Newport Arms Hotel, Sydney, Australia

Designer: Mark Bayfield, Lex Carter Architectural, Gartner Trovato Architects. 1880, rebuilt 1967, refurbished 1993, and 2000-2005

There are a number of reasons to visit the Newport Arms Hotel, but perhaps the most striking one is something that no other Australian pub has – that is, the country's largest waterfront beer garden in a charming location overlooking the tranquil Pittwater waterway and Ku-Ring-Gai National Park.

Australians' love of the outdoors and the Newport Arms' proximity to water are represented in the hotel's design, colour, materials and recurring sea and sailing motifs. Ship lapped timber, corrugated tile mimicking sandy ripples, sailcloth and canvas, curvaceous shapes and patterns that are impressionistic versions of waves, and shades of green, blue and yellow all combine in homage to the sea and sand.

Where possible, the hotel's designers have 'brought the outside in' with all weather seating, bi-fold doors, drop-down transparent blinds, and covered enclosures and walkways. The garden is an informal combination of lawns, pathways and paving, planted with native and tropical shrubs and trees including huge Canary Palms. It's a beacon for local bird-life. In the evening, sitting with a chilled drink looking over the waterway, waiting for the sun to set, waves lapping against moored sailboats and the fragrance of flowers perfuming the air, where could be better?

Photographer: Paul Gosney