Originally appeared on travelinsider.qantas.com.au, sponsored by Chivas Regal.
It’s 5pm on a Friday and you’re searching for options. If
standing around the office just won’t cut it, fear not! We’ve got you covered
with the ultimate guide to drinking in style in Sydney’s CBD, whether you’re
heading up a meeting or knocking off for the weekend.
If you work...
near Town Hall
Head to... The Baxter Inn
It’s good for… Getting the creative juices flowing.
Head to... The Baxter Inn
It’s good for… Getting the creative juices flowing.
At the dim-lit, bunker-like Baxter Inn, if you’re not
drinking whiskey, you’re not doing it right. Along with truly excellent Old
Fashioneds, the house specialty is whiskey with fresh apple juice, and the
bartenders go through so many Granny Smiths a night you’d be forgiven for
thinking they have a stake in the apple game. Serious connoisseurs won’t be
disappointed by the range of top shelf blends and single malts: there are over
150 varieties of whiskey on show, as well as a legendary concealed cellar
holding untold liquid treasures.
It’s clearly a bar built by bartenders, and once you’re nestled
into their lair you may find it difficult to leave. The great service,
never-ending bowls of pretzels, and warm, frivolous atmosphere make it a
drinking den you can spend some serious time in.
If you work…
North of Hunter Street
Head to… Hemmesphere
It’s good for… Asking for that pay raise.
Head to… Hemmesphere
It’s good for… Asking for that pay raise.
Hemmesphere is exactly what you want from an after-hours,
inner-city bar. It doesn’t fall over itself to follow passing trends, but
there’s a confidence in its loungey, Wall Street opulence that has eternal appeal.
Attentive table service means no shouting across a crowded
bar, and there's plenty of room to stretch out (or lean in) over a perfectly
gentlemanly tipple. It even has you covered for supper: a late-night menu of
Japanese snacks from sister venue Sushi E is perfectly matched with one of
Hemmesphere’s many aged whiskeys, neat or on the rocks.
Head to… The Lemon Tree
It’s good for… Rewarding a hard-working team.
Sydney needs more restaurants like The Lemon Tree. Light and
fresh in cuisine and decor, it lives up to its appealingly leafy name with
vibrant, seasonal antipasti, fresh pasta, and beautiful Australian seafood.
Yes, the cuisine is classic Italian, but there’s no chequered tablecloth or
dish of stale parmesan in sight.
The Lemon Tree is a crowd-pleaser, and perfect for the kinds
of lunches that go well into the afternoon. With knowledgeable service and a
tight, well-curated drinks list, you’d be forgiven for feeling like you spent
your lunch break in Naples or Sardinia.
If you work… near
Darlinghurst
Head to… Eau de Vie
It’s good for… Showing the boss you mean business.
Head to… Eau de Vie
It’s good for… Showing the boss you mean business.
A veteran of Sydney’s speakeasy scene, Eau de Vie is one
classy joint. It’s the place to go when you’re not messing around: the
bartenders here are serious about cocktails, and boy does it show. The cocktail
menu - divided into eras, and with its own table of contents - can be
overwhelming, but the uber-professional staff are more than willing to guide
you with suggestions, personalised experiments, and a vaster knowledge of
spirits than you ever thought was possible.
One of our favourites (from the 1900s New Orleans section)
is the Highlander Sazerac; mixing apricot & raisin-infused Chivas with
quince liqueur and Peychaud’s bitters, served in a Pastis-rinsed tumbler. Sink
into the mahogany-and-leather vibe of Eau de Vie with one of these babies, and
you’ve got yourself the perfect night cap.
If you work… in
the financial district, circa 1988
Head to… Bondy’s
It’s good for… Something completely different for after-work drinks.
Head to… Bondy’s
It’s good for… Something completely different for after-work drinks.
Forget Hemmesphere’s subtle Gordon Gekko vibes – Bondy’s
takes the stock-trading, expense-account indulgence of the 1980s and runs it to
the ground, picking up a heavy dose of Australiana on the way. Named after
infamous magnate Alan Bond, the bar appears to be inspired by shoulder pads,
Ken Done, and questionable business decisions.
Naturally, the drinks list starts with cans of Fosters for
the blokes and sparkling for the shielas (both a friendly $5 at happy hour),
but progresses unfathomably to a $20,000 cocktail that takes 48 hours to
prepare. The snack menu is, of course, equally on-brand with prawn cocktails
and devils on horseback – Bondy’s is nothing if not committed to its schtick.
If you work… near
Wynyard
Head to… Palmer & Co
It’s good for… When it’s time to treat someone on your team.
Head to… Palmer & Co
It’s good for… When it’s time to treat someone on your team.
Tucked underground in Abercrombie Lane, Palmer & Co is
just different enough to be special, without being struck off as novelty
(looking at you, Bondy’s). There’s certainly a theme - bootlegger cocktails,
flapper waitresses and dim lighting aim to conjure up prohibition-era
debauchery - but it’s subtle enough not to overshadow the truly great
bartending.
A little glamorous, a little edgy; Palmer & Co will
please anyone from the beer-drinker to the experimental trendsetter with its
solid, well-executed menus, beautiful attention to detail, and slightly saucy
atmosphere.
