By Sacha Delfosse
The Time Out Sydney Bar Awards were held on Monday, October 24, to recognise the talent and hard work of the leading venues and bartenders in the city, as well as officially launch the 2012 Time Out Bar Guide.
Amongst the winners was The Corner House, which received the People’s Choice Award, while Eau-de-Vie was named Best Bar of the Year, and one of the venues bartenders, Phil Gandevia, picked up the Hot Talent award.
"It's been an amazing year for us at Eau-de-Vie, and to be crowned the overall best bar experience in Sydney at the Time Out awards means a lot to all of us. Bottles of champagne were sabered, and shots were knocked back to celebrate,” Eau-de-Vie owner, Sven Almenning, said.
Over 400 people gathered at The Standard, the recently refurbished space above Lo-Fi, to celebrate Sydney’s bar culture and toast the success of the winners with Little Creatures beer, Pipsqueak Cider, XX wines, Buffalo Trace Maple Old Fashioneds, Ultimat vodka Martinis and Green Fairy Punch.
Max Greco, Luke Redington and Phil Gandevia from Eau-de-Vie celebrate their win
“Topping last year's awards at Porteño has been our biggest challenge, but I feel this was our best (and biggest) yet. To see 400 drinks fans and members of the bar industry donning their party pants and embracing the Monday night good times was an absolute joy,” Time Out Sydney Food and Drink Editor, Myffy Rigby, said.
“The Bar Awards and Bar Guide are a celebration of awesomeness. The award winners are the bars that make Sydney a great place to live, visit and drink in.”
This year’s Bar Guide features reviews of more than 220 bars and pubs, with handy maps included in up the back. It also includes the city’s hottest 50 bars up the front of the book, offering readers a snap view of the city’s drinking landscape.
“This year's bar guide is a drinktacular cavalcade of wine bars, small bars, cocktail bars and pubs,” Rigby explained.
“There are maps up the back to create your own drinking safaris and a hot 50 list of Sydney's best bars up the front to tick off as you go. Whatever your drinking needs, we have them covered within the pages of the 2012 Time Out Sydney Bar Guide.”
In addition to the fine range of drinks on offers, guests also indulged in delicious dishes by Lennox Hastie and John Fink, while being entertained by live music, DJs as well as a contortionist, a hula-hooper and much more.
“Sydney's bartenders work incredibly hard to keep us drinking well, and it’s the least we can do to celebrate all that effort with one incredible night of burlesque, bands, and of course Lennox Hastie’s amazing food,” Rigby said.
And with the recent launch of Time Out Melbourne, the bar industry in that city can expect to see the Time Out Melbourne Bar Award being held next year.
The winners of the Time Out Bar Awards 2012:
Best Bartender – The Shady Pines Saloon team
Best Cocktail Bar -Victoria Room
Best Small Bar – Grandma’s
Best Wine Bar – 121 BC
Best Pub – The Old Fitzroy
Best Design – Gardel’s Bar
Hot Talent – Phil Gandevia
Best Entertainment – FBi Social
Best Bar Food – Gardel’s Bar
People’s Choice – The Corner House
Hall of Fame – Longrain
Best New Bar – Love Tilly Devine
Bar of the Year – Eau de Vie