Buddy’s – Newtown
There’s nothing quite like a good house party! Untapped access to your own drinks and a homely atmosphere with all of your favourite people in one room. While a house party is undoubtedly a good time, sometimes the house can be a little too grungy, sometimes you can feel a little over-dressed for the occasion and eventually your booze bottles and cans dissolve into an Eski of melted ice.
Well, Buddy’s in Newtown have mastered the art of a perfect house party without all of the downsides. You will be welcomed into the shabby-chic venue with warm, homely aesthetics, a buzzing ‘house party’ atmosphere and 33 taps of self-serve cold booze.
Friends and co-owners Jimmy Roe and Duncan McGeoch told Broadsheet they want their patrons to feel relaxed and at home when they visit Buddy’s.
“Everything here is a little wonky,” Roe said.
“We want it to feel very welcoming, like you’re walking into your buddy’s house.”
When visitors arrive at the venue they are handed a Buddy’s card which they can preload up to three standard drinks. Once you’ve polished off all three drinks, you can have a staff member reload the card.
On the taps you’ll find a plethora of cold brews including a house lager, sour from Atomic Brewery, cider by Yulli’s and a bunch of natural wines and cocktails.
Duck in for a laid-back afternoon with your own buddies!
El Primo Sanchez – Paddington
We all love a bar with a good backstory and this old-school meets new-school style Mexican bar has one hell of a story… which entirely fictional.
From the team who brought you crowd favourites Sammy, Dean, Frank and Nancy’s, sip on the salty rim of a margarita at El primo Sanchez in Paddington.
Translating to “cousin Sanchez”, the bar’s concept is based entirely on the fictional and wild life-story of El primo Sanchez, the bull-fighting, bar-tending, party boy of the 1970’s.
Located inside the untouched, art-deco exterior of the former Rose, Shamrock and Thistle site, visitors can walk in to find a completely new, terracotta-tile clad interior complete with Mexican film posters, booths and a karaoke area with alternating-coloured lights and disco balls.
While the redesigned interior is enticing enough, the cocktail menu is the lime chaser to the perfect tequila shot with standouts like the coconut Horchata Colada with roasted macadamia, the Espresso Martini made with aged tequila and coffee liqueur, the Charo Negro with Strangelove smoked cola and mezcal.
Pop-on in, order yourself one of the many muy bueno cocktails on offer and try not to press the alluring “push for tequila button.
Chez Crix – Surry Hills
Speaking of ‘new spin on old pubs’, the Cricketers Arms’ new French Bistro is simply a must visit for anyone looking for something fancy with a side of casual.
The Cricketer’s Arms or the “Crix” as it’s known to regulars has all the fixings of your favourite local pub including live music, beers and laid-back vibes and in a recent spruce up, they have recently introduced us to their upstairs, fancier other half Chez Crix.
The upstairs bistro boasts plentiful selection of natural wines, cocktails and delectable French food but without the hefty price tag.
With small bites of antipasti made up of chicken liver parfait with cornichons, sardines, baguette, pickled onions and guindilla chillies or larger eats including brined roast chicken, blue mackerel with eggplant and sauce vierge and high-quality steaks.
If you’re looking for somewhere swanky to nurse a natural wine with all the comforts of your favourite local, pop into Chez Crix.
Beau Bar – Surry Hills
The folks behind beloved Middle Eastern restaurant Beau & Dough, have adopted a second sister venue only metres from the front doors of their first child.
Hidden in the alleyway behind Beau & Dough is Beau Bar, an sexier extension of Beau & Dough with an obvious “day-night juxtaposition between front and back”.
With a dark, stony exterior and dusky interior complete with an impressive, glass wine-wall, the sleek new venue focuses on delivering a more refined drinking experience.
Wines from all over the world, tried and approved by wine director Ged Bellis, fill temperature-controlled cabinets from which visitors can take their tastebuds on a trip around the globe in one night.
Drop in for a cheeky, carefully chosen red to warm your bones this winter.
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