Just a block or two up from Circular Quay, this is a great location for a drink or light dinner, on your way to or from the Quay, or as a destination on its own. The Bar has a fun Ye Olde World feel, kind of a combo of a businessman’s club in the 50s or an old pub in England. It’s clientele is laid-back, guests of the hotel, and groups of friends relaxing after work, or before going out.
The best thing is that they’re live music with musicians singing and playing on a grand piano on Wednesday (somewhere around 6 to 9pm) and Friday nights (starting a little later than 6pm).
Sit back and listen to some music in an intimate setting with a good selection of wine, craft beers and cocktails, and the bar menu covers all the bases with some Argentinean grilled skewers, Asian dishes or standards like a garlicky spaghetti or a somewhat expensive looking burger. I had a beautifully done Cambodian curried barramundi on one night, and last night we split some starters: grilled mushrooms, very tasty lamb riblets, and some very tender skewers of beef. But now, I basically tried most of the menu, and everything’s is pretty good.
The perfect amusing finish to the evening, if you can drink coffee late at night (I can’t, it wires me up badly) is an affogato. Look at this version. You won’t find it outside of a hotel bar, I’d think. You mix it up yourself. Delicious.
