Pocket Bar

The verdict

One of Sydney’s OG small bars, Pocket Bar is still going strong nearly a decade later. With creative cocktails on the menu plus a whole host of local and international wine, if you’re looking for a cheeky evening drink in Darlinghurst, this should be in your radar.

Not to be overshadowed by the drinks, the food menu brings bar snacks to a whole new level. Devised by Lex Hauser (who’s cooked for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the royal family), the food here is creative and exciting with a bit of a Mediterranean twist. Think moreish fried fish bubbles with dashi mayo (you’ll want to slather everything in the stuff after you taste it), delicate but flavourful Parmigiano-Reggiano wafers and pickled anchovies on toast.

A real show-stopper is the Sturgeon caviar served Chang-style (a la Momofuku) this decadently features a small tin of caviar in which you dip fried chicken skins into. It’s so street-luxe you may cry real tears of joy. If you thought kangaroo was a tough meat, the kangaroo tataki will throw that conception out of the window. Wonderfully tender, the red meat pairs beautifully with the native greens on the plate. 

Pocket Bar is a main-stayer in the Sydney bar scene and by consistently (and deliciously) updating their menus, they’ve managed to stay relevant. We love them, and we think you will too.

Image credit: Pocket Bar