At waterside Turkish restaurant and bar Hamsi, the cocktail list has been shaped as much by the view as the kitchen. Group Bar Operations Manager Emre Ozan Ozcan says the venue’s light-filled, open position by the water set the tone early on, steering the team toward drinks that feel refreshing, relaxed, and quietly considered. Drawing inspiration from the Aegean and Mediterranean, the menu leans into freshness, herbs and gentle salinity, with cocktails designed to be easy to drink without losing intent.
There’s a noticeable move away from overt sweetness, and it’s no accident. Savoury elements like olive oil, herbs and spice run through the list, creating drinks that feel more aromatic and balanced. “Instead of very sweet cocktails, we wanted to focus on flavours that work better with food,” Ozcan says, noting that sweetness still plays a role, but sits firmly in the background. The approach was developed alongside the kitchen, with both teams focused on creating harmony rather than competition between plate and glass.
That philosophy extends to the bar’s stripped-back style. Cocktails like Proper Form and Clean Cut showcase Hamsi’s preference for minimalism, where simplicity isn’t about doing less, but about doing it properly. “When there are fewer ingredients, everything has to be right,” Ozcan says. “We try not to add anything unnecessary.” Even when working with assertive ingredients, restraint is key – whether it’s raki in Two Minutes, Turkish, where structure and temperature are used to support the spirit’s bold character, or chilli in Do You Know What Nemesis Means, treated more like seasoning than centre stage.
If there’s one drink that captures Hamsi as a venue, Ozcan doesn’t hesitate. Two Minutes, Turkish stands as the clearest expression of the bar’s identity – confident, clean, and Mediterranean at heart.
Beyond the bar, Hamsi’s atmosphere is deliberately tuned to its setting. By day, the space feels breezy and open, with marine tones and natural light reflecting the movement of the water outside. As the sun drops, the energy shifts. Low lighting, warm timber and the hum of the open kitchen give the room a relaxed intensity, while resident DJs layer in coastal rhythms that nod to long nights spent by the Aegean.
The menu is unapologetically seafood-forward, built for sharing and anchored by fire. Hamsi originals, developed specifically for the waterfront location, balance richness and restraint — from charred lobster finished with sujuk butter, to swordfish steak glazed with veal demi-glace.
As part of the $836 million Sydney Fish Market redevelopment, Hamsi Taverna arrives with scale, ambition and a strong sense of place. With its combination of bold Turkish flavours, considered cocktails and a setting that celebrates the rhythm of coastal life, the venue is positioned to become one of the precinct’s defining destinations. From sunlit lunches to late-night sessions by the water, Hamsi delivers a slice of Mediterranean living to Sydney.