By Rebecca Harris
A speakeasy-style bar – Eau de Vie – will officially open its doors in Sydney’s inner east on Wednesday (Jan 27).
The brainchild of industry stalwart and Behind Bars’ founder and managing director, Sven Almenning, the bar opened for a special one-night industry ‘preview’ earlier this week.
“We didn’t want open up just yet, but there were so many of our friends in the industry who wanted to check it out we decided to have a small preview for them,” said Almenning told TheShout. “It also gave us a chance to see what it looked like full of people. We are really happy with how it all went.”
Located at the rear of the Kirketon Hotel on Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, the bar has no signage and will rely more on word-of-mouth and local trade to build up its customer base.
“We don’t want to be the new bar that’s just opened,” said Almenning. “We want to be the bar that people feel they’ve just discovered.”
The bar has drawn together an all-star team, including 2003 UK Bartender of The Year Callum Lawrie, ‘Dr’ Phil Gandevia (formerly of Rambutan and The Victoria Room), Elle Wormald (ex-ivy and Tokonoma) and ex-Bayswater Brasserie bartender Max Greco.
The team will be fronted by 2005 UK Bartender of The Year Barry Chalmers.
“We are hoping it will be a great bar for both consumers and the trade to enjoy,” said Almenning. “Our cocktail list is going to be very different from other bars, where we want to focus on the theatre of the cocktails and the service. We want to be able to combine the bar geek in us with the chance of a good night out.”
The bar will initially open for seven days a week from 6pm – 1am.