The votes are in, and it’s time to celebrate. The finalists for the 25th Annual Australian Bartender Australian Bar Awards have officially been announced, recognising the venues, bartenders, operators, suppliers and teams making their mark across the country.
Taking place on Wednesday 16 September at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, the Australian Bar Awards are a highlight of Sydney Bar Week (12–16 September), bringing the industry together for a night dedicated to celebrating the people behind Australia’s bar scene.
The next stage of the judging process is now underway. All finalists will receive an email shortly with a link to participate in the second round of voting, helping determine this year’s winners. Each finalist will be able to cast one vote in each category they were not nominated in. If you believe you should have received a voting link and haven’t received one within the next few days, please contact events@twodeforce.com.au.
Bar Awards tickets
For the first time, tickets to the Australian Bar Awards will be available to the broader hospitality industry, giving more people the chance to celebrate the country’s best bars, bartenders and operators. Finalists will receive an email shortly with access to a discounted ticket link.
Purchase your tickets by clicking on this link
Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists, and we’ll see you in Sydney this September.
Bar of the Year
Apollonia, NSW
Bar Love, WA
Caretaker’s Cottage, VIC
Centro 86, NSW
Deadwax, NSW
Fortunate Son, NSW
Frog’s Hollow Saloon, QLD
Le Bar Supper Club, VIC
Old Mate’s Places, NSW
Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, NSW
Shaman, QLD
Volstead Repeal, ACT
Cocktail Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by William Grant & Sons
18th Amendment Bar, VIC
Above Board, VIC
Apollo Inn, VIC
Bank Street Social, SA
Byrdi, VIC
Caretaker’s Cottage, VIC
Deadwax, NSW
Maybe Mae, SA
Maybe Sammy, NSW
Savile Row, QLD
The Koutetsu
Volstead Repeal, ACT
Lucky’s Lounge, NSW
New Bar of the Year
Bar Bridge, NSW
Deadwax, NSW
Devil You Don’t, ACT
Hands Down, VIC
Honeydripper, SA
Lucky’s Lounge, NSW
Ravenspur, NSW
Razz Room, NSW
Shaman, QLD
Silver’s Motel, NSW
Three Horses, VIC
Cocktail List of the Year
Above Board, VIC
Apollonia, NSW
Bar Bellamy, VIC
Before + After, QLD
Caretaker’s Cottage, VIC
Hats & Tatts, VIC
Maybe Mae, SA
Maybe Sammy, NSW
Nok Nok BNE, QLD
Old Love’s, NSW
Savile Row, QLD
The Cumberland, NSW
Rookie Bartender of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Club Suntory
Annabelle O’Reilly, Palomino Lounge, NSW
Bianca Zeaiter, Bar Tilda, NSW
Carter Stacey, Frogs Hollow Saloon, QLD
Coco Righetti, El Ritmo, QLD
Cooper Meddick, Bank Street Social, SA
Flavio Marchetti, Bar Allora, NSW
Mackenzie Carey, Before + After, QLD
Mark Simmonds, The Koutetsu, NSW
Sophie Dalton, 18th Amendment Bar, VIC
Zeya Kuban, Cantina OK!, NSW
Pub of the Year
Dicey Rileys, NSW
Empire Hotel, QLD
The Alliance Hotel, QLD
The Bat & Ball Hotel, NSW
The Duke of Clarence, NSW
The Exeter Hotel Rundle Street, SA
The Lincoln, VIC
The Magpie Enmore, NSW
The Old Fitzroy Hotel, NSW
The Oriental Hotel, NSW
The Standard Hotel, VIC
The Waratah, NSW
Host of the Year
Alexia Hastwell, Bank Street Social, SA
Antonio Bettio, Bar Tilda, NSW
Cassie Amos, Venner, QLD
Claudia ‘Beryl’ Morgan, Bar DEMO, NSW
Cynthia Litster, Sakura House, NSW
Imogen Campbell, Pendant Public Bar, VIC
Jay Cozma, Old Mate’s Place, NSW
Lyle Hood, Antique Bar, VIC
Nick Russian, Bar Bambi, VIC
Sebastian ‘Cosmo’ Soto, Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, NSW
Simon Rose-Hopkins, Jolene’s, NSW
Steph Jacobs, Antico, QLD
Small Bar of the Year
1520, WA
Above Board, VIC
Antico, QLD
Bar Love, WA
Bar Rochford, ACT
Before + After, QLD
Cantina OK!, NSW
Frankie Cadillac, NSW
Hands Down, VIC
Pendant Public Bar, VIC
PS40, NSW
Tailor Room, NSW
Nightclub of the Year
Alice Bar, QLD
Bar Bambi, VIC
Brooklyn Standard, QLD
Connections, WA
Cry Baby, SA
Fiction, ACT
Revolver Upstairs, VIC
The Tatler, NSW
Universal Sydney, NSW
Bar Manager of the Year
Aidan Perkins, Milquestoast, QLD
Andre Mongard, Before + After, QLD
Antonio Bettio, Bar Tilda, NSW
Brad Williams, Palomino Lounge, NSW
Corby Small, The Gresham, QLD
Ella Dumaresq, 18th Amendment Bar, VIC
Hugh Hamilton, Bar Clara, VIC
Jason Ryan, Bank Street Social, SA
Nic Lee, 1530 Crown, WA
Rob Collins, Loquita, ACT
Regional Bar of the Year
18th Amendment Bar, VIC
Bar Soma, QLD
Bar Superette, NSW
Broome Closet, WA
Deadwood Dromana, VIC
Flaggerdoot, Jackalope, VIC
Hanky Panky Lounge, NT
Lost Souls Bar Terrigal, NSW
Olivette, NSW
Rude Boy, TAS
Sea Sea Hotel, NSW
WAT Den, QLD
Bar Operator of the Year
Anneliese Grazioli, NT
Cuatro Group, QLD
Fortunate Hospitality Group, NSW
Front Bar Group, QLD
Maybe Group, NSW
MUCHO Group, NSW
Odd Culture Group, NSW
Old Mates Group, NSW
Rob Libecans, Ryan Noreiks & Matthew Stirling, VIC
Bar Team of the Year
Above Board, VIC
Bank Street Social, SA
Bar DEMO, NSW
Bar Love, NSW
Before + After, QLD
Centro 86, NSW
El Primo Sanchez, NSW
Fortunate Son, NSW
Hats & Tatts, VIC
Old Mate’s Place, NSW
The Gresham, QLD
Best Speciality Beer Venue
Proudly sponsored by Estrella Damm
Beermash, VIC
BentSpoke Brewing Co, ACT
Bitter Phew, NSW
Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, NSW
Little Creatures Elizabeth Quay, WA
Patio by Range, QLD
Pirate Life Brewing, SA
Saccharomyces Beer Café, QLD
The Catfish, VIC
The Grifter Brewing Co, NSW
The Wheatsheaf Hotel, SA
Wine Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Unico Zelo
10 William St, NSW
Bar Copains, NSW
Bar Liberty, VIC
Bijou, VIC
Cicci, NSW
Dark Red Wine Bar, QLD
Jennie Wine Bar, SA
Leigh Street Wine Room, SA
Lucinda, TAS
Milquetoast, QLD
Rizla, ACT
Wines of While, WA
Best Bar Food
Bar Bellamy, VIC
Bar Francine, QLD
Byrdi, VIC
Continental Deli Bar Bistro, NSW
Le Royale, QLD
Milquetoast, QLD
NOLA, SA
Rude Boy, TAS
Sakura House, NSW
The Waratah, NSW
Best Bartenders’ Bar
Proudly sponsored by Angostura
Alice Bar, QLD
Black Pearl, VIC
Fortunate Son, NSW
Hats & Tatts, VIC
Heartbreaker, VIC
Jolene’s, NSW
Old Mate’s Place, NSW
Pendant Public Bar, VIC
Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, NSW
Squeaky Clean, ACT
Best Live Music Venue
Alice Bar, QLD
Beneath Driver Lane, VIC
Chuck Trailer, Sydney CBD, NSW
Jolene’s, NSW
Memphis Slim’s House of Blues, SA
Palomino Lounge, NSW
Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, NSW
Razz Room, NSW
Shotgun Willie’s, SA
The Gov, SA
The Pleasure Club, NSW
Tomcat, QLD
Restaurant Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by CAPI
Aizome Bar, QLD
Arkhe, SA
Babines, VIC
Bar Rochford, ACT
Bar Tilda, NSW
Bistecca, NSW
Gimlet, VIC
Le Bar Supper Club, VIC
Venner, QLD
Vineria Luisa, NSW
Best Distillery Bar
Ambra Spirits Distillery Bar & Restaurant, SA
Archie Rose Distilling Co., NSW
Dutch Rules Distilling, VIC
Granddad’s Bar, NSW
Imperial Measures Distilling, SA
LARK Cellar Door, TAS
Never Never Distilling Co., SA
Red Mill Rum, NSW
Seabourne Distillery, QLD
Starward Distillery & Bar, VIC
Best Brewery Bar
Bodriggy Brewing, VIC
Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co., NSW
Felons Brewing Co., Brisbane, QLD
Gage Roads Freo Brewery, WA
Mountain Culture Beer Co, NSW
Pirate Life Brewing, SA
Range Brewing, QLD
Slipstream Brewing Co., QLD
The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, NSW
The Grifter Brewing Co., NSW
Tumut River Brewing Co, NSW
Young Henrys, NSW
Gin Bar of the Year
Bar Planet, NSW
Covent Garden, QLD
Dr Gimlette, QLD
Frisk Small Bar, WA
Gin Palace, VIC
Hains & Co, SA
The Barber Shop, NSW
The Howling Owl, SA
Unexpected Guest Distillery, NSW
Union Electric Bar & Rooftop, VIC
Rum Bar of the Year
Bar Kokomo, NT
Hains & Co, SA
Highball, ACT
Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, NSW
Lola Belle, VIC
Old Love’s, NSW
Razz Room, NSW
Rude Boy, TAS
Shaman Bar, QLD
The Lobo, NSW
Whisky Bar of the Year
Bar Tilda, NSW
Cobbler, QLD
Elysian Whisky Bar, VIC
Frog’s Hollow Saloon, QLD
Goodwater, VIC
Jolene’s, NSW
Ralph Louis Frederick, SA
Savile Row, QLD
Silver’s Motel, NSW
The Peacemaker Saloon, ACT
Varnish on King, WA
Volstead Repeal, ACT
WAT Den, QLD
Tequila Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Espolòn Tequila
Bar Bar, SA
Bodega Underground, VIC
Caballitos, WA
Cantina OK!, NSW
Centro 86, NSW
El Primo Sanchez, NSW
Grinners Dive Bar, TAS
Hot Tamale, NT
Loquita, ACT
LOS – Land of Smiles, QLD
The Villa by MAYA, QLD
WAT Den, QLD
Hotel Bar of the Year
Aster, InterContinental Sydney, NSW
Bar Allora, NSW
Bar Tilda, NSW
Collins Bar, Amora Adelaide, SA
Crane Bar, VIC
Dean & Nancy on 22, NSW
Flaggerdoot, VIC
Living Room Bar, W Brisbane, QLD
Mary Mary, TAS
Songbird Bar, The Ritz-Carlton Perth, WA[Text Wrapping Break]
Training Program of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Australian Bartender
Campari Academy, Campari
Club Suntory, Suntory Oceania
Diageo Bar Academy, Diageo
Spirits Academy, Spirits Platform
World of Tequila, Proximo
Brand Ambassador of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Australian Bartender
Alice Newport, Suntory Oceania
Andy Tsai, Brown Forman
Freddie Malavenda, Fernet-Branca
Henry Hammersla, Campari
Liam Murphy, Never Never
Loy Catada, Proximo
Max Borrowman, Spirits Platform
Natalie Ng, Suntory Oceania
Simone Sanna, Diageo
Stephanie Rainbow, Spirits Platform
Wee James MacRae, William Grant & Sons