A suave, 1950s-style cocktail bar in the heart of central Sydney that pours cocktails with polish and more than a little Rat Pack-style panache.
The team behind this gleaming retro-style cocktail den had a vision; to give Sydney a place to sip Martinis in the sunset hour in a venue that resembled an old-school, Rat Pack-era hotel lobby bar. They’ve nailed the brief, bringing together cool pastel pink and green décor, bustling jacketed hosts and bar staff, show-you-to-your-table service and classic cocktails with a twist. And the world has taken notice; the small but mighty Maybe Sammy has won almost as many awards as the man who inspired their name – Sammy Davis Jr – including a place in the World’s 50 Best Bar Awards two years running.
Maybe Sammy pioneered the dainty art of the half-serve, mini cocktail. They offer a rotating selection every day that includes classics like Mini Martinis and Mini Negronis, to half-serves of more experimental cocktails named for Rat Pack royalty including the Mini Sammy – a juicy vodka cocktail named for Sammy Davis Jr; the Mini Ava – a sexy blend of Don Julio Blanco tequila, fino sherry, mango and smoked juniper; and the Mini Frank, which brings together Tanqueray gin, vermouth, cacao and a dash of blue curaçao. The main cocktail list is also a treat; divided into unexpected categories including Coffee Cocktails, Vintage and Highballs – in the last section, the Ester Salty Dog made with Olsson’s Red Gum Smoked Salt is properly cool. There’s even a whole cocktail range named after the songs Sammy Davis Jr performed at his Sydney Opera House tour in 1977 (Mr Bojangles, Candy Man and Too Close for Comfort). The real showstopper is their famous ‘Bubble Cocktail’ (if you ask for ‘the one with the bubble’ the guys behind the bar will know exactly what you mean). The ingredients and flavour profile change, but it’s always topped with an airy bubble that releases a scent when popped.
For a bit of classic tableside theatre, you can’t go past getting your Martini expertly mixed in front of you as part of Maybe Sammy’s Martini Trolley experience. A white-jacketed mixologist will bring everything to you on a vintage-style drinks trolley and stir your ’tini exactly how you like it: classic, dirty, Gibson or Australian, the last giving this most elegant of refreshments a local twist with the addition of mango and lemon myrtle.
?$dans-daily-web-image$&wid=800)