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Melbourne-style bars of Sydney


From laneway darlings and cute hole-in-the-wall drinking dens to eclectic indie hideaways and ad hoc haunts. There's no denying that the bars of Melbourne are among the most unique in the world and, until now, helpless Sydneysiders could only look on with envy. But with a bar renaissance well underway, Melbourne-style saloons are popping up all over the place in our major capital and the yourBars team have compiled our favourites!

1
 
Love, Tilly Devine
Darlinghurst
Concealed in a laneway off another laneway, this boutique Darlo wine bar enjoys the same beguilingly clandestine existence of its cunning underworld namesake. With 260 bottles of wine available, this joint is perfect for an after-work vino.

2
 
Yulli's
Surry Hills
Arancini balls and an Astroturf-covered beer garden rarely go hand-in-hand, but with a top-notch beer menu in trendy Surry Hills, it all comes together in crowd-pleasing style.

3
 
The Green Room Lounge Bar
Enmore
Bringing a '50s vintage vibe to Enmore's main drag, this funky, Melbourne-style bar projects old-school films on the walls and serves up a range of good-value tipple to hip locals. Get in early to nab a lounge.

4
 
Pocket Bar
Darlinghurst
Made especially for the good people of Darlinghurst, this little venue offers a thoughtful array of beer, wine and spirits to those looking to relax after work.

5
 
Lotforty
Darlinghurst
Hidden down a laneway in Darlinghurst's expanding bar mecca, this trendy tapas joint beckons guests with warm lighting, plush cushions, contemporary art and bold tones of rouge and black. The candlelit, paved front courtyard is ideal for sipping cocktails.

6
 
The Red Rattler
Marrickville
The alternative Sydney arts scene is alive and well in this one-of-a-kind venue. Run by unpaid artists and activists, this art and performance space hosts a regular line-up of quirky local acts, from live bands to the more obscure.

7
 
2204
Marrickville
Marrickville, with its diverse melting-pot of characters and trendy youngsters, has been waiting for a place like this. The open-brick walls and vibrant mismatched antique furniture of this cafe-bar provide the perfect backdrop for your morning coffee or lunchtime vino.

8
 
Berta
Sydney
It's got everything a successful Italian cucina and enoteca should have: a snug laneway locale, gorgeous contemporary Italian share plates in not-so-shabby portions and lots of vino (available in 75ml glasses for your tasting pleasure).

9
 
Grasshopper
Sydney
If you can find this place then you deserve a drink - in fact, why not treat yourself to some classic French cooking while you're at it? Downstairs, old vinyls double as coasters and cocktails are served in jam jars.

10
 
Small Bar, Sydney CBD
Sydney
The first "small bar" to open in Sydney, this hole-in-the-wall boozer, with its polished floorboards, cosy seating and homely interior, aims to promote conversation rather than wild entertainment.

11
 
Madame Fling Flong's
Newtown
With a cheeky Parisian feel, a touch of glamour and plenty of old-world charm, this chandelier-clad bar serves sangria and wine to Newtown's bohemian locals. Arthouse films are regularly screened.

12
 
Thru the Grapevine
Bondi Beach
Eastern Suburbs barflies now have another trendy haunt to be seen at. This beachside bar has the makings of a hit, from the charmingly kitsch plastic grapevines adorning the ceiling to the premium wine list.

13
 
Speak Easy Bar
Bondi Beach
See Bondi locals lining up outside this shabby-chic drinking hole, just a skip and a hop from famous Bondi Beach. The cosy venue stocks a diverse bunch of wines and a tasty tapas menu to complement.

14
 
Roy's
Bondi Beach
Set back from the glitzy night-spots on Bondi's beachside strip, this hip establishment is anything but pretentious. An impressive mural covers one wall while a baby beer garden brings up the rear.

15
 
The Rum Diaries
Bondi
Take a leaf out of Hunter S. Thompson's book; indulge in a bit of booze, then choose your own adventure. This place is candlelit and always packed to the gills. Succumb to rum and graze on tapas.

16
 
Tokonoma Shochu Bar & Lounge
Surry Hills
Sitting alongside its Surry Hills parent diner, Toko, this contemporary and cosy cocktail lounge and bar focuses on beverages, including the native Japanese tonic shochu.

17
 
Absinthe Salon
Surry Hills
Perfect for an intimate soiree, this cosy, one-of-a-kind bar serves the finest distilled absinthes available, with each table featuring a specially-designed absinthe fountain. Prices range between $12 and $20 per glass.

18
 
Boteco
Surry Hills
Emulating the popular small bars of Brazil, this cosy hole-in-the-wall saloon injects the flavours of South America into its delectable cocktails, wines and tapas dishes. Be sure to sample a caipirinha - Brazil's national drink.

19
 
505 Club
Surry Hills
This funky, ex-underground music venue has gone pro in their new venue on Cleveland Street, with a steady line-up of live jazz, roots, reggae, funk and gypsy music acts gracing the bill. Bar snacks, with vegetarian options, are available.

20
 
Sticky Bar
Darlinghurst
This hidden treasure is a dark moody cave where you can sink into shabby chic couches. Sip on fancy cocktails made with unusual liqueurs like the sweet, almond-flavoured Amaretto. (When you arrive, call the mobile number to notify the owner of your presence.

21
 
Ching-a-lings
Darlinghurst
It doesn't take much to get the residents of Darlinghurst excited about a different drinking den, but this bar goes above and beyond, with a cool interior, even cooler patrons and cold, cold beer.

22
 
Name This Bar
Darlinghurst
This funky addition to the Oxford Street milieu burst onto the bar scene with their alluringly nonchalant "we don't even have a name" line. You can tell by the graffiti-clad walls, this place is a little bit arty.

23
 
Doctor Pong
Darlinghurst
Cute handwritten coasters, black leather chesterfields, DJ decks and retro ping-pong table centrepiece all work together to ensure that the surprisingly spacious concrete surrounds are still packed with a whole lot of character. And the philosophy at Doctor Pong is beaut: just "beer, beats and ping-pong".

24
 
Shady Pines Saloon
Darlinghurst
The brains behind this underground outfit have skilfully injected the Wild West into a joint still fit for the fashionable inner-city set. Paper napkins make-do for coasters, while an array of quirky antiques adorn the woody dimly-lit premises.