This new bar featured in the April issue of Australian Bartender
32 Orwell Street, Potts Point
theroosevelt.com.au
The Roosevelt, Sven Almenning’s latest venture to open having just launched EDV in Melbourne, is not simply a new bar to the Sydney scene. In fact the venue site has quite a history and was once owned and operated (as the Roosevelt Club) by Abe Saffron – aptly named ‘the boss of the Cross’ – a man considered to have been heavily involved in Sydney’s post-war organised crime scene.”The basic theme and concept behind the venue is we’re trying to reinvigorate and bring back to life what the Roosevelt was,” explained Barry Chalmers, venue manager. “Obviously we’ll be changing it a little and putting in a new creative direction,” Chalmers explained.
The team is offering a unique style of trolley service which Chalmers is particularly excited about. “We’ve got a really exciting piece of kit,” he says talking about the custom-made trolley and he’s confident that the theatrics and customer engagement of what his team will bring is going to make the difference in the competitive cocktailing scene. “We want people to leave here having that feeling of ‘we had a great time’ and that they really want to return time and again.”
The Roosevelt is split into two major areas, with a ‘back-room’ offering seating space for around 40 people and a set-menu, cocktail degustation style service that Chalmers hopes will make people excited and inspired by so as to return and the front section offering a more casual area where you can perch at the bar, or take a seat and enjoy some small dishes.