assembly bar

Sydney has been keeping a secret from you for the past three or so months...it's tucked away opposite Tetsuyas down a little internal laneway with a marker over the doorway, the secret is Assembly Bar. 

It's quite a good looking bar with a general industrial feel to the interior. Some random features include the storefront dummies which creepily hover over your head on the second floor and the kitsch indoors/outdoors picnic-y courtyard area. 

Does this place have what it takes to become a sydney bar institution? While it strives to be 'quirky refined', it disappointingly feels quite disjointed and (in my humble opinion) needs to simplify a few aspects of the decor and concept. I'm not sure they have the precise formula down pat just yet.

Now on to the important issues, the pages and pages of cocktails! They are each illustrated in quite a unique formulaic way setting out the proportions of each of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic components, and while it takes some of the romance out of the description it lets you know exactly what you're up for, which I love.

At the end of a long day (at this point in time, even a short day) at work and I'm looking for something short and punchy so I order the Brooklyn which is described as 


4 parts Rye Whisky + 2 parts Sweet Vermouth + dash of amer picon
+ dash of marashino liquer + stirred & strained + martini glass + marashino cherry = Brooklyn $18 = heck yes

As anticipated, it is a beautifully short, smooth and rich cocktail served in a martini glass with a twist of orange and a maraschino cherry that bursts in my mouth with an explosion of whisky and cinnamon. Heavenly!

My companion orders the New Orleans Buck, described as:

5 parts Agricole rum + 6 parts orange juice + 3 parts lime juice + dash of Peychaud
+ ginger ale top up + shaken & strained into hi-ball + lime & orange garnish = New Orleans Buck $18

While it sounds like the 'softer' option of the two, it certainly had a good kick to it as well... so giddyup!

Shortly after our cocktails arrive, the barman serves us some complementary olives which are lovely and full of flavour. We thoroughly enjoyed our little pre-dinner drinks and once I convince the peeps to trek to that end of town on a Friday arvo, I cant wait to return!

highlights

cocktails - you definitely feel like you are getting some great craftsmanship in your cocktail, and for me that's half the battle.

bar  - love the recycled crates stacked up high, lit from behind and contrasted with the shiny glint of the bottles 

lowlights

location - bit of a random spot there next to a hotel, kinda hard to explain, and while I love the indoors/outdoors feel i'm not sure it suits the vibe of the place...and apparently they share the westfield bathroom upstairs (hm, weird).

I will definitely be checking this little baby out again, hopefully sometime soon. Have you discovered the secret yet? did you try the food?

Assembly Bar
488 Kent Street, Sydney
assemblybar.com.au