Overview
Since opening in 2013, The Soda Factory has become Sydney's favourite hidden, hotdog-slinging late-night bar. So it's high time the team behind it served up another. Rosie Campbell's will be opening in Surry Hills this winter, and it's bringing an early tropical breeze with it. The Experience Group's newbie will be a Jamaica-inspired rum bar with a slick, contemporary twist.
Fans of The Soda Factory's industrial, mid-century fit-out, oozing with vintage charm, know to expect big things from this team. Swapping Chesterfield lounges for a more laidback, island vibe, Rosie Campbell's promises patrons the same attention to detail Soda is famous for. Discard your visions of Tiki huts and fresh coconuts with tiny floating umbrellas, however; the aim is to go beyond novelty here.
It was during his second visit to Jamaica last year that The Experience Group's director Graham Cordery felt inspired to bring the best of the country to Sydney's shores. "It's going to be all the things I loved about Jamaica ... the contrasting bright colours, the vibrancy that really makes you feel alive," he says. The new bar will incorporate his own personal encounters with the culture. "It's by no means going to be a rustic island-bar look, but there will be things that I experienced while I was there ... like things people have said to me over there that might just be a quote in the bathroom or something like that."
Open 11am to midnight daily, the space is designed to move from day to night, with a brunch menu, free Wi-Fi and cosy indoor seating luring us in during the day, and an impressive selection of Caribbean brews, cocktails and eats encouraging us to kick things on long into the evening.
Given the overwhelming success of its big sister's East Coast flavour, Rosie Campbell's will blend traditional Jamaican classics with the tastes of the States. Although the specifics of the menu remain shrouded in secrecy, Cordery hints to appearances of everything from "Jamaican staples such as pork and chicken with a homemade jerk sauce" to "Caribbean street food with modern twists and fusions" and even "a couple of really amazing burgers". And Soda's famous crowd-pleasers haven't been forgotten. "You never know, there might be a hotdog there too," he adds.
And with Cordery's past life as a DJ and events agent, live music will not be ignored at Rosie Campbell's. The plan is for the small bar to showcase live acoustic artists and the occasional pop-up event from touring international artists.
So when can we swing by our new friend Rosie's? The bar is set to open on the corner of Crown and Campbell Streets, Surry Hills in early July.
UPDATE, JULY 1, 2015: We've got more delicious details on Rosie's menu for you, and the good news is the joint's open for brunch, lunch and dinner. Rosie Campbell's head chef Adrian Poon has created a bold, spicy menu with Jessica Sly (formerly of Rockpool Consulting). So what's cookin' already? Sitting at the top of the menu is Rosie's jerk pork dumplings (!), signature jerk chicken, a softshell crab burger and the formidable Brunch Burrito. For the sweet tooths, there's Rosie's Pancake Stack and the Caribbean Mess with ginger cookies and rum caramel.
Just came to Rosie's for a tipple? Winner of 2014 ‘Legend Of The Year’ at the Bar Awards, Mike Enright has picked around 50 bottles of imported rum for the bar (including gems from Cuba and the Caribbean islands), and you'll find locally brewed beer — Rosie’s Pale Ale and Rosie’s Golden Lager — on tap.
Set to open in early July, Rosie Campbell’s will be open from 11am to midnight Tuesday to Sunday, and 5pm to midnight on Mondays. Dinner bookings for groups over six people are open from Monday, July 13.