Assembly Bar

Assembly Bar sits a little removed from the big-hitting bar scene further uptown. But that's no reason to overlook it. Following an ownership change in 2014, the space has kept its recycled, industrial aesthetic. Thanks to the addition of some all-star bartenders, it also gained some serious cocktail credentials.

Assembly's main room sports concrete floors, vintage Chesterfields and recycled wooden crates fashioned into tables. A spiral staircase leads to the mezzanine, where a dumb waiter elevates drinks from the bar, and tealight candles flicker against the dark. Outside, picnic tables sit on AstroTurf below a wall of faux ivy studded with fairy lights.

At the bar, house-made syrups, bitters and tinctures are used to create classic cocktails and a revolving, seasonal list. The Finale has green Chartreuse, gin, lime, coconut syrup, pineapple syrup and coconut flakes. A Vogue mixes lychee liqueur, lemon, apple juice and gin.

There's also an all-Australian list of beer, plus a lengthy wine list. To eat, there’s bar snacks such as arancini; calamari tossed with salt and Szechuan pepper; and Panko-crumbed salmon. A range of burgers round out the menu, including Wagyu, chicken, mushroom, and pork belly.