June 28th, 2012 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | 2 Comments »
Arcadia Liquors in Redfern is a fine hideout on a cold winter night – as Matt and I discovered on Tuesday, eating ourselves into toastie comas. The staff made him a “joke” sambo, so big that it hardly fit into the griller. They warned him it was so large and crammed with ham and cheese […]
September 12th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | 6 Comments »
“It’s like a bar meets a ’50s house party.” That’s Will’s take on Hinky Dinks, which has just opened opposite the fire station in Darlinghurst. The retro-charged design, by Luchetti Krelle, is so convincing that some patrons find themselves mentally propelled back into their grandparents’ home – although, back in the day, it’s highly unlikely […]
July 30th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars, Cafes, Travel | 11 Comments »
As my parents could tell you, getting me interested in maths is a losing battle (for years, my brain and trigonometry enjoyed pretending the other did not exist). Here’s one calculation I enjoy making, though: taking a holiday and dividing it into maximum mealtimes and snack breaks – with no remainders left over. So this […]
July 8th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | 5 Comments »
There’s nothing less fun than playing the “where should we go next?” lottery after dinner on a freezing winter night. So here’s the two-in-one charm of Dry Land Bar, which recently opened near Baffi and Mo in Redfern: you can order food from a small menu, claim a cosy corner and basically not have to […]
May 3rd, 2009 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | 1 Comment »
A few things I like about The Local Taphouse in Darlinghurst … -Until recently, if you had to do a police-style sketch of a beer enthusiast, you might easily draw up someone a little red-faced and aggro: a person whose physical appearance basically blared “avoid for your own safety” and “don’t invite to next party”. […]
February 24th, 2008 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | Leave A Comment »
You know you’re about 1000 years old when it’s only 10.30pm on a Saturday night and you’re already lusting after a good pillow and some shut-eye. And while it’s not even that late, you’ve already seen a guy with a big bird’s head waltz around the place and your first thought is, will he get […]
February 18th, 2008 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | Leave A Comment »
I recently had some birthday drinks and nibbles at the Opera Bar, which was really a shameless excuse to try their Vegetarian Tasting Plate ($42). Verdict? Mostly fab – except for the orange braised fennel (no vegetable quite hits the ‘uh!’ button like fennel) and over-lemony veg tartlets. The fried won-tons were incredible though, and […]
January 29th, 2008 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars | Leave A Comment »
I love the Opera Bar. Like its architectural namesake, it keens with lots of high notes and hums rather nicely all up and down the treble clef. A few of the meals I’ve had there have been as memorable as the plays, concerts and acts I’ve seen at the nearby Sydney Opera House. And even […]