Dead Ringer

If you’ve spent any amount of time in Surry Hills, you’d know there’s no shortage of excellent neighbourhood bars to while away an afternoon at. Dead Ringer is up there with the best of them.

At the helm are Rob Sloan and David Hobbs, who were involved at now-closed Sydney cocktail destination Bulletin Place, and London's Milk & Honey, respectively. But a dead ringer for either of those legendary bars, this ain’t.

While cocktails are a big part of the equation here, there’s a bigger emphasis on food, backed up by an interesting and ever-changing wine list, plus a sharp selection of Aussie beer and cider. All this in a refined, neighbourhood-bar setting.

If you're going down the cocktail route, try the Terrace Spritz No 2 built with yuzu, green apple wine, soda and prosecco. Or come at happy hour for wallet-friendly Martinis made three ways. The bar even makes its own aperitif and digestif to bookend your meal.

Speaking of, there's a seasonal selection of small dishes and large plates to choose from. Start with some house-made focaccia (served with whipped mascarpone) and chicken liver parfait, before moving onto gnocchi with preserved lemon butter and bottarga. Or a Jacks Creek sirloin with a knob of cafe de Paris. Finish with baked-to-order madeleines or a salted sticky-date pudding.