McRae Bar
A Victorian-era drinking den built inside a heritage building, with a cocktail list that reimagines its own architecture.
Overview
McRae Bar takes its name from George McRae, the architect behind Capella Sydney's heritage-listed building, and builds its concept around the "First Golden Age of the Cocktail" — a modern take on a Victorian-era drinking den filtered through a contemporary Australian lens.
Its signature collection, Arcana & Alchemy, runs on a tarot theme: each card in the deck unlocks a cocktail that reimagines one of McRae's original architectural designs, turning the drinks list into as much a history lesson as a menu. The room plays along too, with chequerboard stone floors, velour seating and a cabinet of curios, plus a hand-painted mural by Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey and a suspended floral installation above the bar.
It's built for lingering rather than booking ahead — reservations aren't taken, it's walk-ins only, the dress code is smart, and a bar bites menu runs alongside the cocktails for anyone settling in for the night.
Esteban La Tessa
Images: Supplied.
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