Bar manager Julian Serna, formerly of Hemmesphere, has helped conjure up this intoxicating underground drinking den. Dim lights cast shadows on plush armchairs, which are ready to catch collapsing city-workers.
The sophisticated lounge-room setup, extensive cocktail list and relaxed snack-style food menu render the Foveaux Bar - found underneath its parent restaurant - a far cry from the rest of the bedraggled Surry Hills area. However - in all its elegance - it's well-grounded, appealing to those wishing to spend a little more on drinks and cuisine without getting pretentious.
The seats are low, the tables are dainty and the cocktail menu is long, making this a perfect place for pre-dinner drinks. There's a bounty of tequila and rum signatures on offer, and the list of mixed drinks is grown-up and dangerously inventive. There are several Australian and international wines too, providing an old-world, new world blend.
If you're not eating upstairs you may like to try some of the bar food, including salt cod and white bean brandade sandwiches with yellow capsicum puree and salad; chorizo spring rolls; and oysters - and you'll spend less than $15 per plate. Prop yourself by the bar, share plates of food and contemplate the next beverage in this candlelit converted warehouse space.
Andrew de Mesquita
