Potts Point is getting another late-night addition, with underground cocktail bar Jude’s opening beneath Bayswater Road today. The 30-seat basement lounge comes from Watering Hole Hotels, bringing together old-school Potts Point glamour with the rougher edge of Kings Cross in a dimly lit, retro-inspired space built for cocktails, music and nights that drag on longer than planned.
Hidden underneath Penny’s Hotel, the venue leans hard into nostalgia. There’s mirrored walls, suede curtains, velvet lounge chairs, marble tables, and a disco ball hanging from the exposed ceiling, while a playlist stacked with classic tracks sets the tone. Guests can settle in beneath windows overlooking the street above, though the idea is clearly that nobody stays seated all night.
Jude’s licensee Tayla Holborow says the venue is designed as an escape from the pace outside. “Great cocktails, music and an escape from the fast-paced outside world is what we all need a little bit of right now,” she says.
The drinks list has been created by Matthew Cridge, with every cocktail pulling from retro references and reworking them through a more modern lens. The signature Hey Jude combines elements of a lychee martini and spicy margarita, mixing Belvedere vodka, lychee, lemon, and chilli for something sweet upfront with a lingering heat behind it.
There’s also the Smokin’ Paps, named after Cridge’s grandfather, where smoked wood chips are trapped beneath an inverted Nick and Nora glass before the cocktail is poured with Jack Daniel’s Honey, Sazerac Rye, and orange bitters. The Vesper Blush goes heavier on theatre, using liquid nitrogen to rapidly chill a mix of Tanqueray gin, Grey Goose vodka and Lillet Rosé.
“Every cocktail on the list draws inspiration from the past, reimagining classic flavours and familiar serves through a modern lens while retaining a sense of nostalgia,” Cridge says.
Bringing the drinks to life each night is British bartender Danny Renwick, whose background includes London rooftop bar Pergola and Michelin-starred UK restaurant House of Tides.
Beyond cocktails, the venue’s wine list moves between classic European regions and Australian producers, with Champagne, Chablis, German Riesling and skin-contact wines all making an appearance alongside reds from Portugal, Spain and Italy.
Food stays firmly in “girl dinner” territory. Tables are greeted with complimentary soy-glazed pepitas (pumpkin seeds) before moving into truffle fries, baked camembert with hot honey, charcuterie boards, battered artichokes with nduja aioli and cheese plates. There’s also a $10 vanilla crème brûlée for anyone still standing by the end of the night.
Jude’s opens Thursday to Saturday from 5pm until late, operating on a walk-in-only basis.