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The Waratah is a modern take on the neighbourhood bar in Darlinghurst, led by an all-star lineup of hospitality talent including co-owner Evan Stroeve (Australian Bartender of the Year 2021, ex-Baxters Inn, RE, Bulletin Place, Shady Pines).

Presenting a farm-to-glass model that focuses on seasonality, Aussie produce and a connection with growers, The Waratah’s distinct spaces include a walk-in-only ground floor public bar with rejigged pub fare and bar snacks, an upstairs dining room, and a terrace cocktail bar with wrap-around veranda.

Head chef Lewin White (Icebergs, Bistro Moncur, RE) and Icebergs’ executive chef Alex Prichard have created a menu of “nostalgic Australiana”, with a bay lobster roll with Ziggy’s hot sauce and potato scallops topped with raw scallops and tartare sauce to nibble on downstairs, while grilled king prawns with lemon myrtle butter and a Westholme Wagyu rump cap with Diane sauce form part of the upstairs dining room’s more structured dining offering.

Nostalgic desserts like a fairy bread ice-cream sandwich and a Weis bar-inspired mango and amazake sorbet combo drizzled with mezcal syrup embody the fun and innovation of the entire offering.

Upstairs, Stroeve and creative lead Andie Bulley’s cocktail menu shifts with the seasons, presenting eight cocktails that hero individual producers and technical executions to highlight the quality of ingredients.

In the public bar, twists on classic cocktails are updated weekly depending on produce, while a signature Waratah Spritz—Archie Rose vodka, Stroeve’s own Aussie aperitif Rhubi Mistelle, watermelon wine and vanilla—remains on tap year round.

"Our mission is simple: to create a space that resonates with the lively pulse of the Australian heart, where the spirits are high, the ambience is laid-back and the experience promises to be nothing short of a very, very good time,” says co-owner Cynthia Litster.

The Farago Han Studios-designed venue draws inspiration from nostalgia for the Australian landscape and the form of the waratah, with a hand-painted mural by Sarah McCloskey inspired by Stroeve’s mother’s botanical sketches, custom light fixtures by Volker Haug, and shapes evoking pods and leaves affirming The Waratah as a welcoming and versatile third place for Darlinghurst locals and inner-city visitors alike.

Now check out more of Sydney's best bars.

Image credit: The Waratah | Supplied

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