Overview
There were more than a few tears shed when Darlinghurst institution Cafe Freda's announced last drinks in December. Yet owners Dave Abram and Carla Uriarte already had their next plan in the works. Now this comeback has come to fruition, with news that Cafe Freda's is returning to Chippendale – the home of its original bar and nightclub from 2011. Having joined forces with hospitality group Solotel – the brains behind popular venues like The Clock Hotel and Barangaroo House – what will now be called Bar Freda's will move into the Lil Sis space at The Abercrombie.
Set for an April relaunch, the name change signals a slight tweak in the vibe. While the community-minded, approachable ethos and creative energy will remain, expect the previous focus on Italian bites and natural wines to shift towards cocktails and club nights. Set just a few blocks from Freda's first location, this reinvention not only serves as an homage to the OG venue's roots, but also unites what made each of Bar Freda's past iterations such special experiences.
Steven Woodburn
"We knew this was the perfect collaboration at the right time for us," says Abram, who worked closely on the new venue with Elliot Solomon, CEO of Solotel. "We had been thinking about how to bring together elements from the two different venues we've operated in the past. When we first discussed the Lil Sis site and programming the club space in The Abercrombie with Elliot, it felt like serendipity – it was exactly what we had hoped to do for our next project."
While Bar Freda's menu remains a work in progress, Abram and Uriarte will also take the lead on curating Club Freda's – a series of regular club nights held at The Abercrombie. Having breathed life into Sydney's nightclub scene for over 15 years, the duo getting their hands on a 24-hour license and a world-class space means they can take their creative endeavours to even greater heights.
Change is a familiar story for Freda's, with the original Chippendale bar and nightclub presenting crowd-pleasing dance parties for nine years. Yet when redevelopment forced the venue to close, it reopened just a short time later in Darlinghurst – this time as Cafe Freda's. Though the dancing and live music remained, sophisticated drinks and snacks brought a new element to the party. Now, with a new venue to shape, it's a chance for Abram and Uriarte to reinvent themselves once more.
"It's remarkable that we're coming back just a few hundred metres from where the original Freda's was," says Abram. "That venue had a big impact on the nightlife scene at the time, and with Club Freda's nights in the works, I'm beyond excited to be back in a position to provide opportunities for young DJs, promoters and creatives in Sydney and help give them a platform to perform and express themselves. At the heart of it, that's what Freda's has always been about."
Bar Freda's and Club Freda's are expected to open at The Abercrombie in April – we'll update you with more details when they're announced. For more information in the interim, head to the website.