. Mondays mean $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon draws. Rolling Rock draws are $2 daily from open to close. Specials are bound to change so sign up for The Sydney's newsletter through thesydneybenson.com.

The Sydney isn't the popular or trendy bar you might think it is being that it's in Benson. And that's not a complaint. Being that it's located on the east end of the Benson strip, many people don't know it's there. And that keeps it from being overcrowded or pretentious. The beer selection is decent, and everything I had was priced well. There seems to be a fair selection of seating arrangements including at the bar, high top tables, and low tables in the rear by the stage.Speaking of the stage, the setup of the building makes for having shows that don't pack the house slightly awkward. Those there for the entertainment naturally gather around the stage, where those who are there for other reasons will tend to mingle closer to the bar. If it's not a decently attended show, this results in a bit of a no man's land between the two spaces. This is not a reflection on the establishment at all. Merely an observation of my last visit. That said, I do plan to return.

The Sydney is a rad bar in Benson, with an awesome "mom" bartender as she called herself taking care of everyone! They have a great beer selection, cheap shots (2 dollar Sake shots) and its a cool bar to hang in! I played a show there last night and Adam who did sound did a killer job, and they even had a screen for my projector so I didn't have to bring in my own! Bathrooms were good, little outdoor back patio for smokers, and after the concert stopped it went into Karaoke and you know we had to stay around for a song or two of that! All in all great bar, great staff, and a fun night!

A cool neighborhood rock 'n' roll bar with colorful regulars and friendly bartenders. Also a good place to catch a local band and hangout on their outdoor smoke deck/beer garden between sets. The space is long and cavernous, with a bar up front and tables, chairs, a pool table and a small stage in the back. The building has to be at least 100 years old, definitely adding a sense of historical charm.While I might prefer a couple other Benson bars over the Sydney, I've always had a good time here. Maybe I need to make the trek to the far east side of the Benson strip more often, eh?

It's always someone's birthday at the Sydney. Hadn't been back here since it was Mick's, but I'd say it still carries on in the same vibe of the previous acoustic live music venue. As others have stated, bartenders were friendly and attentive, plus this is the spot for the Omaha Roller Girls after-parties. So what we originally planned to be a couple of drinks turned into a 'close down the bar' scenerio after I got over the fear that they were going to beat me up, and I started asking lots of questions about the fine art of derby. Finally, trust me when I say that they don't skimp on the good stuff in the mixed drinks here. Two Bombay G&T's later, I totally forgot about my previous mission of getting to Alvarado's... and it takes a lot for me to forget about food.

what a fun bar in benson. Has all kind of types in it. From the young hipster. to the older construction worker. to me the most interesting man in the world. It has a great feel to it that only an old benson spot can. The prices are wonderful seeing as all around things are going trendy upscale crafted pricey route. 2 dollar sydney shots. The bartender was very knowledgeable on his drinks. prompt with his service, friendly. and kept the bar very clean. Stop in for a drink some time, a game of pool, or play some pinball you will enjoy it

Loud. Friendly staff. Ok beer selection. Worth checking out, but one should be aware of the decibels in this joint. I couldn't hear myself think in there and that is a problem considering my lack of ability thinking when the world is still.

Not a bad hangout. I like the Sydney, but my brain always has to re-adjust as I remember it when it used to be Mick's. The latter was a little more upscale, and the Sydney has some 'diviness' to it. I don't mean that in a bad way, having been there a few times, the drinks were decent and the staff friendly. Nothing pretentious here, show up, grab a drink and enjoy yourself!