If you are after a spot for lunch or dinner with a view that does not require a trip out of town, Harbour Bar is hard to overlook. It sits at Unit 18/1 Honeysuckle Drive, right on The Boardwalk in the Honeysuckle dining precinct, and looks straight across the calm water of Newcastle Harbour. The place used to be known as Silos, so if that name rings a bell, you are thinking of the same venue. It runs lunch and dinner seven days a week and stays open until late, which makes it an easy option whether you are after a long lunch or a late dinner.
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The menu leans into modern Australian, with a good deal of it sourced locally when it is available and produce coming in from the Hunter Valley. There is a fair bit of variety to work through: burgers, schnitzels — the eggplant schnitzel gets a mention — tapas, and options that staff have flagged as vegan and gluten-free. Among the dishes that turn up most in reviews are the Michael Duble burger, lobster rolls, fish and chips, nachos, health bowls, rump steak, chips and dips, pork belly and the Crispy Pork. It is the kind of menu that works for a group where half the table wants something substantial and the other half is happy to pick at a few plates.
At the bar, the beer list is the real draw. There are 14 rotating taps running classic, international and craft beers, plus a range of regional and international bottles, wines, cocktails and a big selection of spirits. If you are more of a beer person than a diner, you could easily make a night of it just working through the taps. The price range sits roughly between A$20 and A$40 a head, which keeps it within reach for a regular night out rather than saving it for a special occasion.
On the practical side, the place holds 180 seats and can stretch to 200 for events, so it takes functions and celebrations anywhere from 10 to 170 people — birthdays, engagements, Christmas parties and business networking all fit in here. There is alfresco dining out on a covered patio, live music comes through, and the venue is fully licensed. It is child-friendly, carries dairy-free options and has disabled access with wheelchair accessibility, so it is an easy place to bring a group with different needs. Gift cards can be bought online or in person if you are stuck for a present.
Opening hours are consistent across the week: 11:30 am to 9:00 pm Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, and 11:30 am to 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. Reviews tend to land on generous portions, attentive service and, of course, the harbour views, with the odd note about things slowing down during peak hours. It sits at 4.1 out of 5 on Google from 413 votes and 4.6 on OpenTable, which is a solid reading for a place that does a lot of trade. For bookings or enquiries, it is (02) 4926 2626 or info@harbourbar.com.au, and it takes Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Eftpos and Apple Pay.
