Sydney Bar Awards 2010
Rockpool Bar has been named Bar of the Year at the second annual Time Out Sydney Bar Awards.
Sydney's best, brightest and booziest came out to raise a glass at the Time Out Sydney 2010 Bar Awards on Tuesday night.
Rockpool Bar, the bar component of Neil Perry's new Rockpool Bar and Grill, was named Bar of the Year during the ceremony, which took place at swanky Kings Cross venue the Piano Room.
Surry Hills establishment The Local Taphouse was named Best New Bar, and Glebe's Friend in Hand was named Best Pub.
The People's Choice Award went to new Darlinghurst bar Pocket, while Marco Faraone of city bar Bacco was named Bartender of the Year.
"The Time Out Bar Awards are all about celebrating Sydney culture and Sydney bars," says Time Out's Food and Drink Editor, Myffy Rigby. "Small bars, pop-up bars, wine bars, classic cocktail bars and old-school pubs are all in the mix."
The awards marked the publication of the Time Out Sydney Bar Guide 2010, a comprehensive 116-page book that comes free with the December issue of Time Out Sydney, on sale at newsagencies now for just $3.95.
"We're the only bar guide in the city, so it's our job to make sure we cover popular stomping grounds as well as new bars and places many people may overlook just because they're a little off the beaten track," Rigby said.
On entry to the awards, guests were greeted with cocktails by Absolut Rock Edition vodka and Jameson whiskey along with the swingin' sounds of Sydney jazz group the Michael Griffin Quintet. Time Out's favourite illusionist Adam Mada wowed the crowd with sleight of hand, while Jabba compered the night. Green Fairy conjured its own delights with absinthe cocktails. To cool things down, there was Sydney's favourite beer-of-the-moment Fat Yak and wines by Mad Fish.
The crowd was 350-strong including likes of Tim 'Rosso' Ross, who, along with with his wife Michelle Glew-Ross, was runner up in the Best Small Bar category for his Mona Vale bar Park St Social Club. Writer and bon vivant Frank Moorhouse presented the Hall of Fame award to the Bayswater Brasserie, and a contingent of Sydney's new generation of radio stars were represented. And, of course, the cream of the Sydney bartending industry were there in their droves.
On the decks, FBi's very own Jonathon Valenzuela – aka 16 Tacos – had the place jumping. Burlesque dancer Mimi Redlips, dressed in an entire balloon ensemble, stripped to Led Zeppelin's 'Heartbreaker', one popped balloon at a time, and Hu-la-la's Kira Carden did her hot hula thang.
The winners and runners up:
Bartender of the Year: Marco Faraone, Bacco
Runner up: Petr Dvoracek, Lotus
Best New Bar
Winner: The Local Taphouse
Runner up: Bacco
Best Pub
Winner: The Friend in Hand
Runner up: Newport Arms
Best Wine Bar
Winner: Aperitif
Runner up: DeVine
Best Cocktail Bar
Winner: Lotus
Runner up: Zeta Bar
Best Design
Winner: Rockpool Bar
Runner up: Ivy Pool Club
Best Bar Food
Winner: Ash St Cellar
Runner up: Fico
Hall of Fame
Bayswater Brasserie
Best Small Bar
Winner: Café Lounge
Runner up: Park St Social Club
People's Choice Award
Winner: Pocket
Bar of the Year
Winner: Rockpool Bar
Photos from the night are on Time Out Sydney's Facebook 
Full list of nominees, runners up and winners
