Time Out has revealed the finalists for both in Melbourne and Sydney 202 Bar Awards, with the winners to be announced at events in each city in early December.
The awards have eight categories this year including Best New Bar, Best Wine Bar, Best Cocktail Bar and Best Pub. The best drinks makers in each city will vie for the titles of Bartender of the Year and Best Bar Team, and Time Out will predict a future star of the industry with its Rising Talent Award.
Two further category winners, which do not have nominees, will be announced at the awards. They are the overall Bar of the Year winner; and the Legend Award, which acknowledges an individual, team or institution that has made a significant contribution to the industry over a number of years.
“The bar scene in Melbourne is more innovative than ever before, making this city an exciting place to drink in,” said Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Editor, Jess Ho . “Melbourne’s wonderful wine bars are also raising the bar on food and cocktail offerings, creating hybrid venues like we have never had before. Cocktail bars continue to innovate, using techniques once only applied to food, all while creating the low- and no- alcohol beverages that are continuing to be in high demand.”
Time Out Sydney’s Food and Drink Editor, Matthew Hirsch added: “This year’s nominees paint a real picture of just how many dynamite drinking experiences you can have in Sydney.
“Small venues are redefining the ‘neighbourhood bar’. Pubs are pouring natty wines and pressing tortillas for tacos. We have a standing-room only mezcaleria. Despite the restrictions that have hampered our city’s nightlife, the talent pool is stronger than ever and the quality of what’s on offer is at an all-time high.”
The Melbourne winners will be announced at the General Assembly, South Wharf on Monday December 2, while the Sydney winners will be announced at the Powerhouse Museum on Monday December 9.
The Melbourne nominees:
Best New Bar
- Angel Music Bar
- Bar Margaux
- Byrdi
- Old Palm Liquor
- Tetto di Carolina
Best Cocktail Bar
- Above Board
- The Attic in Black Pearl
- Bad Frankie
- Bar Americano
- Beneath Driver Lane
- Byrdi
- Eau De Vie
- The Everleigh
- Romeo Lane
- Union Electric
Best Wine Bar
- Bar Liberty
- City Wine Shop
- Cumulus Up
- Denton Wine Bar
- Gerald’s Bar
- Kirk’s Wine Bar
- The Moon
- O My Bar
- Old Palm Liquor
- Westwood
Best Bar Food
- Arlechin
- Gerald’s Bar
- Old Palm Liquor
- Tetto di Carolina
- Westwood
Best Bar Team
- The Elysian Whisky Bar
- Mr West
- Paradise Alley
- The Shady Lady
- Union Electric
Bartender of the Year
- Shay Chamberlain, Black Pearl
- Darren Leaney, Capitano
- Meg Mullins , the Everleigh
- Nick Tesar, Bar Liberty
- Yao Wong, the Elysian
The Sydney nominees:
Best New Bar
- Bar Clementine
- Cantina OK
- The Cumberland
- Double Deuce Lounge
- Golden Gully
- Isabel
- Little Felix
- Maybe Sammy
- Prince of York
- Scout
Best Cocktail Bar
- The Baxter Inn
- Bulletin Place
- Double Deuce Lounge
- Earl’s Juke Joint
- Jangling Jack’s
- The Lobo Plantation
- Maybe Sammy
- Old Mate’s Place
- Papa Gede’s
- PS40
Best Wine Bar
- Dear Sainte Éloise
- The Dolphin Wine Room
- Monopole
- Where’s Nick
- Wyno x Bodega
Best Pub
- The George
- The Imperial Hotel
- The Lord Dudley
- Public House Petersham
- The Unicorn Hotel
Best Bar Food
- Charlie Parker’s
- The Lansdowne Hotel
- The Old Fitzroy Hotel
- Poly
- Wyno x Bodega
Best Bar Team
- Bulletin Place
- Cantina OK
- Double Deuce Lounge
- Earl’s Juke Joint
- The Lobo Plantation
Rising Talent Award
- Emma Bernardi, Rosenbaum and Fuller
- Molly Gillis, Jangling Jack’s
- Andrew McCorquodale, Old Mate’s Place
- Atlanta Pahulu, Bulletin Place
- Federica Thorn, Continental CBD
Bartender of the Year
- Antonello Arzedi, Scout
- Alex Gilmour, Cantina OK
- Andrea Gualdi, Maybe Sammy
- Wai Christine Lam, Employees Only
- Mary White, The Lobo Plantation