The Stanley

The Stanley is exactly what you’d expect from a small bar in a quiet inner-city suburb: laid-back, welcoming and completely lacking in pretention.

You won’t find the latest cocktail trend here, or show-offy bartenders. The Stanley’s humble drinks list is a short but careful selection of local and international wines and beer. The San Gimignano malbec and Weihenstephan wheat beer are the two biggest sellers.

The Stanley is BYO food, so it’s lucky there are some good restaurants nearby, such as Varq for Indian or Blue Spoon for everything from European to Asian. But be wise and choose Flipside for the pear, parmesan and chicken burger with a side of fries and aioli.

The bar takes decorating cues from its neighbour, Bluebird Vintage. Its high-ceilinged rooms and cosy outdoor courtyard are filled with faded Chesterfields and chaise lounges. Velvet-covered barstools, vintage knick-knacks, framed artwork and well-worn tables, add further to the air of a friend’s comfy lounge room.

Throw in dim lighting, friendly service and chilled tunes, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better local to spend an evening. Neighbourhood bars don’t get much better than this.