Cheeky baby sister to Little Miss Korea, this intimate bar in one of Darwin’s most happening entertainment zones offers a spicy, tropical take on cocktails and bar snacks.
The signature sound here may well be people asking, rhetorically, “Shall we have one more?”
The cocktail list doesn’t even bother with the classics, although of course they’re available. Instead, there’s a swathe of Young’s creations, a decent list of gins, including half a dozen Japanese numbers, beers and ciders with several ales on tap, and a healthy handful of wines.
And the food is just right, from the lotus-root chips to the chicken (KFC, aka Korean fried chicken), standout dumplings and lip-smacking kimchi. The dishes come from the Little Miss Korea kitchen next door, whose full menu is also available at The Loading Bay.
The Manglaksa rewards those brave enough to order it despite the name. It’s The Loading Bay’s winning entry in the 2022 Darwin Mango Cup and celebrates local mangoes and laksa. Don’t worry – it doesn’t taste of curry. Instead, it combines Darwin Gin (distilled upstairs from The Loading Bay at the Darwin Distilling Company), local mangoes and a lime-leaf garnish. It’s the tropics in a glass.
If a laksa-themed cocktail seems too bold a choice, opt instead for the Cherry Blossom, inspired by the sakura blooms of a Japanese spring. Jinzu gin is the base, given fruity sweetness with lychees and strawberries, and a citrus kick with Cointreau and lime juice.
Crunchy, spicy chicken pops pair perfectly with the Manglaksa. The fruity sweetness of the Cherry Blossom, meanwhile, cries out for pork dumplings or the vego version. Vegetarians might also like the tempura eggplant or baked mushrooms.
If your hunger is just too big for bar snacks, ask to see the full Little Miss Korea à la carte menu with mains such as bibimbap, local barramundi and slow-cooked coconut beef cheeks. Little Miss Korea owner and chef Chung Jae Lee is no slouch.
The Loading Bay is a lovely intimate space, but you might also spill out into adjoining Austin Lane. With its street art and graffiti, and a growing number of bars, the laneway is fast becoming Darwin’s most happening entertainment zone.
In and around Austin Lane you’ll find restaurants and bars such as Phat Mango, Charlie’s of Darwin, Darwin Distilling Company, Babylon Bar, Good Thanks, The Stone House and Moorish Café. And on a cloudless Darwin dry-season night, fairy lights twinkle overhead as happy punters stroll from venue to venue. It’s hard to beat.
