Villa

The Verdict

Lane Cove’s Longueville Hotel is by no means a new kid on the block. However, this mega pub has just undergone a facelift of Californication proportions, if you will, and its refreshed rooftop is the only place you need to be when the sun is out and the temperature soars.

Called Villa, the Longeuville’s new al fresco rooftop now sports a whole lot of Palm Springs-inspired pink, mint green, timber, and brass trimmings and in true Coachella form—neon signage. You’ll also find rows of cactuses and succulents to truly round out the desert vibes here.

At Villa, the food has also taken a bit of a revamp, with a menu concentrated on seafood staples like Ortiz sardines, salt and pepper calamari, and garlic prawns. You can also step things up notch with the ox cheek pot pie, or work your way through the dedicated schnitzel menu, which includes the likes of katsu fish, crumbed cauliflower, and classic schnitzel.

Crafties will also be right at home here as Villa keeps an actual craft beer wall loaded with 12 different beers on tap (these are locked to change up monthly). If cocktails are more your thing, you can lust over seasonal bottled cocktails that have been created by the legendary Mikee Collins. The idea is that you’ll be downing Bloody Maria’s and frosé slushies in the summer, and darker concoctions like rye Manhattans and soul-warming Old Fashioneds in the winter.

Image credit: The Longueville Hotel