quirky café, where Sydney’s creative types gather to while the day away. Green Astroturf covers one wall, a pigeon silhouette hacked out of it, and what looks like an abstract sculpture hangs on another—upon closer inspection, it’s just old milk lids nailed to plywood by the resourceful owner. Off-kilter it may be, but this spot whips up killer takeout coffee using a dozen or so varieties from across the globe. Building 2/431 Bourke St., Shop 3; no phone; coffee and pastries for two A$10.
es, reminiscent of digital-era Rothkos. 61 Flinders St.; 61-2/9380-5663; flindersstreetgallery.com. ● FRIENDS OF LEON GALLERY Wunderkind set and costume designer Leon Krasenstein is not yet 30, but has already logged extensive stints with the Australian ballet and opera, and just opened this gallery on a quiet corner. On view: works by emerging Sydney talent that is both affordable and accessible. 82 Marlborough St.; 61-4/0324-8978; friendsofleon.com.
drink
stay
● SHADY PINES SALOON Looking for a honkytonk bar in Sydney? Shady Pines fills the bill. A giant longhorn steer head juts out from the wall and Willie Nelson plays the sound track at the spaghetti-western-style lounge. Saddle up to the counter or slide into a booth and order a boilermaker (a pint of beer and shot of whiskey). 256 Crown St., Shop 4; no phone; drinks for two A$15. ● TABLE FOR 20 & STICKY BAR Don’t forget to bring your mobile phone to this attic bar hidden on a side alley: the only way to get in is by texting the friendly bouncer, who keeps his number taped to the door. Bartender Michael Fantuz pays homage to his Venetian roots with Italian-inspired cocktails such as the Lovegun, a mix of amaretto, Campari and orange juice. 182 Campbell St., second floor; 61-416/096-916; drinks for two A$38.
● ADINA ON CROWN Adina may not look like much from the outside, but its modern apartments are spacious and functional, with kitchens and four-top dining tables. There’s also an outdoor pool and barbecue pit shaded by palm trees. 359 Crown St.; 61-2/8302-1000; adinahotels. com.au; doubles from A$235. ● KIRKETON Retro glamour is the theme at this 40-room hotel just north of Surry Hills. Marble terrazzo floors, leather banquettes and glass walls make up the lobby, while guest rooms are outfitted with mohair throws and low-lit, Art Deco–style lamps. The hotel is a bolt-hole for night owls, who gather at the ground-floor Eau de Vie cocktail lounge. 229 Darlinghurst Rd.; 61-2/ 9332-2011; kirketon.com.au; doubles from A$145. ✚
do
f
o
r
d
sydney
s
t.
Shady Pines Saloon
Spring Court
Café Ish
Table for 20 & Sticky Bar
Via Alley
The Cloakroom Belmore Published Art Park
Collect at Object Gallery
Flinders Street Gallery
op
ax
er
st
.
st
.
Pigeon Coffee
Cotton Duck
Belvoir Street Theatre
Porten ˜o Restaurant & Gardel’s Bar cl
N
ev
el
Duke Bistro
in g s t.
ipp
s t.
s. do wl
co
io n
ke st .
kl
alb
Bills and Adina on Crown
bour
Bodega
n s t.
Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis are all alums of this prestigious 25-year-old theater, outfitted with a 330-seat main stage and an underground 88-seat experimental space. Catch a show here and you’ll likely spot as many boldface names in the audience as onstage. 25 Belvoir St.; 61-2/9699-3444; belvoir.com.au. ● COLLECT AT OBJECT GALLERY An exhibition space dedicated to shows about forwardthinking design make up the top floor of this spacious gallery. Below, there’s a trendy boutique selling homegrown trinkets, from quirky jewelry to mod housewares in china, glass and acrylic. 417 Bourke St.; 61-2/9361-4511; object.com.au. ● FLINDERS STREET GALLERY Set on the eastern fringe of Surry Hills, owner Jason Martin’s whitewashed gallery is filled with pieces by international artists that range from traditional acrylic paintings to cutting-edge sculptures made with horsehair and Laminex. Don’t miss Tom Langlands’s color-block canvas-
austRalia
Kirketon x
c r ow
BELVOIR STREET THEATRE A-list actors
eliza beth st.
●
o
Bourke Street Bakery Moore Park
Friends of Leon Gallery an
d
st
.
0
300 m
travelandleisureasia.com | january 2012 87