Six Aussie Bars That Are Making Your Nights Out Way More Fun
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Some nights it feels like every bar on the block is competing for your affections, with suggestive typography, barely-there lighting and exotic menus nuzzling your wallet and RSI-laced fingers like a sensual unicorn.
But with Adelaide well and truly embracing small bar syndrome, Perth rising like a beautiful phoenix from the ashes of dullsville and Canberra finally opening its legislatory arms to outdoor drinking, there are more reasons than ever to embrace our glowing alcoholic future.
Because bars aren’t just expensive places to get drunk anymore: they’re making Australian drinking culture a whole lot more interesting with quirky décor, muddled drinks, lots of live music and expert cuisine.
Here’s a look at some of the more interesting new bars to pop up in the last year or two across Australia.
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The Greens
Where: 50 Ridge Street, North Sydney
It’s a widely known secret that the neighbourhood bowls club is pretty much the perfect drinking hole: with genuine 1970s prices, large metal things to throw and easy listening tunes, it ticks all the right boxes. And it was only a matter of time before some clever genius tapped into this beautiful oasis to create something even more utopic.
Tucked away in North Sydney with stunning harbour views, The Greens has turned the frumpy but beloved bowling club into a classy community hub, while paying tribute to its humble origins. Featuring a killer menu, an actual wine list and plenty of good beers on tap, there’s now absolutely no reason to leave the green. As the second-oldest bowls club in NSW, the North Sydney green has been expertly maintained and the competition is both fierce and surprisingly young: with most of the club’s top players under 30. We wonder if the rad new bar has anything to do with it…
Eats: Can’t go past the Wagyu.
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Easey’s
Where: 48 Easey St, Collingwood, Melbourne
What’s better than stuffing an enormous, cheesy mountain of a burger in your face? Doing it on a rooftop train.
Collingwood is already home to a stupid amount of excellent burger joints and bars, but hats off to the fine folk at Easey’s who managed not only to combine the two, but lifted three vintage train carriages on top of a roof to set up shop. The wizard behind Easey’s burgers is legendary local hamburger nut Jimmy ‘Burgers’ Hurlston, whose menu ranges from fried chicken and Melbourne Madness double-patty beef burgers (complete with dim sim and potato cake) to Frosties Fried Chicken Pop Tarts for breakfast.
A respectable selection of tap beers, wine, spirits and cocktails – coupled with a very pretty view – make this train probably a hundred thousand times more fun than the metro. Jealous Sydneysiders will also get a slice of the magic soon, with some of the Easey’s boys opening up a new (and completely different) burger cocktail bar in Darlinghurst this month.
Burger Of Choice: Literally any of them.They’re all good.
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The Highball Express
Where: Level 1, 82 Alinga St, Canberra City
Named for the flight that dropped thirsty Americans into the rum-laced nights of Havana back in the day, The Highball Express is a beguiling establishment that serves sophisticated cocktails and aged rum by-the-barrel in a Cuban dreamland of lush fronds, sunset vistas and whitewashed walls.
The bar has only been open a few months, but it’s already attracted a cultish following and is host to cocktail classes, themed parties and Rémy Martin masterclasses. ‘Peggy’, the vintage drinks trolley, delivers rum punch to your table while you fumble in your chinos for a Cohiba (obviously The Highball Express is licensed to sell cigars), while the most devoted followers can score their own liquor locker as part of a VIP membership.
With over 350 types of rum on offer, ice cold beers, a Caribbean-themed menu and wax-sealed takeaway bottles of rum punch, there’s never been a more exciting time to visit Canberra.
Burger Of Choice: Not here mate, this here is grazing plate country. Slabs of meat, cheese and sweaty olives. Delicious.
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Winston
Where: 182 Hindley Street, Adelaide
This wee speakeasy tribute to the king of sting, Winston Churchill, has made its home on Adelaide’s bubbling Hindley Street. Charming gentlemanly quirks are everywhere – from bowler hats lighting up the woodwork to black and white photo assemblages and even a fortune telling box. Vinyl records and live music warm up the bar while staff whip up amaretto sours and pizzas worthy of even history’s grumpiest Prime Minister.
Eats: The aforementioned pizzas washed down with a cheeky beer/s.
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Rodney’s Bait n Tackle
Where: 598 Stirling Highway, Mosman Park, Perth
While the location might seem weird for out-of-towners, making the trip to Rodney’s Bait n Tackle is totally worth it, if only to have a cold beer delivered to you from a lovingly restored 30-foot fishing boat. Somehow, the intimate bar has managed to pull off their fishy-themed décor with taste and even a touch of class. With a welcoming courtyard, unpretentious staff and regular acoustic sets, Rodney’s Bait n Tackle is already luring crowds throughout Perth.
Burger Of Choice: The chubby chorizo hot dog!
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The Fox Hotel
Where: 71-73 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
Sure, The Fox has been around a while, and since it reopened in style just over two years ago the place has deservedly fixed its place in South Brisbane’s bubbling cultural centre. But did you know it’s now home to its own art and design studio gallery? Fish Lane Studios opened at the end of 2014, and is now a veritable construction site of artistic activity, hosting art installations, exhibitions, and the best burgers in the South.
There’s also an artist in residence program, so if popping up to the rooftop bar with a cold jug while casting your artistic eye over the towers of Brisbane sounds like your kind of ideal working space, then better start working on your application.
Eats: They have mid-week burger deals but it’s pretty hard to pass the kilogram of chicken wings on the daily.
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Hanging out in the same old haunts can all get a bit meh. It’s always refreshing to discover a new watering hole, even better when they serve Coors. Visit coors.com.au and follow them on Facebook.
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Megan Anderson is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist and online editor for Going Down Swinging.