Believe it or not, bartender-owned bars are surprisingly rare in Sydney – which is why we’re excited to see what hospo duo and owners Claudia ‘Beryl’ Morgan and Oliver Churcher have in store with Bar Demo. Located on Newtown’s pumping Enmore Road, the new spot is inspired by the casual, no-fuss wine bars you’d stumble upon in San Francisco, Berlin or Paris.
Claudia and Olly first met while working at Sydney’s award-winning, ’70s-cool cocktail bar Double Deuce Lounge. He moved on to Café Paci and Bar Louise, while she worked at restaurants within the Bentley Group. Between late-night shifts, they often talked about opening a place of their own – somewhere relaxed where you could rock up for a drink, no reservation required and have a chat with the bar staff.
Claudia says, “We wanted somewhere open late where we could buy a bottle without sitting down for a meal, listen to some interesting music… a more modern take on a wine bar that’s not serious.” Olly adds, “As relative newcomers to the world of wine, we wanted to create a place where anyone feels welcome to try something new – even if they don’t know much.”
True to that ethos, the wine list is grouped by mood rather than region – approachable, not intimidating – with plenty of excellent drops under $100. About a dozen or so rotating wines are available by the glass (in 100ml or 150ml pours). Expect a constantly changing selection from both international and Australian producers, with a strong lean towards natural wines.
Even the cocktail list is short and seasonal. The Demo Martini, a great pre- or post-dinner option, is served bracingly cold from the freezer with a little more vermouth, and the Full Bush #2 is a mix of bourbon, yuzu and mezcal, topped with chilli threads. Don’t miss the ‘fun-size cocktails’, like the two-sip +/- Colada – tiny in size but big on flavour.
The snack menu is simple and designed with booze in mind. Think charcuterie from LP’s and Pino’s, Cantabrian anchovies, Chappy’s chips and cheese.
Once a month, Bar Demo will host Sunday pop-ups with guest chefs. First up is Café Paci’s chef-owner Pasi Petänen on Sunday, July 27, followed by James Tai from Bentley Restaurant & Bar, and Jade Gilmour from Sixpenny. Talk about a line-up.
Don’t expect a Spotify playlist on repeat, either. Instead, the music is on vinyl records, with whole albums played from start to finish on a custom-built sound system. The selection? Curated nightly by staff, it spans everything from jazz and punk to rock and disco.
Whether it’s a quick pre-gig Martini or a post-dinner vino with friends, the vibe at Bar Demo is right up our alley. Bonus: it’s dog-friendly, too.
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