Whaler offers 10 house cocktails, including The Blacker the Berry, a Boulevardier of Campari, whisky and blackberry-infused sweet vermouth. The Last Ward is a twist on the classic Last Word; it uses tequila instead of gin and is served with purple white lilies. Aussie brews on tap include Two Brothers, Young Henrys and Sample.

The food menu is Southern food with a twist. For snacks there’s pea and pomegranate guacamole with black-corn tortilla chips, and pickled-cucumber chips with buffalo sauce. Bigger feeds include 12-hour pork ribs with apple and fennel slaw and fried chicken with chipotle slaw and blue-cheese sauce.

The build riffs on bohemian 1960s New York. Cerulean timber panels line a portion of the walls and beige bricks cover the rest. These two textures and high ceilings give the space a Brooklyn-loft feel. Native flora on each table adds a touch of Australia.

There is a variety of seating options throughout: intimate booths at the back, a dining set in the back room for formal occasions, stools and high tables for couples, and a standing bar for larger groups to mingle at. A booth by the entrance is for local DJs, who bring their own records or use the bar’s collection.