Galle Fort Hotel

Address: 28 Church Street, Fort Galle, Sri Lanka

A review from Lotus Martini’s International Correspondent, Sri Lanka

On a mission from Lotus Martini, I discover one of Sri Lanka’s gems – The Galle Fort Hotel - the epitome of a boutique hotel and bar with no pretension or formality yet effortless style.
 

It’s owned and operated by Aussies Karl Steinberg and his partner Chris Ong who swapped high flying careers in film-making and finance in Sydney to pursue more fulfilling hotelier dreams.

The cocktail menu has the feel of a trendy Surry Hills bar with a breezy laid back vibe.

The crowd are expats living in Sri Lanka’s balmy climate who mingle over Cosmopolitans and honeymooners or stare into each other’s eyes drinking martinis in the pool surrounded by sweet smelling lilies and floating candles.

I relax on the day bed gazing out through the plantation shutters at the cobblestone streets. I feel the warm breeze from the Indian Ocean and am grateful for the ceiling fans cooling the place down. Galle is hot, too hot to be outdoors. The environment is just right for sitting, reading and drinking cocktails.

I take a seat in the front bar with my tall and handsome companion and order the Galle Fort signature which is a refreshing blend of vodka, lychee, lime, passionfruit juice and brown sugar.  My companion orders the Banana Colada – something of a luxury back home in Sydney with the outrageous cost of bananas. This cocktail is a dreamy blend of fresh banana, white rum, malibu, coconut cream, cream de banana and pineapple juice.  The tasteful and classic décor take me back in time to when this hotel was once a wealthy Dutch merchant’s house. The service is reminiscent of the British colonial times in Ceylon: respectful, attentive, polite and wrapped up with warm and welcoming smiles.

The table of expat journalists next to us drink Long Island Iced Teas while discussing a story on how Galle is rebuilding itself after much of the town was destroyed by the tsunami back in 2004 (the Galle Fort Hotel in the old part of the town escaped the damage caused by the tsunami being protected by the fort’s wall).  On another table, a young, well dressed Sri Lankan couple sip on a Gin Fizz and a Lion Lager beer.

The atmosphere is exotically romantic. We love it here so much, we almost miss our airport pick up.  To quote Australian Gourmet Traveller, " Galle raises the question: why didn't someone tell me about this place sooner?” I say the same about the Galle Fort Hotel – it’s no wonder they are the winner of Sri Lanka’s Leading Boutique Hotel award in 2010 World Travel Awards. I could stay here forever…

See for yourself: http://www.galleforthotel.com/

Russell Wine Bar

Address: 143a George Street, Sydney

Is a stuffed peacock really necessary?

A couple of friends and I had arranged to catch-up after work, one of them isn't handling the cold weather very well (there from a country where very small bikinis are a year round option). Lucky for us I had just been informed of a new cosy wine bar in The Rocks. We brace the cold and head to Russell Wine Bar.

Two of us are seated on a bench table made from the wood of old wine boxes, order a glass of sparkling and wait for our friend.

The warm tones of the decor make for a cosy and relaxed drinking spot. The bar does have a random peacock theme to it though, with a feather pattern on the leather booth seats and even a stuffed peacock on the wall. Which I must say I was not impressed with.

The tunes are also interesting. Not that I mind Dolly Pardon's classic "working nine to five", I have fond memories of my sisters and I dancing to it (I'm pretty sure our routine included a briefcase. Can't remember for certain though... I was only 10), it just doesn't suit the bar.  

Our friend arrives and is impressed with the bar staff, apparently they asked them how their day had been (and actually seemed interested to find out). After a number of glasses we decide that we should eat and order a few dishes from their great tapa style menu.

While Russell Wine Bar is a convenient meeting place for after-work drinks, it will need to not only play tunes that suit a cosy bar, but also be careful not to fall into the tourist trap that many bars and restaurants succumb to in The Rocks.





Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale 

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

Rock Bar, Bali

Address: Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera Jimbaran, Bali

  

 

Bye bye Bali

After nearly 12 months of not having a holiday it was decided I needed a break. As I only have limited time at my disposal I head to Bali for a week.

My final day on the island arrives all too soon and as I have quite a number of hours between hotel check out and my flight, I spend the afternoon having a late seafood lunch in Jimbaran Bay before heading to Rock Bar.

Rock bar is located in the Ayana resort and a strict dress code applies; no board shorts or alcohol branded t-shirts allowed (excellent, as I prefer to never see another Bintang shirt again).

You head down numerous stairs, past the infinity pool, and board the inclinator to head down into what I would describe as my little piece of heaven. This open air bar is located on a side of a cliff 14 metres above the ocean. It offers Bali's most glamorous sunset.

I wanted to order a "Old fashion" as it's Don Draper's drink of choice on Mad Men, but I discover it's made with bourbon (yuk) so I have the Asian Martini instead, it's sweet and tasty... actually it reminds me of a melted lemon calipo. It's shortly followed by "Rock my world" which while certainly bright and tropical, my world remains firmly unrocked.

Overall, one could get used to this... watching a beautiful sunset, sand between the toes, listening to great beats, sounds of the ocean in the background, all with a cocktail in hand... Please don't make me go home.
 

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

See for yourself: www.ayanaresort.com/rockbarbali

Blu Bar on 36

Address: Level 36 Shangri-La hotel, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks

Cocktails with a carat

I had to seek my friends forgiveness after I realised I forgot their birthday, I've been busy (I know it's not really an excuse, it's just poor form), so I decide to take them to Blu Bar on 36 at the Shangri-La hotel.

This cocktail lounge is located high above the city with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Darling Harbour.

Even though I'm not one for routine I've always ordered the same cocktail here, I love the name and taste of this fine creation, Little Roses Garden Party. It has Belvedere Citrus, pomegranate liqueur, cranberry, lemongrass, a dash of rose syrup and my very own rose petal floating on top.

There is actually a cocktail here worth $10,000 but instead of getting your own rose petal, this one comes with your very own one-carat diamond. I've always wondered who would order it and if anyone has accidently swallowed it by mistake (it would make for an interesting story though of a marriage proposal gone wrong).

There's a slight issue with this bar - it operates with snail pace service, and if you're as impatient as I am it can be very frustrating sitting there trying to catch the eye of one of the waiters. It takes ages to get served and even longer to receive your cocktails. Also, while Blu Bar may offer some of the best views of the harbour, the lounge area is dated which makes it lose some of its appeal.

Slow service and bad furnishings aside, I've always felt relaxed coming here... I love the marvellous view and the cocktails.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale




See for yourself: http://www.36levelsabove.com.au/blubar/default-en.html

 

Zeta

Address: level 4, 488 George street, Hilton Sydney  

Not just a letter in the Greek alphabet

Having been to Glass Brasserie in the Hilton Hotel for a work lunch, when I caught up with a friend the same night I thought… may as well keep it in the family, so I head to Zeta Bar on level 4.

Zeta, like a lot of elegant bars, provides a warm and friendly ambiance where you can unwind yourself on plush leather ottomans and tub chairs, centered around a stylish oversized fireplace, perch yourself along the wood bar in the middle of the room, or if you can get them, relax in one of the small private seating areas which look like mini harems. I really wanted to sit there as I picture myself being an ancient Greek goddess lying in robes, being fed grapes, while at the same time being fanned with large palm fronds…

However, not being interior decorators my friend and I aren’t here to admire the furnishings, as Zeta is known for its cutting-edge collection of smooth cocktails.

We order a pineapple and coriander martini, apparently it tastes like a sweet tart (my friend’s American and I have no idea what they are talking about), I really like it and after two I decide to let my adventurous side out for the night and try something that I’m certain I can’t get anywhere else… an Earl Grey Martini. The problem was the waitress didn’t hear the words “Earl Grey” and I get served a straight Martini, which to me was $19 of torture.

Overall, Zeta Bar is a gift to Sydney’s cocktail scene which will surprise anybody with its long list of beverages, their innovative cocktails and chic surrounds.

 


 Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

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

Water Bar

Address: Blue Hotel, 6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo

 

Will Bond be there tonight?

I love a good hotel bar, it’s the feeling I have when I walk into one like I am on holidays (even if I have just left the office) or maybe it’s because for a moment I pretend I’m a girl in a classic Bond Movie and a young Sean Connery will approach me in his tuxedo with a classic Martini and introduce himself. So when it was suggested that I go and discover Water Bar at Blue Hotel in Woolloomooloo I instantly clapped my hands together and thought “this will be fabulous!!”

A friend and I jumped into a taxi for a cheeky mid week evening cocktail. Knowing that Water Bar had previously been rated a 'top ten bar in the world' by Conde Naste Traveller our expectations where high.

We arrive, the car door is opened for us, we head to the top of the stairs leading up from the hotel entrance and walk into a stunning open space. I wished this place was my apartment, it's inviting, illuminated by candles and chandeliers and the stylish furnishings are arranged into little living room-like areas. We are approached by an attractive waitress who shows us to our lounge.

 Now, I’m not a fan of looking at menus and in some cases even ordering for myself (I think it is the 1930’s house wife in me, I just need to learn to cook, bake, sew…) so I ask the attractive waitress for her recommendation.

 She sits down politely, “do you prefer a gin or vodka base”, “sweet or sour”, "what type of glass do you prefer”… have I just found my new best friend. The cocktails we have are FABULOUS, however being the civilised people we are, my friend and I leave after a couple (or 3) and I head back to my real apartment.

A downside to the bar, like many hotel bars, is that it lacks a bit of atmosphere but as another one of my “rules” is “sometimes it doesn’t matter where you go, it’s the company you go with” I suggest heading down with a good friend / boyfriend / wife / husband / lover to enjoy the comforts of Water Bar.






Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

See for yourself: http://www.waterbaratblue.com/