Step beyond the brightly painted entrance and into this homely courtyard setting, where urban funksters lounge and laze, with chilled beers at their fingertips.
Reminiscent of a South American hostel, Cafe Lounge's rustic vibe is spiced with a touch of inner-city Sydney class. Bright blue and orange rendered walls leap out at you and the mood is always chilled and easygoing. Old-school upholstery and nick-nacks help this little bar escape the sterile, ultra-mod feel that seems to afflict many others in the area.
Inside, the space oozes a warm jazz-club feel, complemented by a retro organ and DJ decks, a cocktail bar awash with red light and the odd work of art. Greenery and decking give the open courtyard a backyard feel, and the laidback table service is hospitable.
The crowd is trendy but unpretentious; modest and covertly well-to-do. Everyone seems to adopt a slow and easy approach - kicking back, hanging out and soaking up the background beats.
Cafe Lounge offers a range of muddled cocktails. Order up a classic bloody mary or a punchy ginger caipiroska. As far as beers go, this place only serves the bottled variety, which some may find a tad pricier than average, though penny-pinching tipplers will find salvation in the well-priced wines.
The menu features salads, focaccias, burgers and thin-crust pizzas, as well as weekend brekkie options.
Darren Mara
