When seeking a bar destination in Sydney, it’s not often that you have to go off the beaten track – for there are a myriad of bars on the city streets that you can traipse into with your Manolo Blahniks and order a gin and tonic. But, if you’re searching for something different, something that beckons you away from the bright city lights with its style, sophistication and substance, then I suggest you seek out the award winning Eau De Vie, hidden at the back of the Kirketon Hotel in Darlinghurst.
Not only is Eau de Vie’s ambience different from most Sydney bars, so is its drinks list. It’s no wonder they’ve been crowned Australia’s Bar of the Year 2011 at the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, New Bar of the Year 2010 at the Australian Bar Awards, Cocktail Bar of the Year and New Bar of the Year 2011at Time Out Sydney Bar Awards. Accolades they seemed to have collected without even trying.
The owners describe Eau-de-Vie as an intimate, dimly lit, jazz infused speakeasy created for the discerning bon vivant, that transports it guests back to a forgotten era where great service, cocktails, tommy guns and good times were king. Our Hendricks Tea Party was no exception. Served in high tea style in a Victorian tea pot, myself and my guests were treated to a gin cocktail inspired by the owner’s time from their summer in London. Not only were our drinks expertly mixed by Barry our bartender, we were also impressed with the smooth and seamless service, sumptuous lounges and paramount dedication to quality. Nothing was too much trouble.
Mixed with Hendricks Gin containing a rose petal and cucumber undertone, combined with fresh orange juice, syrup and blueberry tea for its aromatic properties, even the non gin lovers amongst us were taken with the resultant cocktail and the Alice in Wonderland style presentation. Because, yes, finding Eau De Vie is liking having to push through a doorway in a wardrobe, but like its Melbourne counterparts the adventure of discovering it is as much of part of the experience as enjoying the venue itself – and enjoy it you will.
Eau De Vie, 229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst, Sydney.
