Arcade Bar & Club

Overview

Originally designed by Bruce Dellit, the same architectural visionary behind Hyde Park's striking War Memorial, this 1930s-built heritage-listed former bank in the CBD is regarded as one of Australia's finest examples of the Egyptian art deco style. In the impressive foyer, which boasts wow-worthy 14-metre-high ceilings, the same travertine-clad walls, marble floors and huge glass light pendants that were present when this O'Connell Street address first opened are still in their proper place. However, as much as certain elements have remained untouched, it's doubtful Dellit ever imagined his elegant bank would one day be home to a buzzy cocktail lounge, a rock-n-roll dive bar and a pumping nightclub and cabaret space.

With stunning interiors by ​​Sydney-based architecture firm Steel and Stitch, visitors can step through time by ascending the venue's three levels. When you enter, you are immediately greeted by the deco dream of the aptly named Main Bar, where smart bartenders in Gatsby-coded garb shake and stir a menu of classic and signature cocktails curated by Nathan Alan Jones from Drinks By Design. One floor up, laidback drinking den The Hutch pushes the vibe a few decades forward, channelling a more 1990s rock energy, complete with a retro hi-fi system. On the third level, the 21st-century nightclub space, also named Arcade, is a flexible after-dark playground, hosting comedy gigs one night and DJ sets with exclusive VIP bottle service the next.