We broke the news in our November issue that celebrated Wellington operator, Christian McCabe, was setting up shop in Melbourne. His new venue, The Town Mouse, opened just before Easter in Carlton, on the old Embrasse site. McCabe has teamed up with his sister, Amber McCabe (Longrain) and Jay Comesky of Melbourne’s St Ali to run the front of house.
New Bars
New Bars
One thing that is inescapable in Adelaide is wine. It’s everywhere, and it’s little wonder given the rich, plentiful supply they have in them there Hills surrounding the city. So the advent of a new wine bar might be a little pedestrian; does Adealide need another wine bar? Well Cantina Sociale does things a little differently.
Here’s a charitable idea we can get behind: head to new Melbourne bar, Shebeen, buy a beer like Tusker (which is from Kenya) and see the profits from the sale of said beer go to help Kenyan farmers get access to tools, education and insurance so that they can get out of hunger.
Beneath the now-defunct Bull & Bear Hotel on King William Street a new bar, Jack Ruby Bar & Diner is taking shape and has opened at the start of April. According to bar manager Joshua Dolman (ex-Sangria), the bar is “named after the nightclub owner who famously shot down Lee Harvey-Oswald before he could be put on trial for the assassination of JFK.
The much-anticipated opening of the Wild Rover, after a couple of setbacks, is finally here. Opening at the end of next week, the two-level bar from James Bradey and Warren Burns (owners of Grandma’s) will hold 120 people, with the same drinks and food across both levels — downstairs it’s expected will be a quieter affair, and upstairs, with a plan down the track to have live music, is expected to be a little more boisterous.
Bulletin Place has been a breath of fresh air in the Sydney CBD thanks to the focus on fresh produce — their five strong list of cocktails is determined by what is the best fruit at the market each day. It’s an approach that chefs have taken for some time, as bartender and co-owner Tim Philips will tell you.
This Brisbane speakeasy snuck onto our radar late last year. Though they were being quite secretive with the location, we have found out where it is (within the recently refurbished Regatta Hotel) and they’ve got knowledgeable barkeep Krystal Hart (ex-Canvas) on board to run the bar.
Another in a spate of recent openings in Brisbane, this new cocktail driven bar draws upon the 1930s for a touch of old world pre-war glamour.
You now have two great reasons to get to the Kirketon Hotel in Darlinghurst: Eau de Vie for one, and now this new bar and eatery, Bottleneck.
This hotel is making quite a splash, becoming in itself a destination thanks to the varied spaces, quality design and the talent of the team involved in putting everything together.
The team from the successful Cru Bar + Cellar have opened a new bar in Brisbane, called At Sixes and Sevens. The name is derived from the English phrase of the same name that describes one being in a little disarray and confusion. Yet the team clearly know what they’re doing judging by the strength of this offering.
Though Sydney might have developed a penchant for south-of-the-border, down-Mexico-way kind of flavours there’s still a whole lot be mined north of the border.