Guidebook for Ultimo
Drinks & Nightlife
This tiny bar is accessed through an unmarked door next to the restaurant Tapavino. Head upstairs and you’ll be welcomed with super-friendly service. The team here makes a new cocktail menu each day, written on butcher paper and taped to the wall. Drinks are themed around whatever seasonal produce is available at the farmers’ market.
Ask for a tequila cocktail called Señor Spicy Pants. They change their list daily, but this is by far one of the greatest drinks to have ever graced the menu. Star bartender Tim Philips will mix it up right.
33 locals recommend
Bulletin Place
Bulletin PlaceThis tiny bar is accessed through an unmarked door next to the restaurant Tapavino. Head upstairs and you’ll be welcomed with super-friendly service. The team here makes a new cocktail menu each day, written on butcher paper and taped to the wall. Drinks are themed around whatever seasonal produce is available at the farmers’ market.
Ask for a tequila cocktail called Señor Spicy Pants. They change their list daily, but this is by far one of the greatest drinks to have ever graced the menu. Star bartender Tim Philips will mix it up right.
Think sexy Cuban plantation house with the biggest rum selection in Sydney. It’s pretty much a scene—plush and lush with a modern lounge vibe—and everything from cocktails to craft rum is delicious. If you’re into rum, you can try a flight by colour or country. It’s like taking a flight around the world, but with rum.
Included in the 250-strong rum list is the largest collection of wray and nephew: overproof rum that’s hard to get into Australia. Try it in the nuclear daiquiri, which packs a punch with green chartreuse, falernum, and lime juice. Or order the wray and Ting—Ting is a Jamaican grapefruit soda.
84 locals recommend
The Lobo
209 Clarence StThink sexy Cuban plantation house with the biggest rum selection in Sydney. It’s pretty much a scene—plush and lush with a modern lounge vibe—and everything from cocktails to craft rum is delicious. If you’re into rum, you can try a flight by colour or country. It’s like taking a flight around the world, but with rum.
Included in the 250-strong rum list is the largest collection of wray and nephew: overproof rum that’s hard to get into Australia. Try it in the nuclear daiquiri, which packs a punch with green chartreuse, falernum, and lime juice. Or order the wray and Ting—Ting is a Jamaican grapefruit soda.
Find us by our neon sign down Skittle Lane in the CBD. We don’t focus on any particular time or place or spirit, we just do delicious drinks and have a good time behind the bar. We make all the sodas that we pour in-house, and while you’re sitting in the monochrome bar—designed by my business partner’s wife—you can see where they’re created.
Order the tonic basil smash with Archie Rose gin—distilled in Sydney—lemon, and basil. It’s topped up with a bush tonic we make from Australian lemon myrtle and lemongrass. The smoked lemonade is another favourite. It’s a collaboration with LP’s Quality Meats, and we’re not kidding about the smoke.
PS40
40 Skittle LnFind us by our neon sign down Skittle Lane in the CBD. We don’t focus on any particular time or place or spirit, we just do delicious drinks and have a good time behind the bar. We make all the sodas that we pour in-house, and while you’re sitting in the monochrome bar—designed by my business partner’s wife—you can see where they’re created.
Order the tonic basil smash with Archie Rose gin—distilled in Sydney—lemon, and basil. It’s topped up with a bush tonic we make from Australian lemon myrtle and lemongrass. The smoked lemonade is another favourite. It’s a collaboration with LP’s Quality Meats, and we’re not kidding about the smoke.
Shady’s is a country-western saloon well-known for whisky, where the bartenders are relaxed but professional. The atmosphere—in a low-ceiling basement with taxidermy on the walls, candles on the tables, and peanut shells on the floor—is intoxicating. The soundtrack leans toward classic country and folk, and they often have live music on Sundays.
Request the fresh-pressed apple juice and whisky, and ask for a shot out of the ‘leg’ bottle. It’s an ever-changing mystery whisky that they give out for shots if you ask. All the cocktails are fresh to order and taste a lot better for it.
168 locals recommend
Shady Pines Saloon
256 Crown StShady’s is a country-western saloon well-known for whisky, where the bartenders are relaxed but professional. The atmosphere—in a low-ceiling basement with taxidermy on the walls, candles on the tables, and peanut shells on the floor—is intoxicating. The soundtrack leans toward classic country and folk, and they often have live music on Sundays.
Request the fresh-pressed apple juice and whisky, and ask for a shot out of the ‘leg’ bottle. It’s an ever-changing mystery whisky that they give out for shots if you ask. All the cocktails are fresh to order and taste a lot better for it.
A friendly neighbourhood spot in the heart of the CBD, Papa Gede’s specialises in serving up voodoo- and rum-inspired drinks and has more absinthe than your average bar. They’ll probably know most people who walk through the door in a day, which is quite unique for a CBD spot. They also have comedy shows once a month, which are quite fun.
They have a board of drinks, mostly classic cocktails, that you must ‘try before you die’. You’d have to be a regular, but I insist on getting through all of them. I’d start with the mai tai. The owners have a rich history in rum-based bars, so they make one of the best mai tais around.
9 locals recommend
Papa Gede's Bar
348 Kent StA friendly neighbourhood spot in the heart of the CBD, Papa Gede’s specialises in serving up voodoo- and rum-inspired drinks and has more absinthe than your average bar. They’ll probably know most people who walk through the door in a day, which is quite unique for a CBD spot. They also have comedy shows once a month, which are quite fun.
They have a board of drinks, mostly classic cocktails, that you must ‘try before you die’. You’d have to be a regular, but I insist on getting through all of them. I’d start with the mai tai. The owners have a rich history in rum-based bars, so they make one of the best mai tais around.
This is one of the best party bars in town. If you’re coming here, you’re probably having a big night out—nobody’s ever walked out their signless door sober. Don’t be surprised if a few of the bartenders have their shirts off and their overalls half-swung. Whether drinking a shit tinny or a fancy cognac cocktail, you’ll have a great time.
Ask for a Mary’s burger from the bar. They’re made by the Newtown institution Mary’s, which has a CBD outpost around the corner. It’s the best burger in town, and they’ll bring it to you at the bar.
62 locals recommend
Ramblin Rascal Tavern
60 Park StThis is one of the best party bars in town. If you’re coming here, you’re probably having a big night out—nobody’s ever walked out their signless door sober. Don’t be surprised if a few of the bartenders have their shirts off and their overalls half-swung. Whether drinking a shit tinny or a fancy cognac cocktail, you’ll have a great time.
Ask for a Mary’s burger from the bar. They’re made by the Newtown institution Mary’s, which has a CBD outpost around the corner. It’s the best burger in town, and they’ll bring it to you at the bar.
Behind the lace curtains and the old Betta Meats butcher sign is a local’s local. The cocktails are playful and the hip-hop playlist is on point. It’s very Newtown: friendly and not taking itself too seriously. They have delicious blended drinks and aren’t afraid to use things like Alizé in an ironic sense.
Order a zombie and don’t look back. It has a lot of different types of rums, including overproof rum, with grapefruit juice, absinthe, and lime. Then it’s set on fire.
118 locals recommend
Earl's Juke Joint
407 King StBehind the lace curtains and the old Betta Meats butcher sign is a local’s local. The cocktails are playful and the hip-hop playlist is on point. It’s very Newtown: friendly and not taking itself too seriously. They have delicious blended drinks and aren’t afraid to use things like Alizé in an ironic sense.
Order a zombie and don’t look back. It has a lot of different types of rums, including overproof rum, with grapefruit juice, absinthe, and lime. Then it’s set on fire.
Baxter’s was ranked sixth in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2015. It has the largest collection of whisky in Australia, easily, which can be intimidating. You’re looking at over 500 bottles. It’s hidden underground, down a fire escape, but very popular for whisky sours and old-fashioned cocktails—this may be one of the busiest ‘hidden’ bars in the world.
Ask for a Mortlach or Rosebank single-malt whisky, both from Scotland. They’re really hard to get your hands on these days. Any whiskies made in Australia, like those from Tasmania, they definitely have here too.
185 locals recommend
The Baxter Inn
156 Clarence StBaxter’s was ranked sixth in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2015. It has the largest collection of whisky in Australia, easily, which can be intimidating. You’re looking at over 500 bottles. It’s hidden underground, down a fire escape, but very popular for whisky sours and old-fashioned cocktails—this may be one of the busiest ‘hidden’ bars in the world.
Ask for a Mortlach or Rosebank single-malt whisky, both from Scotland. They’re really hard to get your hands on these days. Any whiskies made in Australia, like those from Tasmania, they definitely have here too.
TMBTP focuses on spritz-style cocktails, some with native ingredients like eucalyptus and wattle seed, that they carbonate in-house. The space is light and bright, which makes it a great first stop. The owners are bar-industry veterans, so from the banter to the beer or cocktail you’re sipping, everything’s just a bit crisper and cleaner than average.
Co-owners Luke Ashton and Charlie Ainsbury are well-regarded around the world, let alone Australia—they’ve both won Australia’s World Class Bartender award. Ask either of them for a Belafonte, with gin, dry sherry, lemon, prosecco, and Thai basil.
20 locals recommend
This Must Be The Place
239 Oxford StTMBTP focuses on spritz-style cocktails, some with native ingredients like eucalyptus and wattle seed, that they carbonate in-house. The space is light and bright, which makes it a great first stop. The owners are bar-industry veterans, so from the banter to the beer or cocktail you’re sipping, everything’s just a bit crisper and cleaner than average.
Co-owners Luke Ashton and Charlie Ainsbury are well-regarded around the world, let alone Australia—they’ve both won Australia’s World Class Bartender award. Ask either of them for a Belafonte, with gin, dry sherry, lemon, prosecco, and Thai basil.
Food Scene
Come here for the best pizza and Italian staff Sydney has to offer. The hospitality is top-notch, so much so that you’ll forget how good the drinks and food are. They focus on Italian bitters, aperitifs, and digestifs. It’s more modern than your old-school, cheesy Italian place, and it’s got a restaurant vibe with a tiny little bar out the back.
Sit at the bar, and ask the charismatic boys working for a drink and pizza pairing. They’ll lose their shit if you say ‘eh la madonna’ after tasting a drink or eating some food. Hopefully that gets you a free shot.
28 locals recommend
Maybe Frank
417-421 Bourke StCome here for the best pizza and Italian staff Sydney has to offer. The hospitality is top-notch, so much so that you’ll forget how good the drinks and food are. They focus on Italian bitters, aperitifs, and digestifs. It’s more modern than your old-school, cheesy Italian place, and it’s got a restaurant vibe with a tiny little bar out the back.
Sit at the bar, and ask the charismatic boys working for a drink and pizza pairing. They’ll lose their shit if you say ‘eh la madonna’ after tasting a drink or eating some food. Hopefully that gets you a free shot.
Late-night frivolity and rock ‘n’ roll at its finest. They serve a great margherita by the slice and a good showing of craft beer. It looks Italian from the front, with red-and-white checked tables, but everything else screams rock ‘n’ roll, from classic to metal, which they often do live. Go late, but before the 1:30 am lockouts so you get in.
Out the back, through the fire escape, is another little secret bar you can hang out at. Most general punters wouldn’t know it’s there. You’d think it was the bathroom.
74 locals recommend
Frankie's Pizza
50 Hunter StLate-night frivolity and rock ‘n’ roll at its finest. They serve a great margherita by the slice and a good showing of craft beer. It looks Italian from the front, with red-and-white checked tables, but everything else screams rock ‘n’ roll, from classic to metal, which they often do live. Go late, but before the 1:30 am lockouts so you get in.
Out the back, through the fire escape, is another little secret bar you can hang out at. Most general punters wouldn’t know it’s there. You’d think it was the bathroom.
A really cute neighbourhood joint where you can take away meats and cheese or sit down for lunch with a meatball sub and a Mar-tinny—literally, a martini in a tin. They have a good focus on sherry, cocktails, and wine and they can all their own goods so you can get tinned fish or octopus. I like to go during the day.
If Michael Nicolian is behind the bar, sit and listen to him wax lyrical about anything. He’s regarded as one of the best bartenders in Sydney and is just a really nice, friendly guy who does great hospitality. If you get the chance to sit in front of him, you’ll get lost in time.
36 locals recommend
Continental Deli Bar Bistro
210 Australia StA really cute neighbourhood joint where you can take away meats and cheese or sit down for lunch with a meatball sub and a Mar-tinny—literally, a martini in a tin. They have a good focus on sherry, cocktails, and wine and they can all their own goods so you can get tinned fish or octopus. I like to go during the day.
If Michael Nicolian is behind the bar, sit and listen to him wax lyrical about anything. He’s regarded as one of the best bartenders in Sydney and is just a really nice, friendly guy who does great hospitality. If you get the chance to sit in front of him, you’ll get lost in time.