Midtown Bar and Lounge

Overview

The transformation of what was formerly The Bristol Arms Hotel — a classic CBD boozer on Sussex Street with traditional interiors and a bog-standard pub grub menu — into The Bristol — a five-level, multi-venue hospitality hotspot with a stunning rooftop bar, a celebrity chef overseeing the food offering and a no-expense-spared fitout — has captured the attention of Sydneysiders.

While The Rooftop, with its colourful Mediterranean vibes and spacious terraces,  is perfect for a sunset sip, The Bristol's sleek and sophisticated cocktail lounge, Midtown, is the place to be after dark. Its dark wood panelling, deep-pile carpets, velvet loungers and marble-topped bar set a luxuriant tone — a sultry, intimate space where Gatsby-coded art deco decor mingles with Vegas-esque levels of decadence and fun.

Overseeing the all-important cocktail menu is Tom Opie, a finalist in the 2024 Bartender of the Year Awards and the recent National Winner of the Stauning Drinks Kollektive. Much like the decor, his approach fuses traditional concepts with contemporary flourishes, delivering riffs on the classics that also showcase a sense of play.

Standouts include a singular take on the espresso martini featuring juiced sweet potato and sweet potato skin caramel and a dirty martini supercharged with absinthe, banana and olive brine. The infamous Sex On The Beach gets a classy makeover with the addition of acidified blood orange and okar amaro bitters, while more avant-garde libations for the true cocktail connoisseur include a signature champagne cocktail starring fermented calimansi, Armagnac and a calimansi reduction.

Chef Peter Conistis (formerly of Alpha), who has delivered dining concepts for all five of The Bristol's venues, has created bar snacks that lean luxe while still being accessible. Think Thesauri Ossetra caviar served with blinis, crème fraîche, taramosalata and chives, and halloumi fries with mint and black olive crumble. For those with a sweet tooth, there are sharable treats like popcorn with dark chocolate and baklava.

The entertainment offering will include live jazz performances, courtesy of a baby grand piano in the main bar area, while a striking, marble-clad fireplace adds a touch of cosiness when the colder months roll around. While Midtown is a nightlife destination in its own right, all the venues in The Bristol can work in concert to deliver an end-to-end solution for a complete night out all under one roof. Begin with drinks at The Rooftop or at the ground-floor casual bar before dinner at the soon-to-be-opened Greek diner, Ela Ela. After your meal, it's time for a few after-dinner drinks at Midtown before heading one floor down to the venue's nightclub Calypso, where you can dance into the small hours.

Images: Steven Woodburn