Vernon's Bar

Overview

Summer Hill fine diner One Penny Red is also home to an upstairs gin, wine and cocktail bar. Vernon's Bar, located on the second level of an old Post Office building, boasts an enviable semi-circle balcony that overlooks the street.

Drop by to order a glass — or bottle — off the extensive wine list, featuring both local and international drops, or one of the interesting cocktails ($16–22). The latter includes the Ironbarque (Talisker whisky with pisco, almond, ginger and lime) and the Pina Caliente (tequila and mezcal with burnt pineapple and habanero), along with a barrel-aged negroni and a sazerac served with an absinthe sphere of ice. There's also a six strong list of G&Ts and Aussie craft brews from the likes of Akasha, Batch and Grifter on offer.

Vernon's dedicated menu features elevated bar snacks like duck liver pâté with sweet and sour onions ($18), smoked plum beef short ribs with kale and kohlrabi ($35), pepper berry-cured kingfish with kanzi apple and shiso ($20) and salt cod fritters with smoked chilli mayo ($18). For dessert, you'll find the banana and salted caramel beignets, a regular dish on the otherwise regularly changing menu. And if you're a fan of molluscs, head in on Wednesdays, when the bar is offering up pots of Spring Bay mussels for just a tenner.