Potts Point Hotel

A significant number of restaurants and bars surfaced in Potts Point and Kings Cross in 2017, filling the space left by clubs affected by lockout laws. The Sugarmill decided to get ahead of the curve, with a facelift and rebrand.

Under the same owners, it now operate as the Potts Point Hotel, with a renovated ground-floor pub, and continues to house Kit and Kaboodle and Sweethearts Rooftop.

There’s a public bar space, high tables, a TV with the sport and a fully serviced dining room. The riff-raff of tattered posters and American dive-bar vibes has been replaced with sleek timber lines, large dome lightshades and brassy-zinc finishes. All within a refreshing monotone colour scheme.

The menu caters mostly to carnivores, courtesy of two meat smokers imported from the US. Dishes include Kansas-style buttermilk chicken, Riverina Angus beef brisket and Carolina pulled-pork shoulder. The Angus flank steak with shiso butter is an upgrade on your typical pub staple. There’s also fried-chicken burgers with kimchi and pickles and smoked trout.

The cocktail list features twists on classics with dedications to historical Potts Point figures. The Carlotta Collins is dedicated to Carol “Carlotta” Spencer, the famous transgender performer. The drink is a twist on a Tom Collins, it’s tall and refreshing with some dry Aperol.