Sydney's Best Small Bars


 

Surry Hills-Darlinghurst
Hello Sailor [CLOSED]
hellosailor.com.au
96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (enter off Foley Lane)

Hello Sailor Bar, Darlnghurst



The slow demise of Oxford St as a restaurant and shopping precinct has opened the door for small bars to move into the area. Within 100 metres of Oxford and Crown Street corner there are now eight small bars* and the newest addition for 2013 is Hello Sailor. It’s billed as a nautical-themed bar, but it definitely needs the word cheesy thrown in. With the dingy boat table, the plastic parrot, dangling rope and nautical flag decorations, the place feels more like one of your friend’s dads has waited for the kids to leave home and redecorated the former rumpus room to take the place of the boat he never had. But hey, each to their own.

*The small bars are: Ching-a-lings, Pocket, Shady Pines, Darlie Laundromatic, Foley Street, Low302, Café Lounge Bar. With Hello Sailor included, this would have to be one of easiest small bar pub crawls. Most shut at midnight, but Low302 closes at 2am and Hello Sailor at 3am, so there is plenty of time to visit all.

The cocktail menu matches the décor in terms of the cheesy nautical theme with the most significant being the Pina Coloda ($17, as are all cocktails). Surprisingly tasty, even if it is a tad too sweet. A small selection of beer (from $7) is available as well as three sparkling wines by the glass ($8 for the prosecco, up to $20 for Mumm) and a small but well chosen selection of whites and reds ($8-11). While the prices are not a bargain, but they are typically a couple dollars cheaper than many nearby venues.

You can enter Hello Sailor from Oxford street: it’s a small, recessed entrance. Upon entering, go through the Seafood Shack, then down the stairs. Alternatively, try the somewhat questionable entrance in Foley Lane. From Oxford Street, walk either down Crown Street or Palmer St (this is the closer corner) and turn into Foley lane. Near Crown St, you’ll probably see a bouncer or line for the unsigned Shady Pines. Opposite Shady Pines and about 50 metres further up, look the ‘Hello Sailor’ sign scrawled over a doorway (pictured above). The lane entrance closes at 11pm, so use Oxford Street later on.



In brief: Hello Sailor [CLOSED]
Best things: Relief form the insanity is a weekend night on Oxford Street. Seafood menu and restaurant upstairs. Late closing: 2am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday, 3am (closed Monday)
Don't miss:Dare it be said? The Pina Colada.
Ideal for: Small groups, catch-ups with friends, dates.
Date tip: It’s a little busy on Fridays and Saturdays for a date and the furniture generally is not date-friendly. Try to grab one of the few smaller tables.
Gripe: Noisy, high furniture is not so comfortable. Nautical-inspired music gets a little tiresome after a while.
Rating: 6/10

Hello Sailor on Urbanspoon




Last updated: August 2017
You are here: Hello Sailor Bar, Darlnghurst review and address. It may be billed as a nautical-themed bar, but it definitely needs the word cheesy thrown in