The newcomer to this historic block of old Sydney terraces is the Captain’s Balcony. The nautical vibes are care of the navy and white striped cushions, copper cocktail implements, barrels on the bar and a very healthy whisky selection on the towering dark timber shelves behind the bar. It’s a very narrow space so the best seats are the ones in the window where you have more room to stretch out without hitting people queuing for drinks. Depending on the night you might be able to snag a spot upstairs, but they also hire out the upper floor for private events – great if yours is an office that’s fond of organised fun. If you’re really not a fan of sweet cocktails you should order up the Thai Towns that mixes ginger, coriander, chilli and ginger with gin. They serve it tall over ice and although it could use a spot of lemon juice and simple syrup to bring all those sharp herbs and spices into balance, we like what they’re trying to do with it. For something a little more tempered a glass of the Domaine Naturaliste syrah is a gently spiced red with a tight dry finish that puts a welcome full stop on the working day. Beers hover around the ten-dollar mark and cover the middle ranges of the Australian craft market, and you’ll pay a few dollars more for the wines by the glass. It might not be a destination bar, but another little drinking den on this strip of the city means that there’s more options for people who don’t feel like getting rowdy at the pub, but also don’t want to go out in full force to a high end cocktail bar.
