Vinabar
Shop 1, 332 Kent Street, Sydney
vinabar.com.au
Nestled among the arched laneways of Kent Street and concealed behind a steel door cleverly masquerading as a banh-mi cart, lies Vinabar, Sydney’s newest Vietnamese-inspired micro-bar. Spanning a space no larger than two car spaces, its promise echoes in its tagline: ‘Small space, big dreams.’
Upon stepping through the entrance, elegance and simplicity greet visitors. Sixty silk lanterns, sourced from Hoi An, gracefully adorn the heritage wooden joists, offering a captivating contrast against the black marble benchtops. Serving as the bar’s shelving is a scaled replica of the Golden Hand Bridge from Da Nang, enveloped by dark reflective panels that create an illusion of depth.
This concept marks a significant milestone in the journey of Equicentia, a boutique property developer, and the Tesalona Group, a prominent name in the restaurant industry. Helmed by Ashwin Arumugam and Reymark Tesalona, this is the duo’s first venture into the hospitality industry.
The menu predominantly showcases fruits indigenous to Southeast Asia, with a notable emphasis on rambutans, carambolas (starfruit), and longans. Among their signature cocktails is the ‘Vinagroni’ – a pecan wood-smoked negroni garnished with dehydrated carambola, crafted to resemble the Vietnamese flag.
Another crowd-pleaser is the ‘Ca Phe Martini,’ a unique rendition of the espresso martini. It features a hint of condensed milk lining the glass’s bottom and is served with a Pocky stick as a garnish, inviting patrons to stir and blend in the condensed milk as they desire.