Bar Morris

Overview

Bar Morris takes its place among the steadily growing crop of excellent new bars in Sydney's CBD.

Set on the ground floor of the Hotel Morris in Haymarket, Bar Morris features a day-to-night menu and a plush interior of marble, velvet and natural timber flooring that transcends a typical lobby bar and should earn a place on the list of go-to spots for intimate first dates and business lunches.

Bar Morris offers everything from a quick cocktail with snacks or a no-holds-barred feast. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can pop in for Industry Beans coffee and Sicilian pancakes in the morning, the daily pasta or panini special at midday or a lavish Italian dinner led by fast-rising Head Chef Rosy Scatigna. At just 30 years old, Scatigna has already worked across Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy and the UK after studying at Alma International School of Italian Cuisine.

On the after-dark menu, you'll find rich, flavour-packed starters and mains like mussels gratinate with saffron aioli, cheesy 'nduja madeleines paired with preserved lemon and guanciale, marinated prawn and pumpkin risotto, and flank steak topped with a signature Café de Morris butter.

Natural wine enthusiasts will be excited by the wine list which is made up of nearly entirely Australian and Italian producers and boasts an extensive range of skin contact drops both by the glass and the bottle. Swap your usual glass of reisling for a skins-y Hunter Valley fiano or start your night with a glass of rosé pét-nat in place of your usual sparkling. If you're heading in with mum, never fear, there's still plenty of traditional tipples to be had across the extensive 50+ bottles on offer.

And, if you prefer to pair your spaghettone with something a little stiffer, you're in luck: classic cocktails, an entire page of amaros and inventive blends are all on offer. After something a little different? Try the Salted Stars which combines chilli, grapefruit, amaro Montenegro, lemon sorbet and Archie Rose vodka.

It's an excellent entrant to the Sydney bar scene and, if it delivers on early promise, could earn a place among the best bars in Sydney.

Image credit: Steven Woodburn