Dulcie's Kings Cross

Overview

Descend into the basement at Dulcie's and you'll find yourself swept back into the 1930s, when poets, writers, artists, musicians and dancers ruled supreme over Kings Cross. The bar takes its name from one of the era's best-known figures: Mary Elizabeth Kathleen Dulcie Deamer. She was Australia's first female boxing reporter, the founder of the Australian Writers' Centre, a novelist and journo — and, side note, she attended the 1923 Artists' Ball wearing a leopard skin dress and a dog's tooth pendant.

Dulcie's embraces the art deco history of its venue. Think fringed lamps, fancy mirrors, pre-Bridge photos of Sydney Harbour, newsboy caps and suspenders. There's a stage, too, which you should keep an eye on for theatre, cabaret, dance and who knows what else — especially after midnight.

The drinks list is entirely Australian. Signature cocktails are definitely the heroes, each of which pays homage to one of Sydney's historical legends. Repin's Coffee pays homage to Ivan Repin – one of the city's first champions of good coffee – and is a take on the espresso martini, with Old Young's smoked vodka from Perth, Mr Black Coffee Liqueur from the Central Coast and T Totaler chai tea milk from Sydney. The Fifty-Fifty Club is a paean to a 1930s dance hall (and sly grog spot), made up of Prohibition Bathtub Cut Gin from SA with local vermouths Regal Rogue and Castagna, Marionette dry curacao from Melbourne and cocoa and macadamia bitters.

Bar snacks like charcuterie boards are available too, and yum cha Sundays are set to be introduced soon.

Appears in:

Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023