This past week, the team behind Sydney’s wildly popular Lobo Plantation, launched their long awaited second venture Kittyhawk, a 175 capacity cocktail bar which draws influence from the historic Liberation of Paris on August 25th, 1944. Co-owners Jared Merlino, Michael Hwang and Eddie Levy, worked alongside Alex Zabotto-Bentley from the award-winning design agency AZBcreative, to bring an authentic 1940s atmosphere to their new bar. As a result, Kittyhawk features large antique French Walnut doors, authentic Parisian bistro lighting, original 1940s posters and WWII curios, all centered around a 12-metre-long handcrafted American Oak bar.
With every corner touched by a Parisian sense of celebration, Kittyhawk focuses a wide range of Rum and Rye Whiskey inspired cocktail created in collaboration with Andres Walters and Paige Aubort (awarded Bartender of the Year 2015 by ALIA) and dedicated to using sophisticated ingredients with rare spirits. The custom made cocktail list is also complemented by an extensive list of over 80 different wine and champagne varieties from France, Italy and Australia.
Head Chef Jason Wright (ex-STEAK Restaurant) has come on board to design the food menu, which plays to the street food commonly found throughout the streets of Paris, inspired with a few twists and turns on classics to offer something unique. The team have forged relationships with local farmers, fishermen, and providores to source fresh, sustainable ingredients used in dishes Scotch Eggs with organically farmed duck eggs in smoked aioli, and the Steak Swiss with truffle mayo. A sure winner is the shared-style Mussels Vol au vent, made with soft, locally produced Kinkawooka Mussels said to be of the melt-in-your-mouth variety.
Kittyhawk has long been anticipated for the discerning bar lovers around Sydney, but it’s no wonder the team have taken so long to open up, seeing as an extraordinarily high level of detail has gone into the venue, from antique tiles to a custom made one-of-a-kind mosaic flooring. There’s even a conservatory with lush greens to liven up the space, just one of the many rich layers that work together to really make sure the bar is raised yet again for Sydney’s evolving scene.
Kittyhawk
Address: 16 Phillip Lane, Sydney
Website: www.thekittyhawk.com.au
Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 3pm-12am; Friday-Saturday 3pm-2am
Images supplied and used with permission
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