NOW EXPERIENCING:The best specialty bars across the country
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The best specialty bars across the country

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Posted 15 Jun 2022

By
Hilary Simmons

Got a yen for whisky, sake or mezcal? No jacks-of-all-trades here – these bars are masters of one.

Whether your thing is tiki bars with retro charm or tequila dens with taco specials, there’s a niche bar for you. You just need to know where to look. Lucky we’re here to share the location of Australia’s hidden treasures. Forget your pirate accent, all you need to know is what whets your appetite and floats your boat. 

From tequila’s smoky cousin mezcal and hard-to-find sake to vast collections of whisky from around the world, these standout bars are strictly focused on pouring only the finest of their chosen specialty. Don’t feel fancy enough to pay a visit? No stress: everyone is welcome, novices and experts alike.

Some of the best specialty bars across the country
Sydney
Jacoby’s Tiki Bar
Gilligan’s Island meets The Love Boat meets Twin Peaks at this surreal tropical party palace in Sydney’s inner west.
Melbourne
Whisky and Alement
With more than a thousand whiskies on an ever-changing list, and inspired whisky-powered cocktails, this is a fetching bar for the whisky-curious and aficionados alike.
Adelaide
La Buvette
This Parisian-style bar hidden down an Adelaide alleyway is an inviting slice of France that serves adventurous wines and easy-going crowd-pleasers alongside a menu of bistro classics.
Sydney
The Baxter Inn
It might be hard to find, but it’s more than worth the trouble: this is Sydney’s coolest underground whisky den, with a hidden entrance and an epic drinks list to boot.
Sydney | Bar
Tio’s Cerveceria
Sydney’s best Margarita bar, Tio’s Cerveceria feels like a jam-packed cantina in Mexico where the drinks are cold, the music is loud and the good times never stop.
Canberra | Bar
Molly
Hard to find, but very easy to like, Molly is everybody’s favourite party-starter and late-night playground.
Sydney | Bar
Cantina OK!
A self-proclaimed “micro mezcal mecca” hiding in plain sight, smack-bang in the centre of the CBD.
Sydney
Archie Rose Distilling Co.
Archie Rose is one of Australia’s top spirit brands and this is where it showcases its wares. Enjoy a drink in the bar or take a deep-dive into the art of gin and whisky tasting or cocktail making.
Sydney
The Barber Shop
A Sydney landmark for all things gin, The Barber Shop combines grooming for men with juniper-flavoured good times for all, masterminded by the Harbour City’s leading gin guru.
Perth
Astral Weeks
Hidden down a Chinatown alleyway, this hi-fi listening bar thrills with a great cross-section of drinks and one of the city’s finest sound systems, making it a smash hit.
Adelaide
Hains & Co
Drop anchor at this nautical-themed gin and rum bar for expertly made cocktails, signature house-made sausage rolls and the rare opportunity to try high-end whiskies.
Brisbane
Cobbler
As West End stayer Cobbler hits its 10th birthday, this whisky specialist is still shaking some of the best cocktails in town, crafted by one of Brisbane’s friendliest bar teams.
Sydney
Gildas
Head to Spain’s Basque Country via Sydney’s Surry Hills for small plates of bold flavours, a deep-dive into Spanish wines and sherries, and peerless hospitality.
Sydney
Rekodo Restaurant & Vinyl Bar
Sake and serious tunes from a banging vinyl collection meet at Rekodo in harbourside Barangaroo House, backed up by creative cocktails and Japanese-channelling snacks.
Melbourne
Gracie
Tiny Gracie is a calming oasis that’s a joy for exploring sake, Japanese-inspired cocktails and natural-leaning wines.
Authour image
Hilary Simmons Hilary Simmons is a Melbourne-based writer, copywriter and editor whose work has appeared in Time Out, Urban List and Buzzfeed.
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Drinks DirectoryCanberraRoundupBarA+ spirits listSpecialty BarBrisbaneSydneyAdelaideMelbourne
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