Beresford Hotel

Address: 354 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst

Champagne, gossip and presents... Christmas has arrived

A friend of mine organises an annual Chicks Christmas function, it's fabulous, champagne, gossip and presents, there's nothing more I need in life... well almost, and this years function is at The Bersford Hotel in Darlinghurst.

The facade of the hotel is deceiving as it actually houses a front bar, which is a great place to catch up with friends for a casual drink, a restaurant and a large outdoor courtyard ideal for lazy afternoons.

The place itself is cool and casual, it has a homely and sophisticated atmosphere with the hundreds of beautifully green potted plants both inside the bar and restaurant and outside in the courtyard.

As my friend and I are the first ones to arrive we perch ourselves at the bar while we wait for the others. There's' a cocktail called "Love Box'' on the menu that I really wanted to order, purely for its name, but I didn't like what was in it, so I choose "Easy Dayz" instead (vodka, apricot brandy, fresh pineapple juice and homemade coriander syrup). It's beautiful, which I inform the barman of, who has a charming smile (and black eye... maybe he's a little bit too charming).

As everyone arrives we take our seats at the restaurant where we spend the next few hours, gossiping, telling stories we shouldn't, and maybe having one too many cocktails / wine / champagne and handing out our gifts. Christmas has truly arrived.

I've decided that maybe I should organise my own Chicks Christmas, just so I can attend two.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

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

Darlo Bar

Address: 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst

A hidden treasure

There was a need to celebrate after my friend received a promotion, so we make our way down to Darlinghurst to Darlo Bar.

This place comes with high credentials; it's my friend’s favourite bar in Sydney and they've been to a few so I know I'm in good hands. They used to live in the area and it's mainly locals that know about this place, so when we arrive all I can think is "where the hell have they taken me".

We head straight up the stairs past the kitsch 70's furniture, pool table and Pac Man machines (which I must admit I'm an absolute champion at, but didn't get a chance to show off my skills) and while downstairs isn't my scene, upstairs is, as it has a garden party atmosphere with large cocktail umbrellas on the walls, ferns, and white iron furniture, which I am certain they took from my grandfathers place.

We order a Darlo jug, (lychee, mint, strawberries, lime, chambord, vodka, rum and soda) and it's just what I'm after. While there's no food available a number of the local eateries deliver, I head to the downstairs bar to make our order and only moments later it comes delivered to our table - Fabulous!

I'm known for enjoying a bit of people watching and tonight is no exception. I’m certain a break-up is happening in the corner... I don't think it's going well.

I had a fun night and learnt a lot, things about Prince, George Hamilton & the Funkadelics and my friend... Interesting night indeed.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

See for yourself: www.darlobar.com.au

Honeysuckle Hotel

Address: Lee Wharf, Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle Foreshore

Where French Martinis are not an option

I decide to escape from Sydney for the weekend and head to Newcastle to visit my sisters. As it isn't bikini weather we head out to lunch and make our way to the Newcastle foreshore and go to Honeysuckle Hotel.

I lived in Newcastle for a few years a long time ago and back then the foreshore was a strip of abandoned wharfs and buildings, basically an area where you wouldn't normally go. However over the last few years the area has been redeveloped into a waterfront playground with cafes, restaurants, bars, stunning apartments and a business park. The Honeysuckle Hotel is the latest addition to this precedent and is located in one of the converted wharfs.

We decide to sit outside where we can look out onto the water and the working port. My sisters and I head to the bar. I take a quick look at their cocktail menu, nothing takes my fancy so I ask the waiter "can you make French Martinis?" he responds "I can, if you tell me how to do it".... What?  Make them? I don't know, I just order them... I stick to a classic cosmopolitan instead.

The hotel has a homely, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, making it perfect for lunch with the family. There's a slight drama when someone has to leave, it involves tears, water spilling and food throwing, they are only 3 and 1.

My sisters and I sit by the water and finish our drinks, but we can't stay too long... apparently we need to go bikini shopping.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

See for yourself: www.honeysucklehotel.com.au

Opera Bar

Address: Lower concourse level, Sydney Opera House

It's not about the singing

After attending a black tie event, and knowing how glamorous we all looked, a number of us decided that we should continue on the celebration and make our way down to Opera Bar.
 
Ladies word of warning, as you walk to the bar you will notice large gaps between the concrete tiles. While I'm sure there's some engineering purpose to it, over the years they have caused me to ruin a number of my favourite shoes, but unlike some of my friends I can now gracefully float along in my stilettos without falling through - practice, in this case, does make perfect.

As we have arrived quite late we have missed the live music, which is usually jazz, funk or soul, but as we have our very own rap artist no one seems to mind.  We secure our location by the waters edge, it’s perfect, Opera bar has the most stunning views of any bar in the world as it is nestled between the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Luna Park.

The drink of choice for the evening seems to be Champagne, I’m with excellent company, but as another glass is poured for me we are told that the bar is closing and we will need to leave, we're not ready to go home, we move onto our next location…

I enjoy coming to Opera Bar, I just never seem to get tired of sipping champagne by the water’s edge while looking out onto all the wonders of the beautiful Sydney skyline.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale

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

District Dining

Address: 17 Randle St, Surry Hills

I know this place is a restaurant but it does have a small bar (and I did drink two cocktails while I was there) so I thought... may as well write about it.

The Sydney connoisseur of all things fancy suggests to a selected few that we should head out to lunch, as they are my ticket to all things fabulous I instantly knew I couldn’t refuse.

We jump into a taxi to make a quick escape (it's a work day after all) and head to Surry Hills. We arrive at a bistro style restaurant which is located close to Central Station, it’s apparently the new venture of Warren Turnbull, the chef of the two-hatted restaurant Assiette (I'm not what some may call a "foodie" so I don't particularly care about this fact).

While there is a large variety of tapas style share plates on the menu (which I must say are all fantastic), there is only a small selection of seasonal cocktails. I order the first one on the menu, the Pacific Princess, purely because it has all things I love; vodka, mint, lime, honey, apple and pomegranate juice. I wait in anticipation, the waiter approaches and as he picks up a glass from the tray to place it on our table, it falls, and six drinks spill all over him. I felt bad, I really hoped his day got better.

When round two of our drinks arrive I'm served my cocktail in a ceramic glass, which I'm sure could double as the holy grail in Indiana Jones... it wasn't for me, it tasted like cough medicine.  I get Peach Bellini envy as the friend I'm sitting next to enjoys their selection, I place my cough medicine to the side and order that... I'm glad I did, it's excellent.

While I'm no restaurant critic, I have been to my fair share and I must admit I have already placed my next reservation at District Dining.

Martini rating: 1 – 5 scale




See for yourself: www.districtdining.com.au