Overview
Back in 2017, Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham of Mary's fame resurrected Chippendale's historic Lansdowne Hotel. They gave it a facelift — complete with pin-up girl covered bathroom ceilings — and brought back live gigs on both levels. But, they didn't stop there. A year later, the duo opened a mini-pizzeria on its ground floor — and now, they've transformed the rooftop.
Mary's On Top — sung to the tune of Beyoncé's 'Love On Top', obviously — was originally slated to open in spring 2020, but was brought forward to winter because Smyth and Graham had out-of-work staff during the COVID lockdown and The Lansdowne has been unable to host live gigs. The rooftop spot is serving up classic Mary's fare: burgers, beers and natural wine.
As well as the signature Mary's burger ($19), mash 'n' gravy ($8) and fried chook ($22–40), the food lineup features a dedicated vegan menu with animal-product free versions of the aforementioned dishes, including a fried chook-style cauliflower ($15–25).
The boys said they'd always hoped to bring the venue's rooftop to life, but it was the pandemic that kicked them into gear. "Its always been sitting there, taunting us with its proximity and promise," Smyth said in a statement. "Now with the world gone crazy, we figured we would match that craziness by opening a fucking venue in the midst of the COVID mess."
You won't be able to dance the night away at The Lansdowne just yet, as the venue will remain closed for now, so to get to Mary's On Top you'll need enter via the stairwell on Knox Street. The opening of the venue will be weather dependent — so check its Instagram before heading in — but if all goes well, it's hoping to open from Thursdays to Sundays.
Information
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