Rancho Seltzo Is a Summer-Ready Pop-Up Bar Now Open in Bondi From the Team Behind Hinchcliff House
You'll find seltzer spiders, frozen margaritas and stacked flatbread plates at this new Palm Springs-inspired spot.
While a new Sydney venue is always an exciting occurrence, it doesn't get much better than a pastel-hued beachside bar swinging open its doors in the heat of summer, just as the rain lets up. That's exactly the case with Rancho Seltzo, a new pop-up bar that's taken over the former digs of the Pacific Club in Bondi for (at least) the next six months.
Now open on Campbell Parade, this Palm Springs-inspired spot comes from House Made Hospitality, the team behind Hinchcliff House and Bar Mammoni, in collaboration with Bondi Brewing Co. The 100-capacity venue boasts both indoor and al fresco seating, a refreshing drinks list big on tropical flavours and a laidback white and pastel fit-out complete with eight neo-expressionist artworks from local North Bondi artist Jakey Pedro.
The drinks list is built around Bondi Brewing Co.'s beers with Rancho Seltzo acting as the new spiritual home of the local beer maker. Alongside the brewery's Summer Lager and Hazy Thicc IPA is a pair of seltzers (hence the venue's name) and a series of classic cocktails geared towards refreshing imbibers in the warmer weather. Take your pick from mojitos, daiquiris, frozen margaritas and a seltzer spider that comes frothed up with a scoop of coconut ice cream.
"Seltzer bars are opening all over California and considering seltzer consumption in Australia is on the rise, it's been on our radar for a while to open a bar with a seltzer focus in Bondi," says House Made Hospitality Director Scott Brown.
Rounding out the drinks menu is a robust wine list featuring plenty of natural varieties. House Made Hospitality has even curated a special section that showcases sustainable NSW wineries making truly special drops. Here, you'll find the likes of the Mercer Wines 2021 Bianco and the Gilbert Family Wines 2022 Pét-Nat Juzzy.
There are also plenty of options on the Rancho Seltzo snack menu. If you're in the mood to share, you can order an array of plates designed for groups. Try the fried chicken wings with spicy tahini, charred broccolini with burnt eggplant relish, or kingfish ceviche and watermelon, tomato and ginger salad. If you're more of a solo style of eater, you can opt for one of the flatbread plates that pair grill-charred bread with beef skewers, crispy flathead or falafel — all served with the addition of kale tabbouleh, tomato, cucumber, pickled carrots, lettuce and peppers.
The venue will be operational throughout summer and autumn, at which point House Made Hospitality and Bondi Brewing Co. will make a decision on whether to make Rancho a permanent fixture of Campbell Parade or head in a different direction with the space.
Rancho Seltzo is located at 182 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. It's open 1pm until late seven days a week.
All images by Steve Woodburn
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