Now Open: The Hideaway Is Bondi Junction's Underground Hangout for Late-Night Supper, Caviar Martinis and Nonchalant Jazz
Bondi Junction's after-dark era has arrived, with this moody new basement venue pairing martinis, jazz and supper well into the night.
Bringing a taste of NYC's after-dark dining culture to a subterranean Bondi Junction space, The Hideaway is keen to offer locals something a little different. Tucked into a basement along Spring Street, this restaurant and cocktail bar will undoubtedly look the part, having completed a multi-million dollar transformation. Once a rather ordinary spot, the venue is now an energetic underground retreat channelling old-world steakhouses and dimly lit bars.
Entering via a dual staircase, the experience is intended to be multi-layered, where a top-notch restaurant and bar exist alongside an expansive live music space ripe for evocative evenings set to live blues and jazz. And with music complementing, not dominating the space, the venue is envisaged as a much-needed spot in the Eastern Suburbs that elegantly combines upscale dining, drinks and live music, all at the same time.
In the kitchen, the menu is similarly considered. Former One Penny Red chef-owner RJ Lines is leading the culinary direction, with chef James Tai (Cirrus, Bentley, Automata) executing dishes shaped by exceptional produce, premium meat and house-made sauces. Plus, with the menu designed for both sharing and solo dining, The Hideaway works whether you're seeking elevated solitude or good times with friends.
The highlights are abundant, with choices including a dry-aged pork chop crumbed in its own crackling and cooked in clarified butter; buttermilk-fried chicken with pickled kohlrabi and Oscietra caviar; a dry-aged beef burger with smoked beef-fat onion; and a nostalgic banana split with fried banana fritters and buttermilk ice cream. Plus, there's a lavish caviar experience featuring theatrical drink pairings, including a signature caviar martini.
With booze in mind, the cocktail list blends modern flourishes with classic technique. Take the Hideaway Martini — made with Papa Salt gin, Grey Goose vodka, Italicus, Lillet blanc, and pickled onion — or the Spring at the Oxford, with Hendrick's gin, yellow Chartreuse, sweet vermouth and citrus. If wine is more your vibe, an in-house cellar is jam-packed with Australian and New Zealand names, alongside selected bottles from global producers.
What's more, The Hideaway hopes to fill a gap in Bondi Junction by offering a multi-experience venue that hits an especially high note, meaning locals no longer need to travel to the CBD or Double Bay. "We wanted a space where people could come anytime, day or night, and just get away from the world," says The Hideaway General Manager, Mitch Rose. "From spritzes and oysters through to martinis and late-night pours, it's designed to shape the mood of the room and turn a quick drink into something you stay for."
The Hideaway is now open at 195 Oxford St, Bondi Junction. Head to the website for more information.
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Images: Trent van der Jagt.
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