Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum band MAROON 5 will bring their RED PILL BLUES WORLD TOUR to Australia this February 2019 for three exclusive concerts.
The band will play live at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on February 21.
Maroon 5 stand out as not only one of pop music’s most enduring artists, but also one of the 21st century’s biggest acts. To date, the universally renowned Los Angeles band have achieved three GRAMMY® Awards and become “the most successful group in the history of the Billboard Hot 100” with 12 Top 10 entries, earned 20 Top 40 hits making them the only band to ever do so, sold over 36 million albums, 48 million singles worldwide, and earned gold and platinum certifications in more than 35 countries.
While Sydney’s nightclubs have been fighting an uphill battle against the lockout laws of late, the Sydney bar scene is thriving. From hidden bars, to the fancier bars along the Quay, we’ve drunk our way around town to find you the best Sydney bars that you’ll want to visit for a wine or two, or three.
Nestled in what used to be an old bank, Burrow Bar is one of those bars that only a local would know about. Hidden behind an unmarked door with no signage, Burrow Bar’s long narrow interiors is walled up by the original sandstone of the building and patrons have the option of pulling up a seat at the bar or getting comfy at the sofa down the back.
The bar is tiny, but it gives you time to have a good old yarn with one of the bartenders/owners. Owned by 4 friends who have all come from years working at other bars around Sydney, these guys (and one girl) know their drinks. They rotate their cocktail list every three weeks and each of the owners has their own special concoction on the menu. If you’re after food to wash down your drinks, they do Picanha To Share – one kilo of rump cap with chimichurri and house made bread, plus a few other items to satiate your appetite. And for the budget conscious, on Monday nights they do $5 wines – because who needs another excuse to go out on a Monday night.
Another hidden gem, this Circular Quay bar is anything but touristy. Located next door to Tapa Vino, look for the doorway with the stairs which look like they lead to nowhere. In what could possibly be the tiniest bar of Sydney, the small square bar is bursting with a hip, cool vibe. The interiors are surrounded by dilapidated walls, adorned with different artwork and menus scribed onto brown paper and chalkboards giving the whole place a hobo-chic feel.
The four bartenders are well known around town and in Melbourne, coming from one of the most iconic bars down there, the Black Pearl. With a focus on seasonal produce, their cocktails are refreshing and flavoursome. Choose from their regular cocktail list or order one of their daily cocktails (or we recommend one, from each). They only have two bottles of red and two bottles of white at any time, so your choices are limited, but don’t fret, the bottles they have on hand are beautiful drops. This bar is perfect for those outer towners who want to (or have to) explore the Circular Quay sights but want to escape to a more relaxed, chilled bar after.
Located in heart of the financial district KittyHawk is brought to you from the team behind Lobo Plantantion. Inspired by the Liberation of Paris on August 25 1944, Kittyhawk is filled with wartime memorabilia and 1940s posters that will take you back to post WWII. The old world vibe of the bar means there’s a whole range of patrons that come here, whether it be suits, tourists or your creatives. There’s various nooks to choose from, ranging from the 12m handcrafted American Oak bar to the chesterfield couches, to the elevated seating area where you can get table service.
Their cocktail list is extensive with a focus on sustainability and while we’re not normally one to recommend shots, you’ll have to down at least a couple at this place. Served out of signature glassware, all their shots are served out of glasses made to look like the casing of a bullet at it’s base. If wine is more your drink of choice, they stock over 80 different wine and champagne varieties from France, Italy and Australia.In addition to the elaborate drinks menu, there is also a food menu with a Parisian street feel. Just some of the options are the classic steak tartare with tostadas , mussels vol au vent with Kikawooka Mussels and ratatouille sticks. Do yourselves a favour, and head to Kitty Hawk for an after work drink, it’s one of our Sydney favourites.
Hip hop, cheese and Italian food, need we say more? Big Poppas occupies the space that was once Hello Sailor with an upstairs Italian restaurant and a downstairs bar dedicated to cheese and delicious drinks. And yes, of course the bar pays homage to the infamous NOTORIOUS B.I.G with a 90s R&B soundtrack and a mosaic of the man himself in the downstairs cocktail lounge.
The Italian restaurant upstairs has a dozen items to choose from including ragus, pastas and more. With flickering candles, midnight blue leather banquettes and marble top tables, the whole floor exudes a warm and cosy vibe, perfect for an intimate date.
www.facebook.com/bigpoppasbar
www.facebook.com/bigpoppasbar
Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice |
Ask anyone in Sydney about Frankie’s Pizza and they’ll have a story to tell. A Sydney institution, this bar is still kicking and worth a stop-in for a late night drink. You’ll often find musos stopping by Frankies for a drink, post-performance alongside a whole mix of people from students, to hospitality workers, to those who just want a late night pizza.
Make no mistake though this bar is not your modern, fresh, cut above the rest type bar. What you’ll get here is a grungy, rock and roll vibe that pulls you back in again and again. Maybe it’s their booths and pinball machines, maybe it’s their live music or maybe it’s just because sometimes you just want a no fuss, no frills, but plenty of thrills kind of evening. Plus how could you go wrong with delicious pizza and an excellent craft beer selection?! There’s often live music for free and for those seeking more, look out for the hidden cocktail bar out the back door past where the bands play. Frankies, don’t ever change!
If you’ve ever visited the Sydney Opera House, you will have walked past Opera Bar. Located on the lower level of the Opera House concourse, in the thick of the Circular Quay action, there truly is no better place to watch a Sydney sunset. Choose between the undercover area on the upper concourse or for the best seats in the house we recommend the ones right on the harbour. With picture-perfect views of the Sydney Harbour, Luna Park, and The Opera House this bar attracts both tourists and locals who want to impress tourists. There’s plenty of delicious cocktails on offer, and none too pricey at $20. As you can imagine the bar gets pretty busy, especially on balmy evenings so get there early and take in the breathtaking views with cocktails. If you want to make a night of it, they also serve dinner too.
Sydney’s north side coffee scene is unlike anywhere else in the city. From hidden cafes in bike shops to cafes housed in old nail salons, we’ve searched high and low for North Sydney’s best coffee. Satisfy your caffeine cravings at these hot spots:
Come for the coffee. Stay for the food. North of the bridge and under the Pacific Highway you’ll find every hipster’s wet dream. With a 90s hiphop soundtrack and Single Origin coffee, the Roots is a regular haunt for us, Urban crew. The cafe has a science lab feel to it with glass vessels of coffee brewing on the bench , matched with an industrial chic fit-out. The coffee beans are rotated each month and you’ll regularly find them brewing their batch from some of from the best roasters in the country. There’s four single origins in the siphon and pour-overs at any given time! For coffee options, choose from a flat white, pour overs, or cold-drip.
If your tummy is rumbling, The Roots also offers delicious comfort foods such as the Yeezus Burger, Reuben sandwiches or the Legendary 12 Hour Brisket Roll for lunch. Healthy options are also available with Cauliflower Salads and Health Bowl Salads.
Their coffee is amazing. Their food is next level. Cavalier Specialty Coffee is a North Sydney cafe worth diverting for. Housed in an old nail salon, there’s only limited seating but it’s worth the wait. Their breakfast dishes are the most Instagrammable items in we dare say all of Sydney and if you have to choose only one dish on the menu, we recommend the Oldskool Newskool Salmon. The dish features ‘caviar-topped salmon skirted by an intricate arrangement of poached eggs, beetroot yoghurt, black-garlic mayonnaise and shards of toasted rye.’ Now that’s a mouthful! The cafe has an open plan where you can see into the kitchen and chat away with the baristas about how you’ve just discovered Sydney’s best kept secret.
Tucked away just below street level, Northside Bunker is keeping Sydney’s Northsiders well caffeinated with coffee from The Grounds. Their food menu offers a varied selection of pastas, salads, sandwiches and wraps until 4pm on weekdays. Perfect for that lunch when you need to skip the office. Bring a lunch date or two. For all the vino lovers, they also stay open late on Fridays nights with a short wine list to go with their burgers and simple Italian food.
Home Espresso serves up good quality coffee without the pretension. The baristas are passionate about their coffee and they also do $12 lunch specials on weekdays and $5 juices. Sitting under one of the high-rise office buildings, you can choose to sit outdoors or indoors on one of the communal tables. It’s a great spot to go to when you need to chill from your stressful work of the day.
Walking into La Cantina, you can’t help but fall in love with the design of the cafe. The interiors are clean and have a modern Scandinavian feel to it. Drawing inspiration from Melbourne, the airy space is filled with hanging greenery and a mural across the back wall inspired by their coffee provider, Bondi’s Will & Co. The baristas know their coffee and use 100 percent Arabica beans from Guatemalan and Brazilian origins. If you’re after a quick takeaway coffee, you can order your brew from the coffee window or if you’re in need of a decent feed, they have a considerable sized menu with all the usual breakfast and lunch fare. Take your time to chat to the baristas, they’re a delightful bunch.
A hot spot for cyclists, you’ll find Bay Ten Espresso on the bike path to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Behind the roller doors, Bay Ten Espresso is located in a giant warehouse-sized space with The Bike Mechanic located at the back of the cafe. They have an extensive coffee list and do their own in-house cold drip coffee. While their food menu is small, all the flavours pack a punch. Breakfast is served until 12pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and lunch is served from 12pm daily. We recommend ordering the poached eggs for breakfast or the avocado and roast beetroot hummus on Sourdough – their hummus is made on site.
