Coming Soon: Herbs Taverne Is MUCHO Group's New Negroni Bar, Exploring the Beloved Cocktail with a Hint of Psychedelia
Drawing inspiration from classic European cocktails, this subterranean spot will launch with 12 core drinks, bringing fresh ideas to old-world aperitifs and digestifs.
Love a negroni? It wouldn't come as a surprise if you do. This classic drink's popularity has gone through the roof in recent years, and is now widely considered the world's most popular cocktail, beating out the likes of the old fashioned and the dry martini. With this in mind, it makes perfect sense that there's high-end bars popping up across town dedicated to this ruby-red concoction. The latest to arrive on the scene is Herbs Taverne, opening Saturday, May 3 on Clarence Street.
Led by MUCHO – the same team behind other upbeat venues bars like Cantina OK!, Centro 86, Bar Planet and Tio's Cerveceria – the bar will turn its attention to the bittersweet tipple, using it to anchor the venue's aperitivo and digestivo selection. Behind the bar, guests can explore a carefully curated collection of the world's most iconic, rare and downright delicious amaros, from the dry and earthy to the bright and zesty.
Keeping things focused, Herbs menu features 12 core drinks: three riffs on the classic negroni, three aperitifs, three house-blended digestifs, and three original cocktails. Plus, there's a monthly spritz special for regulars looking for something new to sip on. Showcasing a healthy dose of creativity and eccentricity – like the rest of MUCHO's venues – the bar looks to create a lighthearted experience that borders on the psychedelic.
While Herbs Taverne's drinks list will certainly have an appreciation for heritage, the menu won't feel stuck in the past. Here, they've filtered classic European drinking traditions through Sydney's eclectic flavour pantry. That means drawing ingredients and accoutrements from across the culinary scene – from Polish delis to Chinese grocers. So, while the drinks might seem familiar, the approach is anything but.
Cantino OK!, K Low
"Each drink is built to be purely delicious but also surprising," says Jeremy Blackmore, Creative Director at MUCHO Group. "They each have something unexpected, from pairing amaro with parsley, or Gentian with passionfruit, even pairing Calvados and Żubrówka. Sometimes these combinations are more than the sum of their parts. It's these combinations we're looking for."
Sure, some of the drinks might be bitter, but don't expect the mood at Herbs Taverne to trend sour. With its subterranean home on Clarence Street set to open seven days a week and run until 2am, the fit-out will have that classic cosy bar feel. However, anticipate a few fun and perhaps even kaleidoscopic twists that take the spot up a notch – just like its much-loved sister venues.
Tio's Cerveceria, Dexter Kim
Herbs Taverne is set to open on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 213 Clarence Street, Sydney. Head to the Instagram for more details.
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