From slushies and spritzes to new competitions, the winners at the 22nd annual Bartender Magazine Bar Awards and exciting new openings. Here are the top 10 clicked on stories for 2023.
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.’
ULLO Pizza & Wine is the new venue by Oi Hospitality (Banco Manly, Corretto Dee Why, Bottled by BLOC) that is bringing a late-night vibe to the Dee Why Strip. Serving hot pizza, handmade pasta, local and imported natural wines, live music on the weekend and a Sunday slice club every week.
The former Penny Blue site underwent a 3-month renovation to become “Torino Aperitivo,” a vibrant Italian Aperitivo bar in Melbourne. Led by Hamish Goonetilleke of Liquid Living (pictured above), this 75-seat venture in the hidden Driver Lane brings European aperitivo traditions with a Melbourne flair.
It looks like the slow march to revitalize Oxford Street has just got a boost with the opening of Carousel, a cabaret-inspired ’70s discotheque vibe. With a roster of top-notch DJs and club acts, and carefully curated cocktails, it’s a haven for clubbers.
While just a speck on the far north-west corner of Spain right on the border with France, San Sebastian is a coastal beauty, an old city with a roaring river, beaches and some of the best food in the world.
“Martinez Terrace has something for everyone, whether you’re joining us for after-work drinks and snacks, or a group looking for a spectacular spot for sunset cocktails on a Saturday.” – House Made Hospitality director Scott Brown
“Everyone talks about the practicalities of opening a bar – like concept, construction, finances etc – but rarely do they discuss the emotional side of it.”
Group Ops Manager Mary White says: “This list is unlike anything we’ve done before, with our bar manager taking a highly technical and out-of-the-box approach to the drinks. This is one of the best menus I have ever seen to date, and we are very proud of the results.”
Offering more than 150 whiskies, many of which are limited edition that owner Joel Best has collected himself on his many travels to authentic Japanese whisky distilleries over the years, whisky lovers will not be short of choice.
Head down the stairs to the basement for an old-school boozer dedicated to 80’s rock, cocktails lots of bourbon. The big highlights here are the 13-metre bar top, and a 100 Disk AMI Jukebox, dedicated to your rock favourites.
Designed to reflect ‘the wisdom of the crowds’, the Top 500 Bars developed the list based on results compiled from over two thousand sources including experts and journalists, as well as data from online reviews, search engine results and social media channels.