Gurdys

Gurdys serves cocktails and a share menu that caters to vegans as well as it does everyone else.

The space is filled with phrenology busts, fluffy white pampas grass and collections of old books. Recycled wood panelling separates a sit-down dining space from bar tables. Steel window frames, rescued from the demolition yard, hang like halos over stools that run the length of the long bar. There’s pavement seating out the front for people-watching, and a courtyard out the back.

The Green (vegan) Dog is the highlight and uses sausages from Newtown’s vegetarian butcher, Suzy Spoon. The shallot and ginger arancini are crunchy, and Brazilian chef Nilton Nettow’s mini cheeseburger is ideal for a pre-dinner snack.

The Dirty Gurdys cocktail involves classics served in vintage cut glass. The Killer XO Espresso Martini is made with Killer Coffee from local roasters Adore Estate. The Hot Buttered Rum, made with a top-secret house-made syrup, is one of the more popular warm cocktails. There’s a no-straws policy.

Wine on tap from R!OT Wines is a sustainable option (the kegs take up less room than bottles and are easier to transport, so fewer miles and no spoilage, so less waste). Mountain Goat and Balter beers are also available on tap.