The Temperance Society

The Temperance Society is somewhere between a saloon and a library, not exactly trendy, but probably nicer and more comfortable than your living room.

It’s affordable, without too many bells and whistles, but the quality doesn’t suffer at all for it. The house wines are utterly respectable, while the rotating tap beers, all from within kilometres of the bar, feature Sydney brewing royalty with Young Henry’s cider, The Rocks Brewing Co’s lager and a white ale from Batch. They’re well matched with a simple and bread-heavy menu of bar snacks and antipasti platters. Favourites are a pate-like rabbit terrine and the cheese-and-pickle board with produce from Cornersmith and Hunter Valley Cheese.

At the other end of the menu is the 525 barrel vintage of Sullivan’s Cove, which was awarded best single-malt whiskey on the planet. Everyone wincing at the $68 per glass price should know there were less than 500 bottles of this masterpiece made, and this is the only place in Sydney you can get it.

The cocktail list includes a zesty Chambord and Bitters Champagne cocktail and an inventive cold-drip coffee martini with Mr Black’s cold drip coffee liqueur, koko noir, Grey Goose and Gomme.