Gilt Lounge

For centuries, the hotel bar has been the place to go when you want to drink the classics, and it’s as true today as it was when the Savoy in London was literally writing the book on mixology. Take Gilt Lounge at the QT Sydney, for example. This low-lit cocktail bar situated up above the Gowings Bar and Grill keeps its menu short, sharp and classy. We’re talking barrel-aged bourbon Old Fashioneds and Negronis, a Tommy’s Margarita and a gentle twist on a Tom Collins using yuzu. Maybe we’ve got the upper classes all wrong and millionaires prefer to drink a refreshing ale or a peppery pinot from Tassie. Or perhaps the rich, velvety texture of the Millionaire cocktail made with apricot juice, grenadine, sloe gin, lime juice and generous lug of Appleton rum is a pretty accurate summary of what wealth tastes like, and it tastes good. Of course if you want something light and bright there’s never a bad time to order a Hemingway. This long-established riff on a Daiquiri is sweetened with maraschino liqueur and packs a citrus smack thanks to the fresh grapefruit and lime juice, but it stops well short of acidic. Do you love canapés? Well you can actually order them here. You know those broth spoons that scallops and dumplings are served in at art gallery openings? Here they ferry individual serves of snapper ceviche and ocean trout tartare. You get four spoons for $16, but it’s only a light snack so if you’re looking to fill in the edges perhaps a high-end burger or a hot dog made with a smoked Andouille sausage is more suitable. Or keep those idle hands out of trouble with a big basket of mixed-size fries – steak cut and shoe string with a trifecta of sauces – for ten bucks.