Sydney's 10 Best Bar Experiences
First dates, kick-offs and bare belly shots... Myffy Rigby limbers up the gullet and throws herself on the booze grenade to deliver Sydney's 10 best bar experiences whatever the occasion
1 First date
Bennelong Bar
What a view. Settle back into the lush seats and stare out to the harbour's twinkling lights and worry not, you're in dim lighting, so can't possibly look bad. Share a plate of crab sandwiches - word is chef Guillaume Brahimi has his apprentices pick the meat out of the shell while it's scalding - and a glass of Champagne. Perfect.
Bennelong Bar is located in Guillaume at Bennelong in The Sydney Opera House.
2 Pre-dinner
Mille Vini
There are a thousand wines available - hence the name. The Italian-heavy wine list offers plenty by the glass like the sweet, bulky primitivo that goes very well with a hunk of their bitey, crumbly parmesan and there's a also a fun, frisky pinot grigio if white's more your thing.
3 Post-dinner
Bentley Bar
The antidote to a bad meal and a great way to round off a good one. Nick Hildebrandt is a total wine freak. You might even say he's meta-human with his super keen nose for strange grape varietals and sonic vision, picking out people walking into the bar specifically to use the toilet rather than order something from the fascinating list.
4 Sport
Madam De Biers
Right in the heart of the street walkers, backpackers, tobacconists and kebab shops, the Madame is showing live action from all the major sporting events on five different screens including a huge plasma. Catch the big acts including this week's Collingwood v Adelaide duel.
5 Lads' night
Strike Bowling Bar
Cold beer, pizza and bowling. What more could you want? They take hilarious pictures of your bowling action and there's a karaoke room for when you can no longer bowl straight. Make a Big Lebowski night of it and drink a White Russian while you're there. "Am I wrong!?"
6 Ladies' night
Foveaux Bar
Have the very handsome Julian Serna wheel over the Belvedere personal bar and watch as the drinks are made at your table. The bar is dark, underground and totally cool with a team of bar staff who love to make all manner of cocktails but are also ever-so willing to keep the Champagne flowing.
7 Cocktail
Bayswater Brasserie
If you're serious about your cocktails, then it behooves one to visit the establishment recognised as the best. Charlie Ainsbury and his team have an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything boozy and there's not a cocktail on this great planet they can't make. Recently voted in the top ten bars on the planet, it's truly world class.
8 Music
In Situ
All the casual cool of a beach side bar with a world class group of bartenders giving the booze the biz. Just as skilled with a bottle opener as they are with a cocktail shaker, sit back with a cold beer or Cuba Libre and enjoy the regular live music.
9 Karaoke
Karaoke World
The best karaoke bar for shaking a maraca and singing so loudly and closely into the microphone the feedback deafens the room. They are also the people to go to for one of those giant cans of Sapporo we're so fond of - and there's a grouse music selection.
10 Shots
Café Pacifico
Rack 'em up and knock 'em down. With 50 different tequilas to choose from ranging in price from $5 to $50 and veering between a myriad of styles (some are for sipping, others for shooting, others ease suicidal tendencies), you're in good hands.
