Maybe Sammy — Restaurant in Sydney

The wow factor! Certainly, the “wow” comes from the signature cocktails and some of the “wow” is present in the ambience, but I’d say 90% of the wow factor is owed to the incredible bartenders. This is easily one of the best bars I’ve been to in the world! And, my hometown is a craft cocktail Mecca. We are known for making our own bitters and shrubs, mixing together herbs and tinctures; we have distilleries and even places that produce moonshine. The craft cocktail game in my town is serious! But I just found a bar that surpasses any of the ones in my hometown! Maybe Sammy is a revelation!

This was not just drinks; it was an experience. Certainly, I’ve had cocktails with incredible toppings and drinks created with a great deal of flare. But this… this was another level entirely.

Sitting behind the bar, we were treated to a show with bartenders who remembered our names, bartenders who seemed genuinely invested in serving us, bartenders who were craftspeople, creating exquisite drinks, bartenders who are clearly proud of their work!

Keep in mind this was not cheesy. Their joy in serving was not performative. The bartenders seemed genuinely interested in crafting for us a unique and fun experience. I never thought I would consider one of the highlights of my time in Sydney to be visiting a bar. But I am certainly putting it on my list as one of the top five things that I experienced in Sydney. And we are here on a homeswap. We will be here for several weeks. So we are really digging in and exploring both all of the typical touristy stops and also the off-the-beaten-path gems. And, again, wow!

This was such an enchanting experience. I really wish I could remember the bartenders’ names, but there are plenty of photos of them here. Bravo to all of them! Well done!

P.s. we also had some of the small bites, and they were delicious. The pate was wonderful. How fun that it was on an eclair. P.s.s. The drink in the photos with the smoke bubble is the lychee martini. The cold plunge was another fave and featured menthol. The mini eucalyptus gimlet was so good, we had two. The nightcap is the drink...

Gosh, what a place!

I wasn’t sure what to expect, having heard the hype that it was the only Australian bar given a place in a Top 50 Bars in the World list, but I really wanted to see what the fuss was.

It’s in an unassuming spot, parallel to George St, no water views, no hidden doors & corridors to walk down, just a bar on a street.

Inside it’s subtly gorgeous. It’s not over the top, but there’s something super elegant, yet welcoming about it.

The decor is trendy & pretty & the staff are all immaculate. They’re groomed within an inch of their lives, they’re polished, the bar staff wore beautiful subtle salmon pink dinner jackets & ties & they all just scream well-trained.

The staff & the drinks were the highlight for me. The staff are friendly, but professional, they’re polite but not overly-familiar. They all look so well dressed & you can tell they have pride in their work & appearance. They welcome you, present you with a gorgeous forest green leather bound menu & they explain the contents enough, but not until you’re overwhelmed.

The drinks.. oh my.. when I arrived I watched this gorgeous bar person making what looked like a dark, luscious, decadent cocktail - swiftly pulling a bottle of fresh double cream out of the fridge & gently topping it with a very generous amount. I was in love. That turned out to be their version of an Irish Whiskey & it tasted even better than it looked.

It’s all about the little touches at this place. The dinner jackets & ties, the professionalism you used to get but, don’t see so much anymore, the beautiful furniture, the bar nibbles of olives that taste faintly of sweet citrus, the freshly made & meticulously measured drinks, the gold embossed menus & the grates on the bar that have the name letters cut out of them.

Overall, it’s a lovely little spot with a really nice vibe.

I hope you enjoy it as much...

Number 29 Bar in the World 🍹🌎🥂🎉 Officially Perth just happened to be in Sydney the day the World's 50 Best Bars was announced! Well of course I had to visit Number 29 - Maybe Sammy Cocktail Lounge in The Rocks. Very easy to see how they have won so many global awards since opening in 2019!

From grand hotel bars, dive bars, speakeasies and rooftop spaces, the world has been scoured to find only the best. Number 1 was taken out by Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain) a quaint speakeasy hidden behind an antique refrigerator of an unassuming pastrami shop, named the 2022 Best Bar in Europe and 2022 World's Best Bar!

Maybe Sammy, named Australia's Best Bar of 2022, is inspired by the Roaring 50s jazz and swing music, the Rat Pack and other Hollywood legends. What fabulous atmosphere! I was lucky to walk straight in and take a seat at the bar, just as happy hour started. Water, nuts and olives were set down before I even looked at the menu. How could I refuse a couple of mini cocktails for $7 each? •Kettle One Vodka Martini •Tattinger Champagne Cocktail ($13) •Irish Coffee with Jamesons Blackbarrel Irish Whiskey From the Stardust Cocktail Menu I chose a Beauty No.2 with Suntory Haku Vodka, Barrel aged Campari, Pavan liqueur, Fino sherry, lychee and lemon. The vanilla sprayed decadent chocolate was to be enjoyed first prior to the cocktail - how devine!

Faultless, attentive service from the bar staff, who are extremely professional and clearly enjoy their craft. Quirky figurines, disco balls and lights, bubble machines and flashing tip trucks all added to the wonderful experience. Highly recommend if you are visiting Sydney, a real...