We like to have a drink at Mixtape, Marrickville
Mixtape Brewing & Bar is exactly the kind of neighbourhood hangout everyone wishes they had. Honestly, it’s one of our favourite spots in the entire Marrickville beer scene.
In the crowded local beer landscape, Mixtape stands out as a true third place: part bar, part brewery, part live venue, and a full-on nerd haven filled with toys and pop-culture treasures.
Nestled on Victoria Rd in the heart of Marrickville’s beer trail, it’s a regular pitstop for us whenever we want good beer, good food, and great music.
The Story
A few years ago, after post-Comic Con drinks with friends and creators — you saw the ‘nerdy’ in our name, right? — we stumbled across a bar in Sydney’s CBD with Star Wars figures in the window, comfy couches, arcade machines, and a stellar beer list. That bar was Spooning Goats (or SGs, if you were in the know), and it instantly felt like home.
When Spooning Goats closed in 2020, Mixtape Head Brewer and Director Jason picked up that spirit and ran with it, opening Mixtape just two years later in Marrickville. Having honed his brewing skills, Jason made Mixtape more than a showcase for local craft beer, and he turned it into a working brewhouse in its own right. Today, Mixtape lives up to its name: its own carefully crafted beers, a killer selection of guest taps, a top-shelf kitchen, and a fun, welcoming vibe that feels straight out of your best nerdy dreams.
The Experience
Step through the warehouse doors on Victoria Rd and you’ll be greeted by a massive bar lined with taps, and a dizzying collection of toys. So. Many. Toys. Star Wars collectibles, bobble-heads, posters, Pop Vinyls: they’re everywhere. It creates an atmosphere of joyful, geeky chaos. It’s a welcoming and inclusive space, friendly to families, dogs, and Saturday arvo pub-crawlers alike.
Seating is mostly high benches with stools, but if you arrive early, you might score the legendary lounge sofas and low tables (which, we suspect, were salvaged straight from the Spooning Goats days). Larger groups should definitely book ahead: those benches fill up quickly.
True to its name, Mixtape always has a cracking soundtrack on rotation. Big shout-out to whoever curates the playlists: you’ll catch everything from the Pixies to Smashing Pumpkins, a perfect nod to 90s Triple J and college radio classics.
They also keep the community vibes alive with trivia, movie nights, live music, and other events throughout the week. And they never forget their nerdy roots: on May the 4th, for example, you’ll find Star Wars-themed beers, costumed staff, and classic films on the big screens. This year, there was even a bright blue beer evoking a lightsaber. Drink or drink not, there is no try.
The Beers
It’s hard to beat Mixtape for craft beer variety in Marrickville. With 18 taps on rotation, and about eight of them pouring their own creations, there’s something for every beer nerd need. One of our standouts is Red Rye Hand, a red ale with caramel and light roast notes. We’re suckers for a good red ale, and this one nails it. Plus, that Nick Cave reference is perfect.
The remaining taps showcase guest beers, but not just anything you’d find next door. Mixtape tends to feature breweries whose beers aren’t easily found across the street, with regular appearances from Reckless, Slow Lane, Sunday Road, Yulli’s, and Badlands.
A well-stocked fridge rounds things out, often including Belgian gems like 3 Fonteinen and other things you wont find at BWS.
And if beer isn’t your jam, there’s a solid wine list and full bar service ready to go.
Food & Pairings
Not to blow smoke, but if we’re after a solid feed alongside a great range of beers, Mixtape is our go-to. With its open-view kitchen, there have been plenty of times we’ve stopped by just for the food.
For vegetarians like us, the menu is stacked with options. There’s always a Margarita pizza, Pumpkin pizza, kimchi dumplings, Massaman curry buns, and a range of fries on offer. Our top pick? The spicy buffalo cauliflower, hands down.
The rotating specials also deliver plenty of vego and vegan choices. Think bean nachos, tacos, jalapeño bites, or mozzarella sticks.
Actually, come to think of it, we might need something to wash all that down. A lager, perhaps?
Final Thoughts
If it isn’t obvious, Mixtape is absolutely one of our favourite places in Marrickville, and maybe even our go-to drinking font. Brimming with personality, music, and a deep respect for the local beer scene, it hits all the right notes. If you’re after good drinks, great food, and a healthy dash of nerdiness, put this one straight on your regular tap list.
Mixtape Brewing & Bar is located at 142a Victoria Road, Marrickville, NSW.
