Chef Regan Porteous (ex-Riley St Garage, Tequila Mockingbird, Toko) has taken his culinary skills south to join forces with the team at Respite, a cocktail bar in Lugarno inspired by 1950s New York.

The place is co-owned by lifelong friends Simon Nardo and brothers Jackson and Louis Sobb (also ex-Riley St Garage), who grew up nearby and have since spent most of their adult lives working in hospitality.

Nardo tells Broadsheet Respite’s food has been created to complement what’s going on at the bar and draws on a number of cuisines, including Mexican and Japanese. On the menu there’s coriander-cured, citrus-dressed salmon ceviche served on tostadas, and beef carpaccio lathered in bearnaise sauce on a bed of sliced, fried kipfler potatoes. Then there’s the fresh burrata with pickled onions and pistachio furikake (a Japanese seasoning).

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The variety of small and large plates pairs succinctly with Respite’s cocktail list. The hero is the Respite, a zingy concoction of vodka, lime, watermelon and Italicus (a bergamot liqueur), topped with a bubble that, when popped, dissolves into smoke.

There’s also the summery LK Lava with Aperol, lemon and passionfruit, and the Breakfast at Tiffany’s with gin, Chambord, blackberry, lime and egg whites. All ingredients are fresh and muddled on the spot. “Our approach to cocktails is a throwback to 1950s New York,” Nardo explains. “We love that era and see it as timeless.”

Careful service and interior design follow suit. Respite Bar is in Lugarno’s strip of neighbourhood shops (flanked by a newsagency and a linen store) but once you’re inside, you could be anywhere.

The dimly lit, 75 seater is fitted with banquettes, classic Thonet chairs, a fireplace that gets a workout when cool weather allows, and splashes of Respite’s signature colour: salmon pink. On Sunday afternoons, live acoustic sessions feature local musicians.

“We wanted to create a bar with high-quality food and beverage, good service and atmosphere,” Nardo says. “We plan on being here for a long time.”

Respite Bar
1026A Forest Rd, Lugarno

Hours:
Wed to Thu 5pm–11pm

Fri to Sat 4pm–midnight

Sun 1pm–10pm

respitebar.com.au
@respite.bar