Establishment Bar
It's an elegant bistro inside a historic building, and it's a Sydney institution.
Overview
Inside a stately 19th-century building, you'll find the longstanding Establishment Bar. You won't miss the centrepiece of the room — a 42-metre-long marble bar, which perfectly exemplifies the vibe of this joint. This is an elegant and sophisticated establishment, and it knows a little something about drinks and dining.
The menu for the main bar and the garden space outside runs the gamut from modern Australian cafe breakfasts and pub classics to traditional Thai fare, right through to a bar food menu after 10pm.
For brekkie, there are simple nibbles like freshly baked pastries, fruit, muesli and toast with artisanal jams, or if you're after something more substantial, try the quinoa bowl with poached eggs, avocado and kale ($20) or scrambled eggs with prawns, shellfish oil and broccolini ($25).
From midday till 3pm, Monday to Friday, there's a full menu of Thai favourites including lamb massaman ($20), geng khio gai ($25) and som tum pla salmon ($23), so you'll find plenty of business workers enjoying their lunch break here during the week. Otherwise, there's a pretty classic list of small plates, salads and mains, available until late. All this can be paired with plenty of wine from Australia, France and beyond, or step out for a seasonal cocktail in the garden.
Images: Trent van der Jagt.