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Burrow Bar

Saturday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Basement, 96 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Phone
0450 466 674
Website
burrowbar.com.au
Instagram
@burrow_bar

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 20 Oct 2022

By
David Matthews

Inside Burrow Bar in the Sydney CBD

A CBD stalwart finds new basement digs, where a sibling’s Vietnamese dishes add flair to the drawcard cocktails.

Image of bottles at Burrow Bar
Why you go

Ever since Burrow Bar opened in a hidden basement in 2016, it set an adventurous tone. Finding the entrance, slipping into the moodily lit space and settling in with a barrel-aged cocktail felt like being in on a secret that few people knew, even though its sandstone foundations might have been packed wall to wall. That dream that started in an alley behind George Street now continues in new digs below Clarence Street, and with a new lease comes a new lease on life. 

Slink down the stairs here and the tone of the original is very much present – it’s in the sandstone, the fireplace, the pendant lights and some of the furniture – but things feel a little more grown-up, too. The setting is a little more polished and comfortable. Owners Chau Tran and Bryce McDonough have made a point of keeping the team together and making the cocktails just as sharp, and with a second venue upstairs – Vietnamese restaurant-bar Cash Only – there’s now a steady supply of bright, fragrant dishes to accompany drinks below the bustle of the city.

Why you stayBurrow Bar is easy to like. The lighting is just right, the music keeps the vibe going but doesn’t drown out conversation, and the team has clearly gone to great lengths to make sure there’s no bad seat in the house. Whether you’re curled up on a Chesterfield, perched at the bar, on a table for two, or slung on the banquettes, trust that your experience will be just as good as the next person’s. Sit and admire the ample backbar strung with lights, order a cocktail – give the Sparkles at Sunset a go for a Margarita-Spritz mash-up infused with honeydew – and see aproned staff stir and shake to perfection. Order a beer and it could be as simple as a Red Bitter or as packed with tropical flavour as a Hop Nation Mango Gose. Then there’s the crisp chicken wings seasoned with tamarind and fish sauce to think about, too.
Sitting area at Burrow Bar
Image of bar tender at Burrow Bar
What drink to orderThere’s a case to be made for the Springtime in Paris. Even if it’s a deliberately naff cocktail, dyed blue and served in a blue teacup (with saucer), the flavours of shaken fruit-driven rum and cream give it a beautiful mouthfeel and great balance. For a more grown-up drink, give the Avec Nous a whirl, which combines sweet, herbal Chartreuse with white rum, Cointreau and lime for a refreshing yet fortifying opener. Classics move past the usual here – instead, the team has chosen the likes of Knickerbockers, made with rum, raspberry and citrus, and Hoop Las, a mix of Cognac, vermouth and Curaçao). Not into mixed drinks? There’s enough wine by the glass to keep things interesting, and the beer and cider selection is broad and impressive. 
What to pair it withCash Only operates upstairs, and plenty of snacks and more substantial plates are available to order from this Burrow Bar sibling. The fried chicken wings are crisp and juicy with a salty-sour kick of fish sauce and tamarind, while the black-pepper beef skewers have real punch and come recommended with a plate of lettuce and Vietnamese herbs to wrap into bite-sized parcels. If you’re just after a snack, try the crackaroni and peas, which sees macaroni and chickpeas turned crisp, then tossed with a spicy seasoning. 
Why we love itBurrow Bar knows its drinks, but the place comes with zero pretension, making it a safe space for newcomers to get to grips with cocktails. Regulars – and there are plenty – will find the bar staff charming and friendly, happy to banter, willing to talk through drinks and offer suggestions. In a strip that has higher-end offerings like Baxter Inn and tiny standing bars such as Cantina OK! nearby, Burrow Bar is the place to go when you don’t want to be packed in like sardines or endure a noise level that makes chatting tricky. Instead, this is a place to share good times with good friends, fuelled by bar staff more interested in you ensuring you have a good time than anything else.
Image of dish at Burrow Bar
A glass of drink at Burrow Bar
Regular’s tipAnywhere at the bar makes a good little spot to settle in, but if you manage to knock off work early and beat the rush, make for the Chesterfield or the banquettes in the back. It’s where you want to be if a drink or two turns into a long night over plates of spring rolls and crisp-skinned chicken. And since these seats are at the far end of the long, narrow room, it’s the place where the bar most lives up to its name. Why not hunker down and hibernate a little?
Who to takeIn a prime spot in the CBD, this is the perfect joint to drop into after work and share a drink or two before dinner. That said, if you’re with friends from out of town, it’s one to add to the list along with the other world-class bars on Clarence Street, with its hidden entrance adding that little bit of mystique that’s sure to impress. Speaking of good impressions, the dark corners, low music and soft lighting make this an excellent spot to bring a date, with the option of staying on for dinner if things are heading in the right direction.
Authour image
David MatthewsDavid Matthews is a bar and restaurant critic who has written for Australia’s leading food publications, including Gourmet Traveller and Good Food.
Tags
Drinks DirectorySydney – CBDKiller cocktailsDate nightAfter work drinksSydneyCasual catch-upBar
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