Now Open: Herbs Taverne Is MUCHO Group's Ruby-Red Negroni Bar That Combines Sydney's Pantry with European Traditions
This sixth MUCHO Group venue fuses a mishmash of influences, from Renaissance paintings to New York indie nostalgia.
Journey into an underground bitter theatre as the MUCHO Group's negroni-fronted Herbs Taverne opens for launch, building upon classic cocktails with a tightly curated menu of negronis, aperitifs and digestifs. Expect the same creative flair as seen in bustling sister venues, like Cantina OK!, Centro 86, Bar Planet and Tio's Cerveceria, with a myriad of drink and design influences blended together to create a dynamic space that borders on the psychedelic.
Centred on 12 core drinks that impress and surprise in equal measure, Herbs' menu spans three riffs on the classic negroni, three aperitifs, three house-blended digestifs, and three original cocktails. The eponymous Herbs Negroni nods to tradition, with gin, Campari and an inventive mix of two red vermouths — one rich and one bright. Then, the Gold Negroni brings a tropical twist with Lillet Blanc, Cocchi Americano, gentian and Chinola.
As for the aperitifs, one highlight is the Fernando: a fresh take on a Fernet and coke, which sees MUCHO's locally distilled orange coriander vodka combined with Fernet and Chinotto. From the trio of digestifs — each blended in-house and served ice-cold from the freezer — consider the Handshake, featuring Raspberry Eau de Vie and Averna. Plus, there's a monthly spritz special, with the debut drink pairing sauvignon blanc with passionfruit and olive oil.
"We're honoured to open our sixth beautiful venue, Herbs Taverne," says Daisy Tulley, MUCHO Group's General Manager. "Herbs is another nugget of joy for Sydney — a warm, cosy, artistic space with delicious, surprising cocktails and an inclusive and empathic team who are ready to make memories. And the popcorn recipe is our best yet."
While the influences behind Herbs come from far and wide, the bar's philosophy also looks inward to Sydney's culinary pantry. Merging European drinking traditions with down-to-earth ingredients, the 45 amaros collected from Italy to Japan are complemented with fixings picked from Polish delis and Chinese grocers, capturing the city's multicultural makeup. "We're trying to connect flavours that sing together, without being boxed into the expectations of their origin. Delicious cocktails that step just far enough outside of frame to feel distinctively MUCHO," adds Jeremy Blackmore, Creative Director at MUCHO Group.
Herbs' design also doesn't miss a beat, ramping up the ethos further with an eclectic fusion of 1900s theatre, mid-century diners, German shoe shops and Flemish Renaissance paintings. Surreal but somehow cohesive, the venue immerses visitors through a wrap-around mirror, red velvet furnishings and vintage wood-panelled decor. Meanwhile, the soundtrack proudly leans into early 2000s New York indie nostalgia. Primed for a big night out, kick back with a ruby-red concoction, MUCHO's iconic complimentary popcorn, and the irreverent tones of LCD Soundsystem or The Strokes beneath the disco ball.
Herbs Taverne is open daily from 4pm–2am at 213 Clarence St, Sydney. Head to the website for more information.
Images: Nikki To.
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