Cronulla’s home of live music has been pumping out the goods for two decades. You’ll see the grungy back door plastered with aging posters when you step off the train, but the red-curtained entrance to the subterranean bar and music den is around the corner on Cronulla Street.
You’re greeted with the comfortable musty smell of spilled drinks from gigs gone by as you walk down the stairs to the bar and dining area, which doubles as seating for on-stage performances. Here, you’ll see impressive indie acts like Cronulla local-turned massive festival star Ruby Fields, and multi ARIA Award-winner Dan Sultan, as well as local jazz acts, a few international groups and others covering beloved names like INXS, Van Morrison and the Rolling Stones. There’s even a peppering of comedy and musical theatre if you’re there on the right night.
They keep things pretty classic on the drinks front, with a cocktail list of straightforward Mojitos, Margaritas and Martinis all for $15; a decent wine list that travels from the Hunter Valley to Orange, the Southern Highlands, New Zealand and even a few stops in France; and a rotating beer selection that’ll keep craft devotees happy with a Young Henry’s Newtowner and 4 Pines kolsch on this list. They’ve also got you sorted for dinner with a Mediterranean-inspired menu of mezza plates and pizzas for sharing, seafood pastas, and easy snacks of halloumi, lamb kofta, squid and spicy roast veg.
