Saga Bar, Sydney’s newest hidden bar brings an experience that Sydney has not seen before. To find it, take a leap of faith and walk down a dodgy alleyway in Chippendale to reap your reward.
Saga Bar – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Saga Bar is not just your average hidden bar. Step through the imposing doors and you’ll find yourself on an island oasis, transported to a lush paradise hidden away from the concrete and metal jungle of the urban Sydney landscape. Inside the striking underground space, you’ll be met with a hybrid of various influences from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Australia all coming together in harmony.
Saga Bar is located along Goold Street in Sydney’s Chippendale, a few steps away from the bustle of Kensington Street and Spice Alley. The immersive and luxurious surrounds immediately transport you elsewhere, be it a memory of a distant holiday or a tropical island in the sun.
From the hand metal clip that adorns the drinks menu to the mosaic in the bathroom, there’s much to discover and admire. No detail has been spared with the fitout and if we’re not revealing much here, it is because engaging all senses is part of the overall experience.
Behind the bar, you’ll find Quinton Seeto (ex The Barber Shop, Café Sydney). The cocktails take inspiration from the cultures of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Australia, combining organic herbs with spices, fruits and top shelf spirits. Fruit is fresh-pressed daily, syrups are made in-house while citrus peels and other trimmings are turned into garnishes. Vegan-friendly aquafaba is used in lieu of egg whites and drinks marked with a star symbol are available as non-alcoholic cocktails.
From the ‘Signature Cocktails’, Peace Train combines 5 yo Cognac with Oscar 697 Bianco vermouth, rose syrup, watermelon juice, aquafaba, dill and lime juice into a floral and elegant sipper, served up. Saga Fashioned from the ‘Twisted Classics’ brings together banana-infused Jack Daniel’s Honey with salted caramel and a duo of bitters.
Barrel-aged Cocktails include the Boulevardier and Vesper while Low ABV and Non-Alcoholic Cocktails offer an extensive choice that include the Detroit Club, with Seedlip Grove, sugar, lime and garden fresh mint.
Prepare to be amazed. Saga is slated to open 1 November 2019.
UPDATED 9/12/2019: Click through the following pages to view a selection of the cocktails at Saga Bar and the interior of the venue.
