Brooklyn Social Hopes There’s Room in Your Life for Another NY-Themed Bar

Seems Sydney's love affair with New York City hasn't waned one little bit, with Surry Hills' brand new dive bar Brooklyn Social opening today. Taking over the old Mexico Food and Liquor spot on Randle Street, Brooklyn Social joins the host of returned Sydney expats paying homage to those unbeatable dive bars of NYC. With particular nods to the Velvet Underground-fuelled rambunctious punk era of the '60s and '70s, this late-night fast food-lovin' eatery serves NYC-inspired diner meals, 40 types of gin and cocktails repping the five boroughs.

Brooklyn Social's fit-out is classic '70s NYC — roller door, stripped back timber benches, tartan walls, jukebox filled with the Ramones. Painfully Brooklyn-like denim aprons were custom-made by Nana Judy to seal the deal. The bar/diner is just the first phase of The Hills, a collaboration between co-owners Ben May (The London Hotel, Mrs Sippy, Manly Wharf Hotel), Raul Gonzales and David Freeman (The Backroom, Potts Point) that will also see a new bar open downstairs at the old Central Tavern in August.

Boasting a furiously 'We've Been to NYC, So Ner' menu by consulting chef Mikey Canavan of London Fields and Chur Burger, Brooklyn Social serves up NYC-inspired meals like the 'Meatpacking District' beef burger ($12), 'Hell's Kitchen Dog' ($8), BBQ ribs ($28/39) and homemade cinnamon doughnuts with DIY chocolate syringes ($6). Food is served until 2am, a perfect post-lockout pre-home nom.

Cocktails are named for each of the five boroughs: Manhattan (Spring Street Crusta), Queens (Lady Grey Martini), Brooklyn (Myrtle Avenue Smash), The Bronx (Uptown Sour) and Staten Island (Forte Green Snapper). Master sommelier Sebastien Crowther consulted on the Brooklyn Social wine list, with old and new world up for clinking. This Surry Hills bar is also the only spot in Sydney with Brooklyn Lager on tap. But it's gin ruling the avenue here, with over 40 unique gins snuggled in the bar (from bathtub to jenevers).

Both recently returned bitter expats and star-crossed NYC fans will dig this one in the same way Frankie's slices run — a tiny bite of an apple Sydneysiders nibble, bring back home and make their own.

Brooklyn Social can be found at The Hills Top Floor, 17 Randle Street, Surry Hills. It's open seven days, noon - 2am.

Images by Alana Dimou.