Banchō

Ventured out of the CBD and found this gem of a bar with impeccable service and wait staff. Cute little bar with some classy innovative drinks. Got the Okinawa Vice and was happy with the presentation, recipe and the drink of course. Will come back for more cocktails.

This cocktail bar, tucked away in a quiet laneway, feels like stepping into another world once you’re inside. The decor is stylish, and the ambiance has a great energy, with a solid selection of drinks. However, it can get incredibly loud, which can be a bit overwhelming - though it’s more a result of some of the loud, obnoxious customers they get than anything on the bar’s end. We enjoyed our time here, but unfortunately, we were asked to leave just before 10pm on a Saturday evening due to our table being reserved.

A cute little bar hidden in the back of the building. The drinks were what you'd expect at an Asian fusion bar, but they were quite good. I really liked the Dragon's Tears; it tasted like Apple juice lol. The yuzu-shu was also good, and much sweeter than I thought it would be. I didn't like the Ojisan bc it was too strong and personally not a fan of heavier liquors, but it looked so fun with the little lemon tiara.

◽️ Nishikawa Cooler ◽️ Black Sesame Great atmosphere but the cocktails we ordered didn’t quite leave an impression

A popular and somewhat boujee whiskey bar in Haymarket. It certainly has the decor and appearance of a speakeasy bar, but, it is actually quite loud inside and more reminiscent of a nightclub bar. Staff are all well presented and clearly carefully picked. No significant issues with service but can take a little while since the place gets busy. Can understand that space is a bit of a premium but felt a little cramped. The drinks menu is pretty standard with a wide range of whiskeys to choose from. Cocktails are unique which is a plus but nothing special unfortunately. Bipton Fizz: A, 7/10. $22 for a slightly spicy, citrusy and minty cocktail. Not impressed though it is Sydney CBD so shouldn't expect too much. Okinawa Vice: A, 7/10. Pretty cool drink with sweet tropical flavours. The kaffir lime foam is a nice touch. $24. Popcorn Blazer: B, 6/10. Very strong. The 'FIRE!' is not done at your table, rather at the bar so don't expect any sort of show. Essentially $26 for a serving of whiskey. Calpico Soda Highball: B, 6/10 Quite diluted and watery. Not impressed. $15.

In the heart of this city, this hidden gem promises delicious cocktails and surprisingly tasty bar bites as well. A very chill atmosphere to round up the experience. We had a few cocktails, would recommend their citrus-based ones, very refreshing and well balanced. Sat at the counter, a good spot to see the action.

Nice hidden Japanese theme bar in Chinatown. Great selection of whiskies and creative Japanese theme cocktails. Certainly the Senpai is my favourite and their classic cocktails are very good too.

We ended up here for some leaving drinks, sat at the high table in the middle of the bar. We had some great service, great drinks and fun chatting. The atmosphere was lively with some great cocktails breaking up the chat, check out the popcorn blazer pick of the bunch for me. Would highly recommend. Not cheap but not ridiculously priced.