Sydney's Best New Bars Of 2017

Jacoby’s Tiki Bar takes its inspiration from tiki-obsessed psychiatrist Dr Lawrence Jacoby from cult TV series Twin Peaks. The one rule of tiki bars is that you need to go all out. Subtlety be damned. The intimate 60-seater venue has been tastefully decked out in banana leaf wallpaper, a rattan thatched ceiling and carved wooden tiki figures. The drinks menu centres around ten cocktails, which are rum-heavy concoctions illuminated with bright, tropical flavours. As for the wine selection, in true Lynchian style, they’re divided by colour — perfect for those in the mood for a straw yellow or garnet red. No trip to Jacoby’s is complete without a trip to the bathroom, although be careful lest you stumble into another dimension. The back hallway has been kitted out in red velvet curtains and black and white chevron tiles to perfectly recreate niwt ‘skaep suomaf der moor — ahem — the famous Twin Peaks red room.

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Though most of this Potts Point laneway is closed or empty on a Tuesday night, it’s another story altogether inside Dear Sainte Éloise. The long, copper bar is the main feature, adorned with racks upon racks upon racks of wine that showcase the bar’s huge selection — all up, there are 350 plus bottles, which have been plucked from all over the world. While this is a wine bar above all else, the succinct selection of dishes serve well as wine nibbles or a full meal. If you’re in for the whole hog, the main dining room has sit-down tables — but for us, the front-of-house stools are where it’s at. The menu is printed daily and features wine bar staples like fresh oysters ($4 each) and burrata ($20). Don’t pass up the smoked mussels on toast ($14) or the Roe Boats ($5 each). This Potts Point venue is knowledgeable without being wanky, sleek without being overdone.

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Many of us wine fans were saddened by the closure of 121BC, Surry Hills’ much loved Italian wine shop and bar. Good news then, that the Porteño crew nabbed the space adjacent to their restaurant next door. It’s a pleasure to watch hospitality professionals do their thing, and ordering here is not so much a request as a suggestion. Chablis you’re after? They’ll take you straight to white Burgundy ($25) — but not before you’ve tried some funky prosecco and a half glass of Manzanilla sherry.

The menu is small, but has the familiar Porteño charm and way with flavours. The pickled octopus with scallop and romesco ($16) is a winning dish and clever mix of smoky depth, sharpness and texture balance. The bluefin tuna too — served raw with wafer-thin onion, gooseberries and bottarga ($26) — is playful and delicious. The atmosphere, similar to a dinner party of this size, is dependent on the vibrancy of its guests, but the warmth and ease of the staff ensure hospitality is truly felt. Wine fans can breathe a sigh of relief that, in lieu of 121BC, Wyno will be a firm favourite.

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In the spirit of all things Japanese, the heritage-listed terrace venue home to Monkey’s Corner is teeny tiny, with just ten seats inside and ten seats outside. The interiors are minimalist in style, with blond wood furniture and a miniature bar about the size of a kitchen island. Monkey’s Corner serves up a short, one-page menu, which consists of small Japanese plates designed for sharing. From the 15 dishes on offer, you won’t want to miss the rice bowl spread with spicy trout belly paste ($13.50) and the white sesame-washed cucumber salad ($8) topped with crunchy furikake seasoning.

There are lots of food options, including eggshells filled with savoury egg custard (also known as chawanmushi), raw sea urchin and fish roe ($7.50), whipped smoked eel on toast (13.50) and a melt-in-your-mouth ox tongue dressed in beef fat, lime and chives ($14.50). The bar serves up an extensive selection of boutique Japanese spirits, beer, wine and sake — but it’s the inventive Japanese-inspired cocktails that are sure to pique your interest.

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Nestled between a Domino’s and a weird pokies dungeon, Misfits is a little tricky to find, but once you discover the entrance, bathed in pink neon light, you won’t be disappointed. The impressive fit-out includes a cocktail lounge, a rooftop terrace, a public bar and a private dining room with low lighting, plush furnishings and flourishes of vintage gold. The menu features an impressive list of local craft brews, a few chapters on cocktails and several pages of international and local wines. Prices vary from low to baller status, and for those really looking to splash out, there’s an entire page dedicated to magnums (not of the ice cream variety). If you’re eating, start your meal with the blue cheese polenta chips ($12) and finish with the burnt honey crème brûlée with buttery biscotti and a Grand Marnier orange salad.

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For anyone who isn’t sure if they buy into the natural wine movement, Where’s Nick is a good place to start. There are some knockout options to try, like the smooth and spicy Patrick Sullivan pinot noir from Taggerty ($13.50) or an interesting mid-weight juicy Italian number called aglianico, made in McLaren Vale ($12.50). They have an impressive collection of gin, and do some simple mixed drinks and a few cocktails, too, but the hero here is the wine. Looking for something to line your stomach? There’s a small menu of meat and cheese boards and mini pizze. The dough is made by a local guy and, in this case, is topped with roast pumpkin, rocket, feta, chilli and onion jam ($15). The set-up is pretty minimal, with black painted walls and mismatched chairs. Where’s Nick is a great new local with an authentic and fresh perspective on wine.

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