There was a time when pre-show drinks in Sydney’s Walsh Bay Arts Precinct were a below average affair. As a city with so many perfectly formed drinking spots, the dearth of on-point venues around the Walsh Bay area was noticeable – with theatre-goers often travelling into The Rocks, the CBD or Barangaroo for a pre- or post-show Martini. Now, the city’s theatre district has welcomed the bar it deserves – and it comes in the form of Folio, a timelessly opulent, velvet-trimmed space hidden beneath Sydney Theatre Company’s Roslyn Packer Theatre.
Inspired by the moody speakeasies and effortlessly glamorous theatre bars of NYC, Folio isn’t just a pre-show pit stop – it’s a genuinely on-point bar worthy of a spot on your happy hour hit list, irrespective of your interest in attending a show. That being said, something about the energy of the buzzy, theatrical space made us want to cancel our plans and drop $60 on last-minute tickets to a three-hour production. You’ve been warned.
Designed to primarily cater to theatre-goers, Folio feels as suited to golden-hour Champagne as it does to 11pm Negronis, with a perfectly curated selection of salty snacks available late if you’re keen to draw out your post-show debrief. As you’d expect, one of the bar’s major drawcards is its drinks list – devised by award-winning bar consultant Charlie Ainsbury, who brings a sense of play, polish and storytelling to every pour. The House Bellini – prosecco whisked with seasonal fruit sorbet, made to order at the bar — is an instant fave. The Flame of Love arrives as a tableside Martini moment, finished with a theatrically flamed orange zest. And the Infinity Old Fashioned is a choose-your-own-adventure take on the classic, mixed with your pick of the back bar and a “Mother” blend made from every whisky Folio pours.
The food menu keeps pace with the bar’s shapeshifting personality: flexible, delightfully familiar and designed to be shared. You can share a plate of wildly moreish manchego croquettes or an L.P.’s cured meat plate, or throw yourself into heartier territory with a wagyu lasagna or stacked burger loaded with Pino’s smoked bacon and a fried pickle. Late-night classics get a glow-up too, with a solid menu (featuring the bar’s perfectly umami buttermilk fried chicken) available from 9pm. For dessert, the chocolate mousse served tableside is pure theatrical delight.
Designed by Like Minds Studio, the space itself is gorgeous: drenched in plummy red velvet, warm lighting and rich walnut, with cushioned seating arranged like a soft-edged amphitheatre.
Folio arrives hot on the heels of STC’s recently opened The Wharf Restaurant and Bar, making the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct feel more alive than it has in years. The bar is open from 5pm Wednesday to Saturday.
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