The only sign that you have found Pocket Bar at the Burton Street address on a dark, wet and cold night is a small sign telling you to enter through the Crown Street entrance. Once inside the small, edgy bar, you can’t hide the elephants in the room.
Pop art on the wall, with naked girls, cartoon characters and the odd memorabilia bathed in dim lighting add an underground and grunge element to the space. Funky tunes are drowned by the hubbub of the crowd on Saturday night. The vibe is buzzy yet laid back with people looking relaxed at the long tables near the entrance or lounging more comfortably at the back.
We manage to score seats at the bar, my favourite place to watch the action as bartenders are busy shaking, stirring, pouring and attending to the line of patrons. The bar stools are surprisingly comfortable and easy to climb on for the vertically challenged like me. The bar counter with a glass top doubles as a book shelf, and is a convenient place to rest a handbag or a manbag.
Raspberry Mojito (L) and Wake up Call (R) with Ben behind the bar
The cocktail list is divided into those to be shared, signature cocktails, house cocktails and ‘better with age’, the latter promising a more serious mix.
Our friends from out of town are first to place their order. The Raspberry Mojito ($17.5) is made from a lend of with Bacardi Oro rum with mint leaves, fresh lime, raspberry purée, brown sugar and sparkling water – a light and fruity cocktail, easy to drink on a hot summer afternoon. The Wake Up Call ($18) packs a good espresso shot with Bacardi Oro Rum, coffee liqueur and vanilla. Although I did not taste it, I was assured it has a good balance of coffee and alcohol.
The Millionaire #4 (1937) and The Corpse Reviver # 2 (1895)
I order the Corpse Reviver # 2 (1895) ($18) made with a blend of Bombay gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, fresh lemon juice and a dash of Absinthe which comes served in a chilled silver coupe glass. Although pleasant to drink with an end note of absinthe, I expected it to deliver more of a kick.
Mr G’s Millionaire #4 (1937) ($19), also served in a chilled silver coupe glass has Appleton Estate rum, Sloe Gin, Apricot Brandy, lime juice and hits the right notes.
The Avenue
More Raspberry Mojitos are enjoyed by our friends while Mr G orders for the Avenue (1937) ($19), made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Calvados, passion fruit and orange bitters served with citrus peel. One sip of his cocktail and I immediately order the same. When it arrives, I note that both drinks which were made by different bartenders tasted rather different. I manage to score the better-balanced version which was mixed by Ben.
The bar serves food designed to be shared such as French fries, boquerones, chicken and beef skewers, paté and charcuterie platters and a good range of savoury and sweet crêpes. The crêpes add a French flavour and are a welcome change from pizza which you find on many bar menus.
At Pocket Bar, it’s easy to unwind and work your way through the cocktail list and kick back with friends amidst graffiti murals and comfortable lounges. Bar service is swift and friendly at the same time, even on a busy Saturday night which makes it a good spot to drop in for pre-dinner drinks or later in the evening for a cocktail matched with sweet crêpes.
Pocket Bar
13 Burton Street
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
www.pocketsydney.com.au
@Gourmantic I LOVE the crepes at pocket bar!
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
Oh, in love with the silver coupe glasses! Sounds like you had a good session here 😉 I’m going for the crepes next time!
We didn’t want to leave but we had a dinner reservation! Next time for crepes and cocktails 🙂
Cocktail names that show the year, nice touch.
Love the underground/grunge look of the place – well done on the photos.
Yes! It makes you feel you’re drinking a piece of history.
Thanks. I started to edit them but in the end I liked the effect – matches the feel of the place.
I usually like a corpse reviver 2. Did it not feel like it had enough alcohol kick or just not enough kick in general for a drink with that name?
I also like the idea of a section of cocktails to be share.
The alcohol was ok but not to revive this corpse! I expected something a lot stronger… as you know I’m not into girlie/sweet cocktails 🙂 I like to feel a good alcohol kick. My friend thought it was too strong for her so it is down to personal preference.
Love it RT @Gourmantic Pocket Bar Darlinghurst – Sydney Small Bars [new on G] http://bit.ly/m7Ez6x
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
SYDNEY: Review of Pocket bar in Darlinghurt (doesn’t that sound precious!?) by @Gourmantic http://ow.ly/5w3ow
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
Love the sounds of the Avenue cocktail with Bourbon and Calvados!
I’m not usually a fan of Bourbon but this cocktail was amazing!
The Avenue sounds yummy. Looks like a fun place to hang out!
It would be good to check it out on weeknights but I have a feeling it would be busy most of the time!
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