The Nelson Rum Bar

Just up from the beach and under the palm trees you’ll find a cheeky bunch of merrymakers drinking rum from all over the world. Brother and sister-in-law duo Brendan Drinan and Sasha Noble shook on the business idea years ago and finally brought it to life when the “For Lease” sign went up on their dream Acland Street venue.

The bar stocks a selection of 38 rums from locations such as Trinidad, Martinique, Barbados and Nicaragua. The Nelson Mojito with white pepper-infused rum, lime zest, mint and elderflower with orange blossom water goes down very easily on a hot day.

Sharing plates of sticky pork ribs, southern-spiced chicken wings and seafood paella are perfect for a light dinner or late afternoon snack. The décor has a nautical theme with recycled pier wood and pylons making up the communal bar and a giant painted octopus spreading his tentacles across the barnacle-coloured walls.

As for the bar’s name? When scouring through rum tales Noble found the legend of Lord Nelson: a sailor known for his good luck in battles who was finally defeated out at sea and preserved in a barrel of rum. To pass on his good fortunes, the other sailors pierced holes in the barrel, drank the rum and made cheers “to Nelson’s blood”.