Australian Bartender magazine

18/02/2025

Miji Bar & Grill is the latest establishment to arrive in the growing dining and drinking hub that is North Sydney. The Japanese izakaya is also Sydney’s first self-serve drinks concept, and features neon-soaked lighting, a replica of Shinjuku’s famous arch, and genuine Japanese signage.

Read the full story on: australianbartender.com.au
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18/02/2025

Join Angostura to celebrate its 200th anniversary year and the Oceania leg of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge (AGCC) in Sydney on 23 February at Tucano’s in Surry Hills.

To find out more and to register head to: Event Brite or follow to prompts on: australianbartender.com.au

17/02/2025

Jura Whisky’s stint at the Four Pillars Gin Laboratory in Surry Hills closes this Wednesday. The exclusive pop-up at Eileen’s Bar is showcasing Jura’s signature single malt with a curated cocktail menu designed for whisky enthusiasts.

Read the full story at australianbartender.com.au

(Image: Jura Whiskey)

16/02/2025

Delightful soirée at for the Yaffa Media team to meet some of industry and start putting faces to names! Huge thanks to , and for providing the drinks - much appreciated. And a shoutout to the team at Vermuteria, after a blackout required a hasty venue change from . Handled with grace and good humour!

14/02/2025

Sydney’s Maybe Cocktail Festival is back for its third year, running from 7–13 April 2025. The festival will bring some of the world’s most celebrated bars and bartenders to the city’s top venues for a week of expertly crafted cocktails, international talent, and world-class hospitality.

(Image: The Maybe Group)

Read the full story on: australianbartender.com.au

13/02/2025

Baptist Street Rec. Club is making its arrival known, located above Island Radio in Wunderlich Lane, Redfern, with its classic meets modern vibe. The Rec Club is a tribute to 80s and 90s Australian culture, blending local pub warmth with late-night energy.

Read the full story on: australianbartender.com.au
(Image: Baptist Street Rec. Club)

12/02/2025

Sydney’s historic Rocks precinct is about to welcome a vibrant new dining and drinking destination, The Collective. Set to open in April, the establishment has been developed by Hunter St Hospitality and features three restaurants, four bars, and smaller venues that blend the area’s heritage with a fresh, modern atmosphere.

For the full story head to: australianbartender.com.au
(Image: The Collective)

07/02/2025

Housed in the former Grandma’s basement, this neon-lit haunt embraces the grit and energy of the ‘80s and ‘90s, blending old-school rock and hip-hop with world-class cocktails. It’s a little dive with a big personality, set to shake up the city’s drinking culture—if only for a limited time.

Read the full story on: australianbartender.com.au
(Image: Little Cooler)

05/02/2025

The duo behind Sydney’s Woodcut restaurant, Ross and Sunny Lusted, have opened their first two Melbourne venues, Marmelo and Mr Mills. Located on the Paris end of Russell Street, alongside the Melbourne Place Hotel, Marmelo and Mr Mills aim to capture the playful and energetic spirit of Melbourne’s distinctive laneway nightlife.

Read the full story on: australianbartender.com.au
Address: Ground floor/130 Russell St, Melbourne
(Image: Ross and Sunny Lusted)

05/02/2025

Brisbane’s nightlife scene welcomes a new player with the opening of Penelope, a bistro, bar, and music den. Opening in late February, the new hideaway comes from the Coats Group, that also owns MAYA Rooftop and Il Molo Italian Kitchen & Bar.

Full the full story head to: australianbartender.com.au
Link in bio.
bistro
Location: 15 James St, Fortitude Valley
(Image: The Coats Group)

03/02/2025

The award-winning Melbourne-based cocktail bar, Above Board, is hosting the team from Montreal, Canada’s The Cloakroom Bar for one night only, on 10 February, for “world-class hospitality, exceptional drinks, and Above Board’s notorious ‘bad banter’”.

Head to australianbartender.com.au to read the full story.

(Image: Above Board)

28/01/2025

El Dorado Rum is inviting bartenders to create a cocktail that captures their legacy, their journey, and their interpretation of heritage.

The Australian winner will win an all expense paid trip to Guyana to visit the home of El Dorado rum and compete in the global finals for a chance to win $5,000 USD and a collection of rare El Dorado rums.

17/12/2024

From comp winners to Perth bar operators and, of course, Bar Awards finalists, these are the stories you clicked on the most this year.

It's time to wrap up all the posting and news sharing for 2024 as we all take a little break before a big new era of Australian Bartender magazine and Sydney Bar Week kicks off in 2025, with new owners, Yaffa at the helm.So, let's sign off on another epic year; we look back at the 10 most-read stori...

09/12/2024

Whether guests are stopping in for a pre-dinner aperitif, catching up with friends over a seasonal meal, or making Bellamy their final stop for the night, the bar invites everyone to pull up a stool and relax in good company. It’s the kind of place that feels like a home away from home.

And a lot of that comes down to the warmth of their host and co-owner, Dani Whiteheart. She recently took out the award for Host of the Year, proudly sponsored by The Blend, at this year's Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards. We chatted with her about Melbourne, bars and how to be a great host.

A lot of the warmth and hospitality at Bar Bellamy comes down to the warmth of their host and co-owner, Dani Whiteheart. She recently took out the award for Host of the Year at this year's Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards. We chatted with her about Melbourne, bars and how to be a great host.

09/12/2024

Blade Deegan, Anthony Burke and George Cartwright are the team behind the drinks featured here. Deegan says: “We have reinterpreted a lot of classic drinks from the 80’s and 90’s, whilst trying to keep them feeling disco.”

Blade Deegan, Anthony Burke and George Cartwright are the team behind the drinks featured here. Deegan says: "We have reinterpreted a lot of classic drinks from the 80’s and 90’s, whilst trying to keep them feeling disco.”

02/12/2024

"I love the community [in Perth]. Since we’re smaller than other cities in Australia, we have a real “everyone knows everyone” vibe. We run a lot of fun events, and people always turn up to support each other—whether it’s competitions like the Bin Chicken Championships or Youngbloods, picnics in the park, training sessions, or even the occasional Beyblade Tournament. We have a lot of fun here!" - Jac Landmark

2024 has been a massive year for Jac Landmark. She won the Rookie of the Year (proudly sponsored by The Blend) award at the Bartender Magazine Bar Awards and took out the top spot in The Perfect Blend Cocktail Comp. What a journey! We sat down with Jac to chat about their epic year, their new role,....

02/12/2024

“[Yaffa Media] produce market-leading business-to-business media, and it is a perfect fit for them to expand their footprint into the hospitality and drinks sector. Amy and I are thrilled that Yaffa has decided to take on the business and use their vast resources to carry on what has been my passion for 25 years.” – David Spanton, Founder Spanton Media Group

Yaffa Media, one of Australia’s largest independent media companies whose portfolio includes AdNews, Food & Drink Business and Ragtrader, has acquired Spanton Media Group and all its assets, including industry-leading title Australian Bartender magazine and the Sydney Bar Week events.

25/11/2024

“I always Reach for Reàl when I make my Piña Coladas, and I’ll use their products instead of others because it’s consistent, easy to use but also flavoursome – it’s a win-win-win.”

Following the Reàl ‘Discover a World of Flavour’ event at Sydney Bar Week, Jenna Hemsworth and Jacob Cohen sat down with Ian Burell, World Rum Ambassador, to chatall things flavour, Reàl, and the future of the rum category.