By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
If you’ve ever wondered where late-90s New York cocktails might have ended up if they landed in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, wonder no more. Bar Herbs has opened in the Harbour City.
Think Jay-Z approved Concrete Jungle vibes, Big Apple energy and Sex and the City style, all tucked into a neon-lit basement on Clarence Street. It’s a playground for Martini obsessives and/or anyone craving a little downtown mischief four thousand miles south of Times Square - but, certainly not distant from glamour.
Descend the narrow staircase and Sydney’s skyline fades into polished brass, dark timber and the scent of citrus, herbs and expertly poured cocktails. It’s the kind of space where after-work chatter slides into pre-dinner plans and midnight Martinis feel like your own private slice of Manhattan.
Soft lighting and intimate corners make it a little secret tucked under the city, a place where you can linger, sip and pretend you’re navigating the streets of the East Village rather than the heart of the CBD.
Every cocktail is an exercise in craft. Creative Director Jeremy Blackmore has reimagined the classics for a modern audience, letting each ingredient shine while keeping the experience joyous and indulgent. From brine to seasonal vodka to herbaceous garnishes, every detail is a small revelation, a reminder that cocktails can be artful, delicious and mischievously fun.
At Bar Herbs, the Martini is King, celebrated, elevated and given a cheeky twist. The menu is an ode to the Golden Age of cocktails, reimagined for Sydney. The Herbs Martini evolves with seasonal vodka, while the Herbs Dirty Martini sneaks in hand-foraged seaweed vodka for a briny, unexpected kick.
Dill aquavit and pickle brine make the New York Martini a vegetal delight, while the Gibson Martini turns rosemary and pickled onion into a herbaceous conversation starter. The ‘Martini Your Way’ ethos puts you in the director’s chair - control the brine, garnish, dryness - and suddenly the Martini becomes yours, a true downtown original.
The drinks menu doesn’t stop at the classics. Fruity and floral concoctions evoke rooftop cocktails in Manhattan at dusk: a yuzu and hibiscus Cosmo crowned with lemon granita; a frothy gin fizz that keeps citrus in the spotlight; and a pandan-infused Espresso Martini that’s caffeine with a twist.
Negroni devotees are rewarded with a layered aromatic affair built on two red vermouths, balancing bitter, sweet and botanical notes in a glass that feels like a mini party straight out of a SoHo loft.
Food is playful, minimal and clever. Hot popcorn is a nod to movie nights and basement dives, while small plates and shareable bites complement the cocktails without stealing the show. It’s the kind of menu that keeps conversation flowing and Martinis coming.
Happy Hour from 4 pm to 6 pm serves $13 Herbs Martinis and $7 beers, inviting you to start early and let the night unfold. Bar Herbs is democratic fun at its best: cocktail novices and seasoned shakers mix freely in a space that rewards curiosity and playful experimentation.
There’s charm without pretence, glamour without stiff formality and a little slice of Manhattan tucked beneath Sydney’s skyline.
When you leave, the neon glow lingers in your memory, Martinis hum on your palate like a favourite track and you carry a little Big Apple energy with you back into Sydney’s streets. Bar Herbs is more than a basement bar - it’s a portal to 90s NYC, a place to claim a Martini as your own and own the night, even if just for a few hours.
