Brooklyn Social Surry Hills

We take a first look at Brooklyn Social in Surry Hills, opened to the public yesterday.

Step into Brooklyn Social through the thick black vinyl sheeting and you enter an Americana time warp back to the 70s.

What was once District Dining then Mexico Food and Liquor has been transformed into a 1970s style New York style dive bar in Sydney’s Surry Hills.

Photography © by Kevin Burke for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.

Neon signage, leather banquettes, stripped-back timber benches, black and white semi-naked photographs lining up the curved wall and the odd vinyl record give the space a vintage look reminiscent of Easy Tiger in Paddington.

The bar impresses with a line up of over 40 gins, Anai Rocha, Bar Supervisor explains. You’ll find a good selection of gin and genever from the popular Hendrick’s Gin to the more unusual such as Saffron Gin as well as a focus on Australian gins and locally crafted spirits.

The cocktail list gives more than a nod to classics with cocktails ($17 each) divided into New York districts such as Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island. The Fifty Cent Cocktail is an Australian twist on the classic 50/50 Martini with West Winds Gin, Regal Rogue Bianco – both are Australian spirits – with a dash of sugar and bitters, stirred and served  straight up. The Hanky Panky, a Savoy Hotel classic is a perfect after dinner cocktail, made with Martin Millers gin with Punt e Mes, Fernet and Orange Bitters served in a Martini style.

Brooklyn Lager is on tap as well as a range of bottle beers and a good selection of wines curated by Master Sommelier Sebastien Crowther of Sixpenny and China Diner.

The food is on trend with a modern take on classic American diner fare with input from Mikey Canavan of London Fields’ Chur Burger. The menu continues the Americana theme with names such as the Meat Packing District burger, beef ribs, mac and cheese balls, a selection of hot dogs.

Brooklyn Social is a late night venue that is open till 2am with a live DJ will be spinning tunes from Wednesdays to Saturdays. The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, with the vintage retro gives a sense of nostalgia with broad appeal. Brooklyn Social has all the elements of a dive bar that will soon pack a regular crowd.

Brooklyn Social opened on Tuesday July 1, 2014.

Brooklyn Social
17 Randle Street, Surry Hills
Phone: 9212 3814
Open 7 days, midday till 2am
facebook.com/BrooklynSocialSydney