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Drinks Directory|Bar|Killer cocktails|Sydney

McRae Bar

Tuesday: 4:00 – 11:00 PM
2/4 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Phone
(02) 9071 5000
Website
capellahotels.com
Instagram
@mcrae.bar

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 02 Oct 2023

By
David Matthews

Drawing inspiration from Australia’s drinking heritage, McRae Bar is the glamorous flagship cocktail lounge at the heart of luxe new hotel Capella Sydney with fine food and drinks to match.

Mesmerising building of McRae Bar
Why you goCapella Sydney might just be the city’s most ambitious hotel development ever. Housed in a historic sandstone building that once served as the Department of Education, the restored hotel has reinvigorated a block in the heart of the city’s commercial district, just steps from the harbour and within striking distance of some of its best bars and eateries. But why step out when there’s so much to see within Capella’s own walls? There’s Aperture in what was the original courtyard, featuring a living green wall, kinetic sculpture and fig trees alongside afternoon tea and a seafood menu. Then there’s Brasserie 1930, a top-tier restaurant from Sydney’s acclaimed Bentley crew serving elevated brasserie classics. And there’s McRae Bar, the hotel’s cocktail lounge and drinking den. McRae Bar isn’t an afterthought designed to service hotel guests who aren’t bothered to leave the property, though. This is a destination in its own right, with the sort of ambition and grandeur on a level with the globe’s celebrated international hotel bars. Expect glamour, elegance and touches that delve into history but feel right at home in Australia in the here and now.
Why you stayEvery touch here is considered and, like Capella itself, comes with a side of opulence. From the leather-backed bar stools and brass-capped bar top to the black and white marble floor tiles and centrepiece hanging light installation, this room is a pleasure to be in. And then, of course, you get to the drinks. Drawing inspiration from Australia’s drinking history but with a contemporary spin, a whole section is dedicated to Cobblers, which rose to popularity in Sydney during the gold rush, with fortified wine typically forming the base, and fruit and crushed ice coming standard. Elsewhere, there are 12 modern spins on classic cocktails, and bar snacks that pull no punches. Planning to start your night with a tipple before moving on elsewhere? You may well find that McRae becomes the destination.
Bar counter at McRae Bar_
Cocktails served at McRae Bar
What drink to orderThere are a few sure moves here. If it’s cold out and you want a warmer, go for The Rocks, a spin on an Old Fashioned made with a house blend of Australian whiskies and given sweetness with plum cordial and edge (and a little smokiness) with peat bitters. Feeling more summery? The Snap That combines Four Pillars yuzu-citrus gin with coconut and egg white in a drink that’s part sour, part Piña Colada, with a garnish of pea crisps adding texture and interest. Don’t sleep on the Cobblers, though. The Bushranger is a fine time, with tequila, red vermouth and Pedro Ximénez sherry getting a kick from orange and chocolate bitters. Then there’s the Golden Era, which shows off Capella’s collaboration with the Barossa’s Seppeltsfield winery to develop a signature Cobbler fortified-wine blend that’s dry with length in the finish. Served with sherry bitters and a fragrant “bush liqueur”, then garnished with berries and mint, it’s a new classic and a throwback all at once.
What to pair it withThis is the fun part, thanks largely to a menu that does away with fillers and instead plays hits, with just enough of a twist to make them shine anew. There’s caviar, served on fried potato and offset with crème fraîche. There’s a dish riffing on prawn toast, swapping the crustacean for scallop and blue-eye cod, and lighting it up with fish-sauce caramel and nori-seaweed mayo. Then there’s duck rillettes, the shredded slow-cooked duck meat encased in a tartlet and given a lift with preserved cherries. It’s deceptively simple but there’s plenty going on under the surface. Be prepared to dip back in for seconds.
Why we love itThe best bars aren't just a place to have a drink – they’re an escape, a fantasy, a break from reality. McRae Bar offers this in the best way, transporting guests to a bygone era and selling the illusion with all the touches that make it feel real, whether it’s the bow ties on the waiters or the logo stamped on the clear-cut blocks of ice that cool the drinks. Roll up and sink in.
Drinks served at McRae Bar
Wide range of drinks at McRae Bar
Don’t leave withoutMake a booking at Brasserie 1930. Capella hits hard on all fronts, but nabbing a table at one of Sydney’s most exciting new openings should be top of your list. Expect pristine oysters, spanner crab tossed through hand-cut pasta, whole glazed duck to share and some of the city’s finest steaks, all in bougie surrounds with waiters who know how to work it. Why not double up and reserve a room for the night while you’re at it?
Who to takeThis hotel is about as swish as they come, so guests flood the bar looking fancy (no harm in checking in yourself and joining them). Short of that, the CBD location means there’s a more corporate crowd, who make their way here after a day at the office, ready to splash out and flash the plastic. As the night rolls on, the mood shifts and soft-lit corners make it a perfect pit stop pre- or post-dinner with a date.
Authour image
David MatthewsDavid Matthews is a bar and restaurant critic who has written for Australia’s leading food publications, including Gourmet Traveller and Good Food.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryWheelchair accessibleKiller cocktailsDate nightBarFancy occasionSydney – CBDSydneyAfter work drinks
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