"Drink with me, to days gone by. To the life, that used to be. Let the wine of friendship never run dry."
That's what the compatriots sung in Les Miserables, on the eve before their untimely demise at the hands of the establishment. And that's the merry spirit that should follow all of us in Sydney, in light of some of the foreclosures at some of our most beloved haunts.
Bistrot 916 is in search of a new home. We tip our glass to the bereaved Bar Grazie, who offered service to a table of ten for me and my friends, negronis crowded among plates of tiramisu and tubular rigatoni. Bartolo has also quietly announced their retirement, and there's word on the street that Cafe Freda's might also be packing away their chairs. Can we get a word of mouth confirmation? Say it isn't so.
In the face of all of this, the resistance is ironclad. Or at least it can be, with our help. A verifiable crib sheet of the city's best late-night spots remain open, churning drinks in defiance. Knock back a few surrounded by your nearest and dearest. Afterwork happy hours, adorably plated snacks and charcuterie with all the works. A wine bar. A sky-high establishment. The closest we might get to Paris. The city can retain its edge, as long as we comply.
Below, some of the best places to sink a cold one that still stand the face of big reno. If you're looking for the best bars Sydney, let's let them have it.
1. Bar Copains (Surry Hills)
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Open: Every day
Known for: Being your neighbourhood wine bar, fish sandwich, and liver parfait, and perfectly cooled orange wines.
Happy Hour: No.
2. The Levantine (Marrickville)
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Open: Wednesday – Sunday
Known for: Levantine (of course) delicacies, and hard-to-track original cocktails.
Happy Hour: No.
3. Dear Sainte Éloise (Potts Point)
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Open: Monday – Saturday
Known for: A place for wine and things to eat. A killer beef tartare. Shoalhaven rock oysters, and an orange wine that's ambrosia laden.
Happy Hour: No.
4. Lobby Bar at Ace Hotel (Surry Hills / City)
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Open: Every day
Known for: Deeply cushy conversation pits, live music from a revolving selection of DJs, being that hotel of happenstance.
Happy Hour: No.
5. Ante (Newtown)
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Open: Thursday – Sunday
Known for: Sake and records, low-alcoholic drinks, an extensive selection of Japanese cocktails and a sheeny wall of vinyl records.
Happy Hour: No.
6. Cafe Freda's (Darlinghurst)
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Open: Every day
Known for: Being the watering hole for Sydney creatives, having the best negronis on happy hour and a snaggable $30 pasta deal on Wednesdays.
Happy Hour: 4–6pm.
7. Different Drummer (Glebe)
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Open: Every day
Known for: $7 sav wines all night long, tapas, and an unobscured, panoramic view of the city.
Happy Hour: 4:30–6:30pm.
8. Chez Crix (Surry Hills)
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Open: Every day
Known for: French style bistro-slash-pub with all the works (and brasserie finishes).
Happy Hour: No.
9. Bar Planet (Newtown)
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Open: Every day
Known for: A martini like you've never had, inner-space retro furnishings, $7 seltzers during happy hour.
Happy Hour: 5–6pm.
10. Bar Elvina (Avalon)
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Open: Every day
Known for: Seaside, airy exterior, warm service, an extensive wine list and a seafood-heavy menu located just up the Northern Beaches
Happy Hour: 5–6pm.
11. Shell House Sky Bar (CBD)
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Open: Tuesday – Saturday
Known for: Opulent seating, $10 Tanqueray Martinis, $15 Don Julio Margheritas, and the best vantage rooftop bar in Sydney CBD
Happy Hour: 4–6pm.
12. Vermuteria (Potts Point)
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Open: Wednesday – Sunday
Known for: A dizzying selection of Vermouths, taking the masthead of being Potts Point's neighborhood Euro bar.
Happy Hour: 5–6pm
13. Enmore Country Club (Enmore)
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Open: Every day
Known for: Furry compatriots, an espresso martini good enough to buy rounds for, and a warmed wood-polish and tabletop
Happy Hour: No.
14. Lokal (Surry Hills)
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Open: Monday – Saturday
Known for: natty wines galore, intimate seating, and 55 names on the natural wine list in a twenty-seater bench.
Happy Hour: No.
15. The Cumberland (Manly)
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Open: Wednesday – Sunday
Known for: Raclette Nights on Wednesdays, deli meats in an underground cavernous space, high-flying service
Happy Hour: No.
16. Bar Lucia (Potts Point)
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Open: Wednesday – Sunday
Known for: $10 cocktails on Wednesday, Moorish brussel sprouts, an adorable mint-flecked interior with checkered floorboards
Happy Hour: Wednesday – Friday, 5–6:30pm
17. The Caterpillar Club (CBD)
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Open: Sunday – Thursday
Known for: Fish finger sandwiches, late night swing, an oozing gruyere cheeseburger, excellent daiquiris
Happy Hour: No.
18. 10 William Street
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Open: Monday – Saturday
Known for: experimental wines, trattoria style feeds, skin-contact oranges and chilled vinos
Happy Hour: No.
For more distilled nonsense, here's our favourite tequilas for any occasion and the summer-drinks we'd all make for the Europe-bound.
