Top 5 best bars in… Sydney

From the seemingly endless small bar craze to the success of boutique breweries and little late night clubs, BarChick finds Sydney is downsizing its bar scene in order to upgrade.

BarChick discovers the top 5 best bars in Sydney

Many consider Sydney a brazen city, its nightlife packed full of garish bars and strobe-lit super clubs. But in recent years, something changed. The neon glare of Kings Cross and endless big-screen sports bars has given way to a subtler and more traditional approach to one of the oldest forms of recreation: drinking.

Over the past few years, a new wave of so-called “small bars” has sprung up in Sydney’s suburbs. This is thanks to the 2008 reformation of New South Wales licensing restrictions. Regulations now allow cheaper, more affordable licences for lower-capacity venues, and the bar world has been making the most of this climate while it lasts.

Wandering down the back alleys of the CBD, you can find yourself in the rather Dickensian entrance of the Prohibition-style Baxter Inn. A quick chat with the friendly doorman will determine if you’re of the right calibre and, more importantly, suitably sober to be allowed to cross the threshold. A big part of the new drinking laws is ensuring that with the advent of so many new, smaller bars spread over the city, there isn’t a correlating rise in the amount of intoxicated patrons roaming the streets.

Descending down the steep, dusty staircase and through the Narnia-like portal into Baxter’s itself, you’re thrown into a world of moustachioed, waistcoat-clad gentlemen and roaring 40s-style good times. The back bar boasts rolling ladders to access one of the most impressive whisky collections in the southern hemisphere. Knowledgeable barkeeps fix your favourite tipple, or recommend something new.

Ex-Eau De Vie drinks-slinger Luke Redington has taken advantage of the recent changes in licensing laws and opened up his own small-capacity rum revolution, the Hello Sailor bar. “Sydney drinkers have dealt with the same old décor, the same mediocre service and the same drinks for quite some time,” he explains.

“The small bar laws have really helped add some personality to the scene where individuals can afford to open a venue that reflects them and their passion. These are very exciting times.”

One of the changes to the bar scene is the variety on offer, with everything from rock’n’roll record bars to classic cocktail joints – that sort of diversity didn’t exist before. But it isn’t just about the quantity of different bars; it’s the quality that counts.

“There’s a diverse style of venues now in short walking distance from each other, so this makes for an awesome chance to barhop several and get completely different experiences,” Redington says. “Quality of service is now king and the attention to detail from beer, to wine and spirit offerings is constantly improving.”

It’s not just bars that are downsizing and upgrading their products though; mass-produced lagers are giving way to handcrafted brews, with a huge shift in the way people think about beer. Readily available craft beer produced by local companies, such as 4 Pines and Young Henrys, has precipitated a change in consumer consciousness towards small batch, artisan ales, and independent breweries are booming as a result.

Miniature nightclubs are also becoming increasingly popular, with micro-clubs like the self-proclaimed ”Danceteria” Goodgod Small Club throwing open its doors to hordes of hip young things keen to see world-class DJs and bands in a more intimate setting. Promoter Tom Goatly chooses ambience over size every time. “I’d much rather go to a tiny club that’s heaving with 200 people and every one of them is there for the music and atmosphere than go to a super club where people just go to be seen. It just doesn’t make for a fun or memorable night out. If it’s a party – particularly one I’m organising – I’ll always opt for the smaller venue.”

Looking to the future, this trend isn’t showing any sign of slowing up, as Sydneysiders become more locally focused, increasingly content to explore what’s on offer in their own neighbourhoods.

This has not only strengthened the recently returned sense of community, but also created a bar culture both more authentic and more appealing to the discerning drinker.

Flick through the next few pages to discover the best bars in Sydney.

For more global bar recommendations, visit BarChick.

Baxter Inn

Basement, 152-156 Clarence St; thebaxterinn.com

It caused quite a stir when it opened in 2011, voted New Bar of the Year in Australia and going on to be considered among the world’s best. A swinging Prohibition-style basement bar, there are no bookings, no door list, no functions, and nearly no chance of finding it. But once you’ve entered down the rabbit hole you’ll discover a magic library of whisky with walls stacked with 500 bottles and rolling ladders. That’s our kind of library.

Frankie’s Pizza

50 Hunter St; frankiespizzabytheslice.com

It may call itself a pizza joint, and serve New York style by-the-slice finger-lickin’ pizza, but don’t let that fool you. In fact, upfront it even looks like a cheesy Italian restaurant with chequered tablecloths, but head out back to find a late-night dive bar plastered in gig posters, with a mirror ball, pinball machines, booths for misbehaviour and a brilliant soundtrack, not to mention a bar stocked with craft beer, nice whisky and frozen Margarita slushies. Jason Scott and Anton Forte, the boys behind Baxter Inn and Shady Pines, have nailed it again.

Hinky Dinks

185 Darlinghurst Road; hinkydinks.com.au

The motto of this small bar in the suburb of Darlinghurst is “cocktails first, questions later,” which immediately won us over, as did the candy-striped cup of popcorn on arrival. Dedicated to pursuing 1950s cocktail culture, it’s fantastically kitsch with retro furnishings that makes it look more like you’re having a cocktail in the kitchen of a Mad Men character than in a bar. That’s due to the relaxed, friendly vibe. Order the Zombie; so deadly you’re only allowed two per night.

Vasco

421 Cleveland St; vascobar.com

This awesome rock‘n’roll bar won Small Bar of the Year 2013 and Best Neighbourhood Bar 2014 at the Time Out Bar Awards. Opened by bartenders Max Greco (Eau de Vie) and Luke Ashton (The Roosevelt), they’ve created a shrine to the heroes of rock, with the music theme throughout: Fender bar stools, Kurt Cobain crucifix, jukebox and stacks of records. They have Italian-American food, excellent cocktails and fantastic fresh ginger beer, but it’s the atmosphere that makes it.

Wild Rover

75 Campbell St; thewildrover.com.au

From the people behind favourite small bar Grandma’s, this foot-stomping Irish bar is hidden behind a warehouse. The only real nod to the Irish is in the green door, the whisky selection and the good craic, which is plentiful and impossible to resist. The bare bricks, big booths and tarnished copper bar give it a New York vibe, with nicely priced reworked classic cocktails, as well as tasty sausage rolls and fresh oysters to snack on. It’s also deceptively large, which in a world of small bars is no bad thing.