This renovated pub possesses a chic, laidback vibe and serves plenty of sangria. Comedy reigns on Monday nights and house DJs take control of the weekends.
Revamped, relaunched and all swanked up, the iconic Fringe Bar is open once again. For a while there, it looked like this veteran Paddo establishment had closed its doors forever and gone to bar heaven. But thankfully, this was just a false alarm. The old Fringe simply got a facelift, took a fresh breath and returned to its charming, boozy self in late 2005. It also became part of Keystone Hospitality (the operational group behind Bungalow 8, theloft and Cargo). Beyond its standard pub exterior, the Fringe is fairly spiffy and bohemian inside. Chandeliers and chaise lounges occupy the same hemisphere as rough, exposed brick walls and a playful chequerboard floor - straight out of the realms of
Alice in Wonderland. Sangria and gourmet pizza sustain the barflies, along with beers such as Beez Neez and Asahi. Monday nights are dedicated to comedy, so heckling drinkers can watch comics raise hysterics - or occasionally crash and burn. These days, The Fringe attracts some serious talent to its mic. Recent visiting comedians include Vince Sorrenti, Clint Paddison and Jackie Loeb. However, skint drinkers should take note: a $10 cover charge applies. On weekends, the Fringe shakes off its pub attitude and morphs into a semi-clubby space. DJs spin house tunes on Fridays and Saturdays.
Andrea Tomaz
