Here’s a collaboration we didn’t know we needed, but thank god it’s here: The Maybe Sammy crew – the masterminds behind Sydney’s award-winning glamorous cocktail bar, Maybe Sammy, and sky-high Dean & Nancy on 22 – has teamed up with one of Sydney’s best cocktail makers, Matt Whiley from the now-closed Re, to open Little Cooler, an American-inspired rock 'n’ roll dive bar in the CBD that’s open until 2am. Come to the 60-seat neon-red pocket rocket for a nostalgic, grungy vibe, a banging soundtrack, and, of course, seriously good cocktails. Yeehaw.
Found in a basement on Clarence Street in the former home of Grandma's Bar, Little Cooler channels the ’80s and ’90s with its drinks, music and interior design by Steel & Stitch, featuring retro and repurposed materials and furniture.
Back to the booze. Whiley said: “We wanted to take classic cocktails and reimagine them through a lens of humor and fun, as though we were making them for the first time.”
That looks like a line-up of drinks that reads like an M15+ fever dream, with signature cocktails including Naked & Almost Famous (fermented rhubarb wine, lime and mezcal); Screaming Orgasm (milk punch with coffee, vanilla, whisky and almonds); Sex On The Beach (house-salted peach liqueur, orange wine, tepache, vodka and dark berry liqueur); and Breakfast Martini (gin, orange wine triple sec, whipped avocado oil and lemon).
Maybe Sammy co-founder Stefano Catino said: “We’re capturing that raw, rebellious spirit you’d find in legendary venues like CBGB, where the post-punk movement started, and where Madonna performed in her early days. It’s not just the music; it’s the energy and the vibe."
“We’re mixing rock and old-school hip-hop, creating a space where it feels like you can leave everything at the door, enjoy great tunes, and let loose with some incredible drinks,” he added.
Want a laugh? Check out Little Cooler’s Insta here, which features a collection of random memes. As the team says: “If you wanna see a cocktail, come visit. Nothing to see here.” Seems like there’s only one thing to do.
Here for a good time, not a long time, Little Cooler is a two-year pop-up, as the building is set to be demolished. Don’t wait to check it out.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.