Friday Five: Eating and Drinking in Sydney

It was a few weeks ago, but it was memorable, so here are some more highlights of our weekend trip to Sydney, this time of the eating and drinking variety.

1. Arturo's Rooftop/ Woolly Bay Hotel

I love a rooftop bar, and since Cousin Rachael introduced us to Aperol Spritz in Ibizia, we now believe that it's not a holiday until you've had an Aperol Spritz. Arturo's is above the Woolly Bay Hotel and a fine place to sit with an antipasto platter and soak up the atmosphere of Woolloomooloo Bay. Later, we finished another day with a beer in the bar below which was buzzing and had large screens and comfy sofas. We also enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine with duck-fat hand-cut chips around the corner at The Tilbury Hotel, but I didn't take photos. 

2. Encasa
This is a handy stop just round the corner from the Capitol Theatre, where we were going to see a matinee - so we took in lunch and a show. It's a cheerful Spanish taverna which offers tapas, charcuterie and paella. Starting with cocktails while we chose our food, we enjoyed an Agua de Valencia and a Pisco Sour. We felt it was too warm for the rice dish and were concerned that we might nod off after consuming one, although they looked delicious and I'm tempted to return. We shared plates of chorizo a la plancha (grilled spanish sausage), patatas bravas (fired potatoes with spicy tomato and alioli) and croquetas de jamon Iberico (Iberian ham croquettes). The chorizo was a little greasy, the patatas a touch dry and overcooked, but the croquetas were deliciosas; crispy on the outside and gooey creamy goodness on the inside.

3. Burdekin Rooftop

A well-known hang-out on the Sydney Pride route, we stopped here for a refreshment on our way back from the theatre before going out for the evening. It was fairly empty when we visited for our Aperol Spritzes in the Aperitivo Hour, but all the tables were booked for groups later on. The food looks great for sharing, the venue is ideal for feeling part of the party, and the vibe is full-on fun. For example, the Saturday Brunch (1-3pm) offers 'bottomless drinks and delicious food'. What's it called? Spritz or Swallow.

4. Otto Ristorante

At the other end of the spectrum, we treated ourselves to some very fine dining by the water at Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo Bay. OTTO received One Hat in the 2026 Good Food Guide and is, apparently, one of Sydney's most respected dining institutions. From the website, "The food at OTTO is delicious and unashamedly simple - modern Italian with roots firmly placed in the classics. Head Chef Richard Ptacnik's menu is fresh, seasonal and produce-driven; sourcing the finest ingredients and letting them speak for themselves." 

Naturally, we began with cocktails - Jasmine for me (Campari, Tanqueray gin, Cointreau, lemon, house syrup) - and then chose a bottle of wine to accompany our set menu, Mangia! The cocktails were perfectly dainty but I feel the wine list is a touch on the pretentious and exclusive side, listing all the sommeliers by name, although the Group Sommelier, Amanda Yallop was awarded Sommelier of the Year, so that might just be me. 

The food and the service are exceptional. We chose the three-course sharing menu and were not disappointed - pictures below. It is set in such a perfect location, and I would highly recommend, although maybe save the drinks until afterwards if you don't want to just simply empty your wallet into the bay.

Mortadella, salami, olives, house made grissini

Cannoli, prawn cocktail

Burrata, cherries, pistachio, balsamic, basil

Ricotta gnudi, burnt sage butter, pine nuts, raisins

Conchiglie, smoked Wagyu beef ragù, Parmigiano-Reggiano

Tiramisù

5. Stanley Green, Darlinghurst

Having completed our morning's activity and with an hour or so before our bus returned to Canberra, we stumbled across this place for a glass of wine and a chicken wrap. It presents as a coffee shop by day and moonlights as a wine bar in the evening. With cute little tables outside surrounded by greenery and fairy lights, it is an absolute side-street oasis. The shop is home to an array of indoor plants and all their accessories (such as pots), which can be admired with a cocktail in hand and I'm sure this is a charming place for an after-work tipple in the neighbourhood.

Friday Five: Vermouth

 

Before we went to Barcelona, we read our Lonely Planet guide thoroughly, and were particularly taken with this nugget;

"Having become a favourite of Barcelona's working class in the run-up to the civil war, vermouth then fell out of favour (though certainly didn't disappear), but has experienced a dazzling revival over the last decade. New vermouth bars are opening all over town; historical vermouth joints are more popular than ever; and creative artisan varieties are on the up. Join the barcelonins for la hora del vermut (the hour of vermouth), typically around noon."

So it seemed appropriate to have our very first vermouth in Barcelona at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, after having seen a spectacular amount of local art. Based on red or white wine, vermouth is infused with botanicals and fortified with brandy. It is thought to have arrived in Catalonia in the mid-19th century.

Bar Calders is described as "unbeatable as an all-day cafe, tapas, wine and vermouth bar; the outdoor tables are the go-to meeting point for Saint Antoni's boho set." We are also reliably informed that "vermouth is always accompanied by snacks such as tapas of croquettes, anchovies, patates braves or even crisps". Or, as it happens, this cheesy number. 

At Port Vell we sat on the verandah at Sagardi on Pier 1, watching the super yachts and for a few seconds seating in prime real estate imagining we could hitch a ride on one of them. This was a very swanky restaurant and I don't think we were welcome to sit inside as we were wearing shorts and t-shirts but I reckon Him Outdoors looked the part in his holiday hat. The guide book informs us that "perfect vermouth is usually served over ice and with an olive or two, and sometimes, a slice of orange". (Or, in this case, lemon.)

My favourite piece of vermouth lore is that "the hour of vermouth is as much about the intimate social scene as the drink itself". Nowhere was more intimate than this gorgeous wee bar, La Vermuteria del Tano, where the barkeep chatted to her friend, who translated for us, there were trays of olives and the vermouth was kept in a safe.