Just In: El Primo Sanchez Is Moving To Crown Street

A night partying at the Maybe Group’s El Primo Sanchez typically involves free-flowing Margaritas, impassioned karaoke-room ballads and rounds of winning tacos. The ’80s-inspired Oxford Street space delivers the bright colours, flavourful drinks and dance-ready music of Mexico City. But the team’s on the move – and heading to Crown Street.

In mid-September, Four Pillars is closing The Lab, where there’s a small working still, a retail store and upstairs cocktail bar, Eileen’s. Soon after, the Maybe team (Maybe Sammy, Maybe Frank, Dean & Nancy, and now-closed pop-up Little Cooler) will reopen it as El Primo Sanchez.

Melbourne-born distillery Four Pillars was fully acquired by global drinks company Lion in 2023, after it bought a 50 per cent stake in 2019. “This is a significant and emotional moment, particularly for the team at The Lab,” James Brindley, Lion Australia’s managing director, said in a statement. “We’re committed to working closely with them through this transition.”

El Primo will retain its party power when it makes the 800-metre journey (or 12-minute walk) around the corner, but the next era is set to be “more grown-up”. It’s going to be a cocktail bar first, with a snacky menu to support – but that tiny karaoke room is making the trip. Where the vibe was disco taqueria, it’ll now be moody cocktail bar, with Mexican art and moody lighting.

“This is a big step up for us,” says Maybe Group co-owner Vince Lombardo. “Surry Hills gives El Primo Sanchez the foot traffic and community buzz it deserves, and the new space lets us really dial up the cocktail experience.”

The street-facing space will house the Maybe Sammy Cocktail Studio, which will be for retail, tastings and a workshop for cocktail-making classes. “[This] gives us the chance to connect with guests in a more meaningful, face-to-face way. It feels like a natural evolution.”

“I can’t think of a better partner to take over the lease of The Lab and continue the good times, great drinks and excellent hospitality had there than the Maybe Group,” Brindley says. “We look forward to seeing how they bring their new space to life.”

The final service at both the Four Pillars Lab and El Primo Sanchez is Friday September 19. El Primo Sanchez is set to reopen at 40 Crown Street, Surry Hills, in mid-October 2025.

@elprimosanchezsydney