Apollonia

Hidden underground in the basement level of the new four-storey Sydney venue Hinchcliff House is Apollonia, a cocktail bar with an affinity for negronis and romance. The dimly lit bar is named after a character from The Godfather and looks to embody the stricken nature of Apollonia and protagonist Michael in the film.

Whether you're swinging by to grab a drink or heading downstairs for a nightcap after your meal at one of the building's other venues, you're going to want to start and end with the cocktail list. Here you can sip the Love at First Sight, a dry gin, amaro and strawberry gum cocktail, or A Letter Never Sent, a wheat vodka and Italian honey liqueur creation.

Further down the menu, you'll find a milk gin, citrus and lavender drink called the Hills of Savoca, or a Wedding Cake made with rye,  local coffee amaro and amaretto foam.

You can, of course, stray off on your own drinks journey, with an expansive list of spirits and liqueurs to choose from.

If you stick around until midnight on a Friday night, you'll be treated to The Thunderbolt. This weekly tradition at Apollonia is a toast to what's important: friends, life, love and negronis.

Apollonia is one of our favourite spots for a drink. So much so that it features in our list of the 20 best bars Sydney has to offer. Browse the full list for all of the city's top watering holes.

Images: Jiwon Kim

Updated Tuesday, May, 1 2023.