Saturday, January 29, 2011

Eau De Vie

Address: 229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst

Mr Hendrix, Mr Brown and I

After a tough and tiring week the last thing that this socialite felt like doing was heading out. But as I had planned arrangements with fabulous company and knowing that Eau De Vie had been awarded Australia's "bar of the year" at the gourmet traveller 2011 awards, I pulled myself together and head out.

This bar is hard to find – it’s out the back of the Kirketon hotel with no reference that the bar even exists; you go through the hotel and then behind a black glass door lies a cosy drinking room that has a feeling of a by gone era when service was king.

The professional barmen wear waistcoats and bow ties... very sharp indeed. I order the Hendrix Tea Party (not for any other reason than the fact that I like Jimi Hendrix). It has cucumber, rose petal infused gin with a berry infused black tea, fresh orange and mint - a fine creation indeed. There is actually sharing cocktails here, which I have decided I will order the next time I come.

I love the music; the sounds of James Brown is in the air, (I love Mr Brown, every time I hear his smooth voice I feel just that little bit sexier). My friend and I don’t stay out long as we are both exhausted and they're about to start detox (after some of their previous episode that involved alcohol it’s for the best!)

Eau De Vie is one of the best bars in Sydney. Come here if you enjoy great drinks with great friends at a place that has an air of past glamour… it’s Lotus Martini’s style of bar.







Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale




See for yourself: www.eaudevie.com.au

Eau de Vie on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Different Drummer

Address: 185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe


Marching to a different beat


After a fabulous purchase on my behalf a friend and I go to celebrate (I try and turn most things into some form of celebration wherever possible). We both arrive quite late and are well past the happy hour and a half that they have from 6 - 7.30pm, where you can get 2 for 1 cocktails.

While Glebe has a number of pubs, the Different Drummer is its only cocktail bar and tends to be busy most nights of the week. There is a good selection of cocktails and the staff are happy to make anything you order, they also have a seasonal cocktail list which I tend to choose from. Tonight I order a campari and soda, I’ve never had it before but one of my friend’s drink it, so thought I would give it go, it’s nice. I will add it to my list of future orders. 

I have a pet hate with this bar, the martini glasses have squiggly stems and for some unknown reason I hate them (I prefer classic glassware), very petty I know, but I can't help it.

The atmosphere is dark and relaxed, with red hues down the narrow corridor and chilled sounds. The bar has a small courtyard, back room and a random fish tank. There’s also a second floor that I have only been to once, purely because I tend to find sky high stilettos and narrow, steep, windy staircases do not mix.

The Different Drummer has a late night license so if you're leaving when the bar closes and you think "it is only midnight, I still have plenty of time for a decent sleep before going back to work".... think again. I've made that mistake before.






Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale





See for yourself: www.differentdrummer.com.au

Different Drummer on Urbanspoon

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Kudu Lounge

Address: 225 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst

Bartender Ben, my new best friend

After a successful week at work my friend and I where planning on going to Beach Haus in the Cross, we arrive to discover that it doesn't open until 8pm. As Kit & Kaboodle is also on my list of must visit places we head there. It's also closed (I really should have done some research before leaving the office).

Plan C was Kudu Lounge so we head to Victoria St, walk up the stairs into the bar.  At first I wasn’t impressed, but as we all know, one should never judge a book by its cover.

We take our seats in a comfortable corner lounge where we are handed our cocktail menus, which my friend looks through (I figure I will just order what they do). The barman walks over, introduces himself (his name’s Ben) and says “welcome to Kudu lounge, I will be looking after you this evening”.

Ben informs us that cocktails are just $10 until 9pm (my friend and I are thrilled as we actually arrived at 6, which allowed us to take full advantage of this offer). Ben asks us what we would like, I do my usual and say “I will have whatever you recommend”. He tells us to close the menus (mine was already closed) and asks us pick a flavour (we choose Pineapple) and then choose between sweet, sour and bitter. We wait in anticipation, not knowing what we will be getting, Ben comes back with a French Martini with a twist, it’s LOVELY.

We spend the rest of the evening letting him choose our drinks for us, with each one being different. Our last cocktail is his signature (apparently it made it in the 25 best cocktails in Australia last year) he brings all the ingredients and tools (which included a blow torch) to our table to make it in front of us. My friend and I take a sip and decide that it’s the best cocktail we’ve ever had... A big call I know, but one we are willing to make.

As we leave and say goodbye to Ben, he mentions he’s planning on setting up a cocktail bar in the inner west, potentially Glebe...FABULOUS!!!!






Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale





See for yourself: www.kudulounge.com.au

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Eden Bar & Restaurant

Address: MLC Centre, Martin Place, Sydney


In the Garden of Eden

It was my friends first week back at work after their holidays and to ease the pain of it all we head out for a few beverages on Friday night. I was running late and by the time I arrived at Eden Bar, located in Martin Place, they already had a cocktail. 

My friend informs me that while they were waiting they had seen a large number of people ordering lychee martini's, so we decide it would be our beverage of choice for the evening.

In January the bar offers 2 for 1 cocktails from 5-8pm (all other months it ends at 7) which means this place is very busy and filled mainly with the after work finance crowd. I head to the bar and quickly get served, but instead of waiting around at a busy bar (with people talking to me that I would rather didn't) I am given a number and told that they will bring our cocktails to our table after they're made, allowing me to go back and spend time with my friends... nice touch Eden.

As my other friend arrives it starts to rain and they're stranded under a shelter in martin place, not wanting them to miss out on the cocktails I head back to the bar and ask the barman if I can borrow an umbrella to go and collect my friend, he happily obliges and lends me his... what excellent service.

But as I come back and place our second order we are informed that they have run out of lychee martinis (What?... sorry Eden this calls for a martini rating downgrade). 

However, even though they did run out of our drink of choice, with its friendly service and fantastic tasting cocktails, Eden is still a great spot for your first few drinks after work before heading to your next destination.






Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale




See for yourself: http://www.edenbarandrestaurant.com.au/

Monday, January 3, 2011

36° - Star City Casino

Address: Level 2, Star City Casino, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont 


Feeling Lucky?

When an English friend was in town, having been to a few beaches, seen their national team beat us in The Ashes and experienced a few bars in the city we head to the Casino to do what all people do when they come here… lose some hard earned cash.

After having dinner at a restaurant in the complex we head to 36°bar located on level 2. The bar is busy and they obviously got tips on customer service from Blu bar on 36 at the Shangri-La as it takes just as long to get a cocktail here as it does there.

As we wait to be served my English friend provides tips for faster service. Apparently, one should do a “reccy” to determine the sections of the bar which are receiving the most attention from the staff before securing your place, looking cool is also a must. The bar offers an extensive list of vodka cocktails and when I do finally receive my rose watermelon martini, it’s very average.

As the bar is on the second floor it allows for a bird's-eye view of the casino floor. The crowd is very mixed with some very average dance moves and even worse tunes. When we finally had enough we head to the casino floor to lose a bit of cash on the Black Jack tables (which unfortunately happened much faster than the service upstairs).

Overall I didn’t like it, but then again I should have known better…we were in Star City not the Bellagio.







Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale 




See for yourself: http://www.starcity.com.au/Bars__Top_Level-36_Degrees_Bar.htm%20