    | WATERSHED HOTEL THE CITY WEEKLY, May 14-20, 2002. "BEST BAR NONE" The stunning view of the city that drinkers get from this spunky new bar is usually reserved for tourists; very few city workers walk around to this side of Darling Harbour. Their loss, I say - as do all the other smug 20- and 30- somethings who've discovered this fresh watering hole. Even on a glum rainy night like last Friday there were enough groovy young things to give the place a bit of vibe, augmented by smooth musical sounds and a décor of slate-tiled floors and modular teak furniture. Most of the punters looked like denizens of Pyrmont's advertising and design world who were there for a cool drink after a long week and maybe a game of pool. No doubt we were all enjoying the fact that the place was new enough at that stage for us not to have to queue six-deep at the bar as we'd have had to at certain other Darling Harbour drinking establishments. Scattered through the crowd were a handful of tourists, happy to have found an oasis of groove in a part of the harbour that can be a bit anonymous, for all its spectacular views. They were sipping Heineken and snacking on a bowl of chat wedges with sweet chilli and sour cream or maybe sharing a mixed plate of antipasto and dips. (Most bar food is priced at around $7 to $14 and is enough to feed two or three). Upstairs, the cocktail bar is a different world, complete with elegant resin light-box cocktail tables, a flair bartender throwing bottles around and stunning views of the skyline at dusk. The bistro menu includes lunch and dinner (offering everything from a bowl of risotto to roast Atlantic salmon with salsa verde and a crème brulee). Nothing on the menu's over $21 - and most dishes are around the $17 mark. Drinks are fairly standard prices: local tap beer is $4 a schooner and wine's between $5 and $7.50 a glass. Its open from 11am to 1am Monday to Thursday and to 3am Fridays, and on weekends from 9am (for breakfast) to 3am. Details phone 9282 9444. - Anna Cronin. |
|
|
  |
