Solotel has revealed more about the F&B propositions on offer at the highly anticipated reopening of Abercrombie Hotel later this month.
Last week, Solotel CEO Elliot Solomon announced that the Sydney CBD pub would reopen on 23 December, creating a new clubbing experience for a generation of young adults who have missed out on the Sydney nightlife experience due firstly to lockout laws, and then to the covid pandemic. The hotel would also have broader appeal to the local neighbourhood as well.
“Our vision for The Abercrombie is a welcoming, day to late-night destination for Sydney that delivers a diverse range of experiences,” stated Solomon.
“We want it to be a place that the local community feel is their own, whether that’s picking up a bottle of wine, enjoying a slice of pizza in the beer garden, or soaking up the sun on the rooftop. The Abercrombie is a place you can come to any day, night, or early morning and have a fun experience.”
As part of the announcement, it was revealed that the Abercrombie Hotel offer would include a rooftop bar called Casa Rosa, and a wine shop and bar called Lil Sis. More details on those offerings have now been revealed.
Casa Rosa
Casa Rosa is situated on level two of the Abercrombie – the first time this level will be opened to the public. The cocktail bar and rooftop terrazza is very much Italian inspired, from the cocktail offering, to DJs playing Italo-disco beats, Mediterranean-style lounge snacks and table service.
Casa Rose is inspired by the iconic Palazzo Chupi ‘pink house’ in New York, with the inside area including Neapolitan colour-washed walls, green leather lounges, yellow and black terrazzo tables with delicate scalloped edges, and pink leather director’s chairs. Outside on the rooftop, built-in booth seating with lobster red cushions surround a central 3.5-metre-long red and green terrazzo communal table, an ideal spot for soaking up the sunset.
The drinks offer includes a ‘Pet-nat Sgroppino’ with rhubarb and blood orange sorbet; ‘Clementine’ made with gin, mandarin, and the floral bitterness of Amaro Montenegro; and a nightcap pick-me-up in ‘Ivy League’ made with Cognac, chinotto nero, coffee and habanero. Bar snacks are served until midnight and include blistered grapes with prosciutto and vincotto; yellowfin tuna tartare; pizza fritto with tomato and Stracciatella; salted cod croquettes; and crispy agnolotti with sausage, mozzarella, and spicy tomato.
Lil Sis
The Abercrombie’s late-night wine bar and shop, Lil Sis, is inspired by the charming ‘cave à vins’ found in Paris neighbourhood – but with a party twist. The space has a mirror ball suspended from the bottle shop ceiling, a DJ spinning French-inspired lounge disco tunes, and it’s open until 3am.
The neighbourhood wine shop can be entered via the terraces on Abercrombie Street for take away sales or tastings at the communal table. Upstairs in the moodily lit wine bar includes leather booths and bar seating.
Zoe Brunton, ex head sommelier at Monopole, is curating the wines on offer at Lil Sis, but keeping the list approachable and fun.
“The idea behind Lil Sis is to showcase and share producers and wine regions we are excited about from all over the world. Some may be familiar, and some we believe you should get to know,” explains Brunton.
“We focus on producers that are organic, biodynamic and focus on sustainability as a whole. Winemakers that are passionate of their terroir and make wine that speak of their place. Most of the wines will be by the glass for those wanting to venture through and explore. We want the list to be fun, approachable, and diverse in its offering.”
The grazing-focused bar menu, also served until midnight, includes a range of local cheeses; Pino’s and LP’s cured meats sliced to order; gildas; and Ortiz anchovies and mussels escabeche. Jaffles are also on the menu, including triple cheese; Heinz spaghetti with cheddar; or pastrami on rye with Swiss cheese, pickles and Russian dressing.
Casa Rosa and Lil Sis join the Abercrombie’s ground floor club space, public bar, and beer garden to create a multi-level, multi-experience late-night party pub within inner Sydney.
