Current as at 1 st March 2013 Check out what’s hip and happening in Sydney right now; from basement bars to rooftop restaurants. Fun and funky, sassy and stylish, Sydney’s small bars and hip dining options have every mood and occasion covered. Sydney Small Bars 121BC, Surry Hills 121BC is serious about its wines and good times. The tiny bar’s extensive wine list changes monthly and includes, mostly biodynamic, wines by the glass, sourced from the length and breadth of Italy. The accompanying bar food is simple and seasonal. The combination is a chic, slick and buzzing wine bar. 4 / 50 Holt St (enter via Gladstone St), Surry Hills Tel: + 61 2 9699 1582 www.121bc.com.au Arcadia Liquors, Redfern An eclectic collection of bric-a-brac and drinking companions, high ceilings and a leafy garden courtyard are the backdrop for a cheap and cheerful, fun and friendly night out. Winner of the 2012 SMH Good Food Guide’s title of “Best new bar”, Arcadia Liquors serves boutique beers on tap, traditional cocktails and a good selection of wines by the glass. Bar snacks are limited to some tasty toasted sandwiches and spicy nuts .. but for those who have worked up more of an appetite, the Chinese BBQ restaurant will deliver from across the road. 7 Cope St (near the corner of Regent and Redfern Streets), Redfern Tel: + 61 2 8068 4470 www.arcadialiquors.com Bar at the End of the Wharf, Pyrmont The Sydney Theatre Company’s Bar at the End of the Wharf attracts theatre-goers meeting for a pre-performance drink, performers getting together after rehearsals and in-the-know Sydneysiders enjoying a relaxed meal with sensational harbour views. Right on the water, the Bar at the End of the Wharf has captured the buildings’ industrial heritage whilst providing an unpretentious, comfortable and cosy venue for a morning coffee, a sunset drink or a late night bite to eat. The Wharf, Pier 4, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay Tel: + 61 2 9250 1761 www.sydneytheatre.com.au/your-visit/the-bar-at-the-end-of-the- wharf.aspx HIP SYDNEY
Transcript
Current as at 1st March 2013
Check out what’s hip and happening in Sydney right now; from basement bars to rooftop restaurants. Fun and funky, sassy and stylish, Sydney’s small bars and hip dining options have every mood and occasion covered.
Sydney Small Bars
121BC, Surry Hills
121BC is serious about its wines and good times. The tiny bar’s extensive wine list changes monthly and includes, mostly biodynamic, wines by the glass, sourced from the length and breadth of Italy. The accompanying bar food is simple and seasonal. The combination is a chic, slick and buzzing wine bar.
4 / 50 Holt St (enter via Gladstone St), Surry Hills Tel: + 61 2 9699 1582 www.121bc.com.au
Arcadia Liquors, Redfern
An eclectic collection of bric-a-brac and drinking companions, high ceilings and a leafy garden courtyard are the backdrop for a cheap and cheerful, fun and friendly night out. Winner of the 2012 SMH Good Food Guide’s title of “Best new bar”, Arcadia Liquors serves boutique beers on tap, traditional cocktails and a good selection of wines by the glass. Bar snacks are limited to some tasty toasted sandwiches and spicy nuts .. but for those who have worked up more of an appetite, the Chinese BBQ restaurant will deliver from across the road.
7 Cope St (near the corner of Regent and Redfern Streets), Redfern Tel: + 61 2 8068 4470 www.arcadialiquors.com
Bar at the End of the Wharf, Pyrmont
The Sydney Theatre Company’s Bar at the End of the Wharf attracts theatre-goers meeting for a pre-performance drink, performers getting together after rehearsals and in-the-know Sydneysiders enjoying a relaxed meal with sensational harbour views. Right on the water, the Bar at the End of the Wharf has captured the buildings’ industrial heritage whilst providing an unpretentious, comfortable and cosy venue for a morning coffee, a sunset drink or a late night bite to eat.
The Wharf, Pier 4, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay Tel: + 61 2 9250 1761 www.sydneytheatre.com.au/your-visit/the-bar-at-the-end-of-the-wharf.aspx
Exposed beams and brickwork, candlelit tables and cool jazz tunes make Baxter Inn one of the most comfortable super-cool drinking holes in Sydney. There are around 400 whiskeys to choose from, beer on tap and a classic list of cocktails served with complimentary pretzels. No bookings, no functions and no door list at this popular, and well-hidden, basement bar in the centre of the city.
Basement 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney (enter via the laneway courtyard at the back of 152 Clarence St, down a set of fire stairs) www.thebaxterinn.com
Bucket List, Bondi Beach
Perched on an upturned milk crate or settled on the comfy beachfront lounges, visitors to Bondi’s Bucket List can order a bucket of fresh prawns and an icy cold beer to enjoy a quintessentially Sydney afternoon watching the surf roll in. The menu features a good selection of fresh seafood and contemporary Australian dishes with Mediterranean influences, accompanied by jugs of Pimms, classic cocktails, bottled beers and an international list of wines.
The Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach Tel: + 61 2 9365 4122 www.thebucketlistbondi.com
Bulletin Place, Circular Quay
Tucked away, up a narrow staircase, Bulletin Place oozes rustic charm and character. Distressed walls, exposed light fittings, quirky mural art and friendly banter characterise this tiny venue. The handwritten, fruit-driven cocktail list changes daily to include the freshest ingredients in season - from passionfruit mojitos to rhubarb margaritas.
First Floor, 10-14 Bulletin Place, Sydney www.bulletinplace.com
Button, Surry Hills
Resembling the inside of an old pirate ship or a 19th century tavern with
wood panelled ceilings, a long communal table, crossed musket rifles hanging behind the bar and lead-light glass windows separating cosy leather booths, Button is warm and inviting. Innovative cocktails are served in vintage glassware; accompanied by complimentary pistachios and subtle bluesy tunes.
From the team that shaped the Sydney small bar scene with Shady Pines and Baxter Inn, comes Frankie’s Pizza – a New York style pizza parlour and rock’n’roll bar. Patrons are greeted by retro red and white checked tablecloths, bunches of garlic and chilli suspended from the ceiling and candles dripping wax down the sides of Chianti bottles. Through a set of doors at the back is a rock and roll dive bar, complete with pinball machines and a slow rotating mirror ball. An international selection of craft beers and ciders are accompanied by traditional Italian aperitivi and pizzas by the slice, served well into the early hours of the morning. 50 Hunter St, Sydney
Above the bustle of Darlinghurst’s Stanley Street, the Hazy Rose is a timeless and relaxed drinking den. The art deco styled room, soft lighting, armchairs and leather couches invite patrons to get comfortable as they acquaint themselves with the Hazy Rose’s selection of original cocktails, boutique wines, quality local and international beers and ciders.
First Floor, 83 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst Tel: + 61 2 9357 5036 www.thehazyrose.com.au
The Little Guy, Glebe
Visitors to the Little Guy can grab a seat at the bar to enjoy a drink with the locals or a settle in to the homely upstairs lounge of this neighbourhood bar to enjoy a regularly changing selection of Australian craft beers, ciders, boutique wines, cocktails and complimentary spiced popcorn. Live music on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
87 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe www.thelittleguy.com.au
Mrs Sippy, Double Bay
Mrs Sippy screams summer. The light and bright industrial décor of this diner-style café, restaurant and bar is complemented by a menu of juicy cocktails, jugs of sangria, salads, seafood and pizzas. The outdoor courtyard is the perfect place for a relaxed lunch in the sun and doubles as a dance floor with live DJs on weekends.
37 Bay Street, Double Bay Tel: +61 2 9362 3321 www.mrssippy.com.au
Palmer and Co., Sydney
Down an alleyway behind the Establishment Hotel, a set of stairs descends into a cavernous, vaulted speakeasy-style bar. The dimly lit Palmer and Co. basement bar captures the glamour of the 1920s prohibition era and attracts a city crowd of well dressed professionals drinking from an impressive list of whiskeys, rums and tequilas or sipping expertly concocted cocktails out of vintage style glassware. Merivale’s latest addition serves a small selection of bar snacks including spicy chipolatas and charcuterie share boards. Arrive early to enjoy live music or stay late to enjoy the good times until 5am.
Abercrombie Lane, Sydney www.merivale.com.au/palmerandco
Pocket Bar, Darlinghurst
40 different whiskeys, more than 25 different rums, more than a dozen tequilas and a great range of vodkas, gins and aperitifs have patrons spoilt for choice. Pocket Bar also offers ciders, mulled wine, boutique beers, hot toddys and bottled wines. The food menu includes a tapas style selection of sharing plates alongside a wide choice of Pocket’s signature sweet and savoury crepes. Polished concrete floors, a pop-art feature wall, a collection of mis-matched couches and arm chairs give Pocket Bar a neo-grungy laid back feel. The combination of drinks, food and décor unite to create a relaxed and intimate small bar that has stood the test of time.
Raw finishes and soft lighting, Asian inspired cocktails and Vietnamese beers, Saigon street snacks and South East Asian soul music transport guests from the streets of Darlinghurst to another time and place. Red Lily is celebrity chef, Luke Nguyen’s latest venture – a French colonial Vietnamese themed bar attached to his popular restaurant, Red Lantern on Riley.
With its dark wood interiors and jazzy tunes, The Roosevelt cocktail bar imbues 1940s Hollywood glamour. This is the place for a pre-dinner cocktail or to finish the night on a sophisticated note with a nightcap from the liquid nitrogen cocktail trolley. The showmanship and theatrics are all part of the experience. A small separate dining room hosts cocktail degustation dinners that challenge convention.
32 Orwell St Potts Point Tel: + 61 403 689 620 www.theroosevelt.com.au
Shady Pines Saloon, Darlinghurst
Behind an unmarked entrance, the Shady Pines Saloon pulls off the Wild West styled bar - complete with a taxidermied buffalo head and cowhide rugs - perfectly. Buzzy but unpretentious, laid back and warm, the Shady Pines Saloon offers expertly mixed cocktails, boutique malt beers, a long list of whiskeys and complimentary peanuts. There is no phone number, no bookings, no functions or door lists for this popular Sydney haunt.
It’s a long way to the top .. but four floors above the chaos of the Cross certainly seem a million miles from care under the tall palm trees, coloured fairy lights and open skies of Sweethearts Rooftop BBQ, where good value good times await. Shandies, spritzers, pitchers of potent punch and wines on tap accompany shrimps hot off the barbie and a host of other Aussie BBQ favourites.
In a small, simply decorated, heritage warehouse, only steps away from the Opera House and Circular Quay, Tapavino is another world. The relaxed small bar offers an extensive range of aperitivo, Spanish wines .. and sherry - lots of it, with more than 50 varieties to choose from. Olives, ceviche, chorizo and smoked paprika popcorn feature on the accompanying tapas-style menu. 6-8 Bulletin Place, Sydney Tel: + 61 2 9247 3221 www.tapvino.com.au
Enter Tio’s Cerveceria to escape to a laid back Mexican border town fiesta. Fairy lights and illuminated chillies hang from the ceiling, whilst ornamental owls and saintly figures of the Virgin Mary bless the clay-washed walls of this tequila bar and beer house. Knowledgeable and friendly bar staff expertly navigate patrons through the 70-long list of tequilas, whilst muddled jalapeno chillies and salt-rimmed glasses ensure that Tio’s tequila-laced cocktails pack a real punch.
A little alternative, a little loud, Vasco Bar is an Italian Rock and Roll style small bar. Framed pictures of rockers - from the Beatles to the Foo Fighters - line the walls, a juke box stands in the corner and behind the bar, talented mixologists produce creative cocktails to accompany a menu of Italian style hotdogs, polenta chips dripping in gorgonzola sauce and tasty fresh bruschetta.
Ananas’ theatrical vintage décor – peppered with pineapple-based lamps and light fittings, brings a slice of French glamour to the Rocks. From lunch through to late night suppers, Ananas serves freshly shucked oysters from the dedicated oyster bar, lobster tails and Alaskan mud crab as well as traditional French brasserie dishes such as steak tartare and Beef Bourguignon. Classic and signature cocktails, an impressive selection of local and French wines as well as a collection of champagnes by the bottle, magnum or jeroboam complete the quirky and decadent experience.
From the rough concrete walls to the smooth granite bar, The Apollo is a stylish blend of Greek tradition and innovation. The menu features share plates of smoky octopus from the grill, slow cooked lamb and whole market fish – the classic flavours of Greece, delivered simply and accompanied by a selection of Ouzo, Greek and local beers and Mediterranean wines.
Baccomatto Osteria serves tasty regional Italian cuisine, from authentic aperitivo to decadent desserts, but it is the rustic home-style pastas that keep locals and visitors returning to this sleek and modern café-cum-wine bar attached to Sydney’s Cambridge Hotel.
Raw interiors punctuated with hammers, pliers and chisels hint at this popular new restaurant’s previous incarnation as a local hardware store. Beachgoers and locals now visit to share relaxed times with friends over jugs of Pimms, Sangria or punch, boutique beers, wine and signature cocktails accompanied by a menu of global-sharing plates, pizzas, sliders and meze boards.
Co-owned by renowned Australian chefs Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan, the emphasis at Chiswick is on fresh produce, uncomplicated seasonally changing meals and generous sharing plates. The light and airy pavilion- style dining room opens on to the rolling lawns of Chiswick Gardens and an extensive kitchen garden, where much of the produce for the menu is grown.
Quirky British colonial inspired décor, an eclectic wine list and a left-of-centre approach to gastronomy come together at Duke Bar and Bistro. Expect the least expected at this late night dining experience above the popular Flinders Hotel.
New York chic meets Spanish tapa bar in the heart of Sydney’s Darlinghurst with the recent opening of Foley Lane. Like the menu, the interiors are light and fresh. Well-priced tapas are served at the bar, at the street-side window benches or at small tables backed by glossy white tiled walls where locals meet to sip Spanish wine, sherry, beer, sangria, cider or Foley Lane’s signature cocktails.
After 138 years of selling men’s wear, the iconic Gowings Sydney department store has undergone a complete transformation to reopen as the Gowings Bar and Grill at QT Sydney. But this is no ordinary hotel restaurant; opulent art-deco interiors and traditional European culinary favourites are punctuated with quirky bespoke touches and each served with a modern twist. The grand space offers all-day dining from the busy open kitchen and wood fired rotisserie and incorporates fresh produce from some of Australia’s best artisan providores.
49 Market Street, Sydney Tel + 61 2 8262 0062 www.qtsydney.com.au/food-drink/gowings-bar-grill
The Grounds, Alexandria
The Grounds of Alexandria is a lively coffee roastery, bakery and café with a vast inner city garden of heirloom vegetables and fragrant herbs. The rustic, industrial-chic décor is at once hip, homely and in keeping with its former pie factory warehouse location. Breakfast, brunch or lunch, the Grounds is buzzing with inner city Sydneysiders, drawn in by its casual charm and its ability to provide ‘an escape from the city, in the city’.
The Hartsyard menu takes diners on a culinary road trip through the US. Rustic family-style specialties include crunchy fried chicken, smoky ribs and peanut butter sundaes created with passion and sophistication by a dedicated and internationally experienced husband and wife team. The small and simple dining space features reclaimed timbers and exposed pipes to create an industrial style with homely warmth. The Hartsyard greenhouse and garden at the back of the restaurant grows hard-to-source ingredients and delicate herbs, and is central to the restaurant’s ethos of nose to tail, leaf to root organic cooking.
Neon signage, waving cat figurines and Chinese newspapers line the walls of this tiny space packed with late night party-goers and inner city locals. Boiled, steamed or fried; meat, seafood or vegetarian, Johnny Wong’s dumplings are accompanied on the menu by other Asian street food favourites such as pork buns and duck pancakes; alongside a selection of chilli-spiked and lime-laced cocktails, all served in paper cups and plates.
Arriba Arriba to join the fiesta. Mexico Food and Liquor is bold and buzzing. Mexican themed pictures and a macabre ‘Day of the Dead’ mural are the backdrop for a relaxed tapas and tequila bar which offers more than 90 different varieties of tequila. Cocktails, Mexican beers and Sangria are accompanied by a well-priced menu of tasty Mexican street food.
Momofuku Seiobo is Momofuku’s first restaurant outside New York City. The intimate dining room serves innovative cuisine crafted from local produce and purveyors, and the open kitchen allows diners to watch the theatre involved in the creation of these delicate Asian-inspired dishes. Meals are a collection of set-priced degustation style tasting menus. Online reservations are essential as there is very limited walk-in seating. The Star, Level G, 80 Pyrmont Road, Pyrmont www.momofuku.com/sydney/seiobo
Monopole, Potts Point
The owners of Sydney’s multi award-winning Bentley Bar have opened an equally popular, more relaxed, wine bar and eatery in Potts Point. Sleek and stylish, Monopole offers a fresh and flavoursome menu designed for sharing, including a range of house-cured and smoked charcuterie. Knowledgeable sommeliers are on hand to guide diners through the 500-long list of rare and boutique wines from across Australia and around the globe.
Ms. G’s, Potts Point They do things differently at Merivale’s Ms G’s. From the pink neon signage that greets diners as they enter, to the kooky bubble tea cocktails, graffiti mural walls, and innovative Asian fusion food, Ms G’s is funky, full of flavour and all about fun. With influences from Thailand to Japan, Korea to Vietnam, the menu at Ms G’s offers innovative snacks and sharing plates accompanied by a long list of creative cocktails, wines, beer and sake.
155 Victoria Street, Potts Point Tel: + 61 2 8313 1000 www.merivale.com.au/msgs
MoVida Sydney is the newest addition to the popular MoVida culinary empire. Tantalising displays of fresh seafood and hanging smallgoods are promise of tasty things to come. MoVida Sydney’s menu offers a selection of smoky Catalan tapa and more substantial grills designed for sharing. The warm and uncliched interiors create a relaxed and sophisticated Spanish dining experience, which has already proven to be a winning combination for visitors and Sydneysiders alike.
Awarded SMH’s 2012 Good Food award for ‘best new restaurant’, Merivale’s Mr Wong is a clever combination of exotic old-world glamour and expertly prepared Cantonese classics. The 240-seat, 1930’s Shanghai teahouse-themed dining room caters equally well to romantic couples, private groups and larger gatherings. The lunchtime menu offers a traditional and contemporary Dim Sum selection, whilst the dinner menu includes perennial Chinese favourites from roasted duck to tender pork belly, delicate rock lobster and spicy mud crab. Sharp suited waiters and moody jazz tunes complete the experience.
An inconspicuous office block on York Street provides the entrance to ‘the Rook’ where chandeliers hang next to exposed light bulbs, and suited city types sit against graffiti mural walls in a fusion of city grunge and glamour. The concept is simple: lobster served three ways, burgers served three ways and a lengthy selection of wines, beer and cocktails catering to discerning drinkers. Open to the rooftops of the city and peering in to the windows of neighbouring office blocks, the industrial-styled restaurant and bar caters for weekday lunches and after-work drinks through to late night suppers.
Level 7, 56-58 York Street, Sydney Tel: +61 2 9262 2505 www.therook.com.au
Rueben Hills, Surry Hills
Rueben Hills’ unassuming shopfront opens to a long and narrow, slick and stylish space. Ceiling cut outs reveal the coffee roasting equipment on the first floor loft and invite the aromas of freshly roasted coffee. A garage roller door at the far end allows tables to spill on to the sunny laneway behind. Perfectly brewed specialty coffees are accompanied by a brunch-style menu with South American influences echoing the origins of Rueben Hills’ coffee beans.
Fresh local and seasonal produce, sourced largely from the restaurant’s own garden and farm, are the key focus of Sixpenny’s degustation tasting menus. A series of small and delicate dishes are served, often by the chefs themselves, in the simple and intimate dining room, creating a very personalised experience.
Creative chefs, many of who have worked in some of Sydney’s most famous restaurants, are taking their gourmet food on the move. Sydney’s Food Trucks serve quality, well-priced street food from yum cha to ceviche, organic veggie burgers to spit roasts, freshly cooked pastas and Mexican inspired tacos. Smart phone apps developed for iphone and android reveal where and when they will be serving.
www.sydneyfoodtrucks.com.au
The Woods, Sydney
The Woods has an intimate and welcoming atmosphere (despite its 180-person seating capacity); warm timbers from the floor to the fittings and the soothing aromas of burning wood greet diners as they enter from the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel. Wood roasted, smoked and grilled, the menu centres around the use of fresh quality ingredients and artisan produce cooked over a range of naturally flavoured Australian woods in the restaurant’s central wood fired oven.
Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George Street, Sydney Tel: +61 2 9250 3160 www.thewoodsrestaurant.com.au
