16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills
sodafactory.com.au
When you step off the street and enter the hot dog joint, you have to find your way through a secret entrance to get to this new bar. No, it’s not PDT in New York and you’re entering via a Coke machine door and not a phone booth, but you get the idea.
Inside the bar is stripped back and designed to look like a disused soda factory; the island bar that centres the room will be familiar to anyone who can remember a night at the old Mars Lounge, which used to occupy the site.
Featuring a late-night licence, you know the music will be sorted as the venture comes from Graham Cordery, of Experience Entertainment, who put on the entertainment at the ivy for a couple of years. They’re promising regular live music and cracking international DJ’s, and a licence that goes into the wee hours of the morning.
The drinks are taken care of by UK import, Mitchell Warters, who’s come direct from Richard Branson’s members-only Roof Gardens cocktail bar.