Sneaky Possum Is Chippendale's New Multifaceted Neighbourhood Bar
"To try and encapsulate it in one go, we're telling people it's a gastrobar."
There's a fair bit going on at Chippendale's Sneaky Possum. Part cafe, part bar, part restaurant and part function space, with a multipurpose area upstairs, the newly opened venue on Abercrombie Street defies easy categorisation — to the extent that even its owner isn't entirely sure what to call it.
"It's a hybrid of a few different ideas," Phil Anderson tells Concrete Playground. "To try and encapsulate it in one go we're telling people it's a 'gastrobar'. That's probably the best way to describe what we're doing."
Whatever Anderson wants to call it, the corner venue can be easily identified thanks to a pair of distinctive murals on its outside. One, by Fintan McGee, depicts Naomi Mayers, former lead singer of The Sapphires and founder of the Indigenous Health Service. The other, by Scott Marsh, is an ode to Sydney's ibis population.
Wander through the doors and you'll find Sneaky Possum is split into a number of different sections. A large, brightly lit front bar leads through to a room full of pinball machines and retro arcade games, while out back you'll find a casual dining area complete with custom built wooden booths. A large open space upstairs, meanwhile, can be everything from a band room to a communal dining area to a gallery.
But perhaps the most important space of all is the kitchen, where chef Briony Bradford has crafted a menu with a strong focus on local produce. Standout dishes include South Australian kingfish ceviche with avocado, radish and finger lime; roasted lamb with tomato, onion and burnt bread; kangaroo tartare with egg yolk, cornichon and pepperberry dressing; and Wapengo oysters with your choice of either passionfruit and lime dressing or eschallot and black pepper vinaigrette.
Likewise, the drinks list draws heavily from local brewers and winemakers. They've got five beers plus a rosé on tap, including their very own Sneaky Possum Pale Ale. Even the non-alcoholic offering has a distinctly Australian flavour, courtesy of a partnership with a local tea supplier. "We've got a house blend tea which has river mint, strawberry gum and rosella, which just tastes fantastic," says Anderson.
Find Sneaky Possum at 86 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale. Open Monday and Tuesday, 6.30am–3pm, Wednesday to Saturday 6.30am–12am, Sunday 8am–9pm.
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