The Frankie's and Restaurant Hubert Team Has Opened an Underground Record Bar and Live Music Venue

Swillhouse's The Caterpillar Club has arrived with a collection of 10,000 records, late-night eats and a hidden speakeasy.
Ben Hansen
Published on December 15, 2023

Swillhouse has added to its collection of moody underground venues with the opening of The Caterpillar Club, a new inner-city haunt specialising in sultry tunes. The team behind beloved subterranean standouts Frankie's (RIP), Restaurant Hubert and Shady Pines — as well as Le Foote and Alberto's Lounge — has just opened the doors to its latest venue, a walk-in-only record bar and live music den.

Discover the venue's hidden entryway tucked away among office buildings and convenience stores on Pitt Street, then descend down the stairwell to find the expansive new cocktail bar and lounge in all of its glory.

On entry, you'll find an ultra-long bar backed by shelves filled with more than 10,00 records. At the end of the bar, there's a DJ spinning vinyl from the team's personal collection, before the space opens up into a lounge area with conjoining booths and a stage for bands to perform.

Live music will kick off at the venue from the week commencing Monday, December 18. Expect a genre-less list of performers to pop up on the stage, with an emphasis on jazzier sounds.

Leading the kitchen is culinary superstar Isobel Little (ex-LP's Quality Meats), who's crafted a casual but sophisticated selection of eats, including next-level cheeseburgers, tuna melts and pies.

The final element of The Caterpillar Club is the hidden speakeasy. Found through a discrete door out the back, The Bamboo Room serves as a secret cocktail den for those in the know, reviving memories of Frankie's famous Fun Room.

The venue not only serves as another exciting place to get a drink and listen to good music in Sydney, but also adds to the growing number of venues reviving the city's status as a late-night destination. Licensed until 5am, The Caterpillar Club will be keeping the martinis flowing, vinyl spinning and kitchen open all the way until 3am Sunday–Thursday, and 4am Friday–Saturday.

The Caterpillar Club is now open at 92 Pitt Street, Sydney. Follow the venue's Instagram to stay up to date with everything happening at the new opening.

Images: Andrea Veltom.

Published on December 15, 2023 by Ben Hansen
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