Alice is a swanky basement cocktail bar by Hunter Hospitality, the same group behind renowned Sydney restaurants Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple.

Once a bond store, the venue’s opulent interior features original sandstone walls and timber beams; velvet-clad booths; ostrich feather lamps; and splashes of marble, gold and amber.

Settle into a booth and dive into the playful drinks menu. You might order the Lunchbox Milk Punch, a mix of pisco, lime, Nippy’s banana iced milk, makrut lime syrup and coconut milk. For a spicier option, try the Calavera, which combines mezcal, lime, agave, pineapple, chilli and coriander.

To complement the drinks, there are dishes inspired by signature items at Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple. Standouts include raw kingfish with eggplant and Aleppo pepper on crackers; and thick katsu pork sandos with a hint of yuzu. Follow up with a zingy passionfruit marshmallow or an ice-cream sandwich: vanilla ice-cream between two “brookies” (a cookie-brownie hybrid).

If you’re up for a serious celebration, go for a bottle of champagne (there are more than 30 options on the menu) and the Sterling caviar service, which comes with tater tots and crème fraîche.