Velluto

Bars trying making a bold statement in slick Sydney come in many guises. Some go for designer interiors sleek enough to give you a paper cut; others for drowning opulence that scares your average drinker; and some attempt to dumb things down with hipster grunge. Still, many manage to capture their own identity, pushing an original line and, fingers crossed, the word spreads and people come. Velluto is empty on the two weekend occasions when Time Out stops by. Sure, it may be a little early for the glitterati of Kings Cross - sorry, Potts Point - but, with time, the space fills with a distinguished older crowd obviously lured by the bordello-like opulence of the interiors and the promise of sophisticated drinking. Velluto frames itself as a Champagne bar, and the list is undoubtedly extensive enough to warrant this claim. Commercial Champagne brands meet interesting, smaller producers and many are available by the glass, including Krug as a special treat. Pushing past the thick velvet curtain that guards Velluto from the dappled view of El-Alamein fountain and Kings Cross Police Station, you'll encounter a plush, sexily lit venue of great intimacy. Friendly bar staff bring complimentary nuts and convivial small talk, a welcome advance in such a lush space. A dry Martini sadly falls short of dry, but healthy pours of Champagne more than make up. A short, sharp, Aussie-centric wine list is available, but the star is French fizz. Due to the prices, few will make this their regular, but returning clientele will enjoy the mood of clandestine decadence that resonates at Velluto.