A great new subterranean addition is ready to visit, set beneath the cool sandstone walls of The Commons in Darlinghurst. Downtown is described by the team as a ‘classics bar’ and set in its 160-year-old sandstone larder underneath The Commons dining room, it is hard to argue. ‘Downtown takes you back to the roots of good music and liquor.
Venues
Venues
Creating quite a frenzy is this little number, a new multi-level venue in the heart of Sydney’s night life area. The Hunky Dory Social Club (HDSC) has been fully refurbished in a 1900s French décor style with vintage chandeliers to boot. Well worn chesterfield sofas to sink into, pressed metal ceilings and a copper finished bar provide a pretty sleek environment to enjoy a classic martini or a longneck of beer.
Where is Sydney’s oldest pub? Whether the claim is ‘the oldest pub’, ‘the longest running continual liquor licence’ or ‘the oldest building ever used as a public house’ there will never be a definite answer as colonial Sydney was brimming with sly grog-shops and hotels from 1800 onwards. Furthermore, the irregularity with which liquor licences were issued would make it all but impossible to substantiate a claim of actually being the ‘oldest hotel’ in Sydney.
Self described as ‘Melbourne’s newest vodka and Pintxos bar Naked for Satan is shaking up the bar scene with a healthy dose of creativity and style. “Naked For Satan is a Basque style Pintxos and Vodka Bar that serves Pintxos,” says Eddie Crupi.
The team at Avido began their journey in late 2010, with the aim of bring a ‘new style of culinary service’ to Paddington. The Italian or Spanish translation of Avido is ‘hungry, greedy or thirsty’, and the name is said to reflect their owners desire to offer a place where sharing great food, wine and conversation is easy and fun.
The successes for the Vessel ventures keep coming with their latest opening at the established late night spot – King Street Wharf. Vessel’s Italian phase is set to introduce contemporary Italian style dining to one of the CBD’s bustling financial districts.
The last time the Strawberry Hills Hotel (est.1870) had a makeover was in 1921 when Sidney Warden transformed the Surry Hills icon into one hell of a hip watering hole decked out in the latest Art Deco style and catering to jazz aficionados. Ninety years down the track and the Strawberry Hills Hotel has emerged from an 18-month restoration costing six million dollars that is sure to set the historic public house up for another century of trading.
Canberra is hosting a small boom in new bars and restaurants lately, and the new Pelagic Bar & Dining is looking to focus on a seafood driven menu, a solid wine selection and most importantly classically driven cocktails. Head bartender Geoff Fewell is proud of the team and what they are bringing to Canberra’s drinking and dining scene.
Can a bar with no name have an identity? Well, the venue at this address certainly does and it is a sensational place to come and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and good food and wine served by some of the welcoming staff, Giovanni, David and Zea.
Located on the ground floor of Exchange Plaza in the heart of the Perth CBD, The central feature of the venue is the glowing white onyx marble bar and a state of the art surround sound system – that pumps out old school tunes.
Continuing to shake up the Melbourne drinking and dining scene, the Press Club Group has recently opened another sophisticated venue; PM24. The highly acclaimed chef Phillip Mouchel has come on board and the new addition is a modern French bistro that is sure to help set the trend for 2011.