Drink: See off 2020 in Style

SEE OFF 2020 IN STYLE

If the thought of the festive season is making you dread the oncoming frenzy, we’ve got the solution - escape to Subiaco and have a drink instead.

By SLOANE CARVELL

For many of us, Christmas means not only juggling family get togethers but also the stress of finding a spot for the office festive celebrations. I’m here to help keep the festive spirit intact with Subiaco spots which deliver on all fronts. Let’s drink to that.

OLD VALUES SUBIACO

83 Rokeby Road

Old Values Subiaco is a bijoux bar that’s just like a big hug. And after the year 2020 has been, who doesn’t need one of those? Fitted out in rustic vibes with chandeliers, vintage bikes and old school bus seats, we’re all in for quirky nights spent chewing the fat. Delicious tapas and share boards, happy hours

and a cocktail list that ticks all the boxes for those in search of funky gins and espresso martinis, Guests are encouraged to let their festive hair down for the end of the year. They can host events up to 200 people with room to dance away 2020’s cares.

BARK SUBIACO

502 Hay Street

One of the smallest small bars in Subiaco is a cosy spot for escaping festive stress. Craft beers and locally produced spirits are in the spotlight here, and it’s the ideal intimate venue if you want to host a small but memorable summer bash. Depending on the size of your soirée, they have capacity for up to 50 and you can reserve an area, half the venue or entire venue with no venue hire fee. There is a beautiful decking area out the front which can also be booked and is lovely for summer evenings. With grazing boards, bites and bigger options like sliders and skewers, this is a good choice for a relaxed get-together. Got the morning after blues? Try the Bloody Mezcal where they’ve ditched the vodka and added a shot of Vida Mezcal instead to sort you out with a hair of the dog.

SUBIACO HOTEL

465 Hay Street

In one of the most anticipated rejuvenations of the year, Subiaco Hotel has thrown its doors open to a new era, just in time for Christmas. Owners Dave Allan and Lawson Douglas bought the hotel last year and have spent the past 12 months revitalising and restoring this grand old lady, yet maintaining the venue’s architecture and 123-year-old heritage. Inside you’ll find new dedicated function spaces including Mezz Decks which float above the revamped courtyard space offering

STOREHOUSE RESTAURANT AND BAR

THE SUBIACO HOTEL

BARK SUBIACO BARK SUBIACO

COCKTAIL

CREATORS Above, the barmen at Bark Subiaco are masters of the cocktail art. Imaginative drinks served at Storehouse Restaurant and Bar. Left, Subiaco Hotel will be serving all the drinks. Opposite, pretty as a picture drinks at Old Values.

Guests are encouraged to let their festive hair down for the end of the year

privacy from the hustle downstairs. There’s also the Sky Deck, a revamped roof space for up to 30 people. I can’t wait to see what the menu will be like - still a secret at the time of going to press. The smart money’s on slick service and inventive cocktails if their other venues are a benchmark.

STOREHOUSE RESTAURANT AND BAR

Vibe Hotel Subiaco, 9 Alvan Street

With rooftop views perfect for summer sunsets over the city, Storehouse at the new Vibe Hotel Subiaco is a welcome addition. Chef Mark Eskdale (ex-The Reveley) has been cooking around the world for 15 years, working under Michelin-starred chefs, and is now bringing his ethos of using fresh, local and sustainable produce to Subiaco. It’s best described as contemporary Australian, with food that is humanely and sustainably sourced. For summer festive celebrations there are spritzes in the sunshine, including The Supritz, a pink watermelon and ginger twist on an Aperol Spritz or Jungle Bird (dark rum, Campari, fresh pineapple and lime). The wine list is loyally focused on wonderful Western Australian producers across our Great Southern and south west regions.

THE VILLAGE BAR 10/531 Hay Street

Finding somewhere that appeals to fussy office colleagues can be hard

THE VILLAGE BAR

RAISE A GLASS

There’s a bar to suit all tastes in Subiaco, from quirky spots like Old Values to friendly pubs like The Village Bar. They all serve delicious food too and can accommodate larger groups.

REFUGE SMALL BAR

REFUGE SMALL BAR

OLD VALUES

when organising the end of year get-together. You’ve got the cocktail crowd, the wine lovers and beer drinkers as well as with dietary requirements. It can be a bit of a headache even before the booze is consumed. The Village Bar is a great venue, offering a wide range of options for functions and parties for your very own corporate village residents. With lots of room to spread out if you’re with a crowd, including private rooms, The Village Bar can cater for small groups of 20 people to cocktail parties for 200 with a large selection of grazing boards, as well as cold and hot platters to make your work party memorable. If a sit-down meal is more your scene, their food menu is pretty expansive, from shared plates, to pasta and pizza and there’s plenty to keep veggie villagers happy too. There’s also an eclectic wine list which includes many Australian favourites and a wide selection of bottled and tap beers to quench a summer thirst.

REFUGE SMALL BAR 50 Subiaco Square

Refuge Small Bar is a craft beer bar in the heart of Subiaco. Specialising in the best selections of fresh independent beers available from around the world, it’s a haven for beer lovers with individual tastes. Their focus is a high rotation of tapped as well as bottle and canned beers. Cocktails are crafted with care and change with the seasons, with classics like espresso martinis and sophisticated negronis as well as crowd pleasers like pavlova sours. The wine list also constantly changes offering fresh vintages. They can offer tailored packages for your function and it’s the perfect spot for sharing some bites and beers, whether you know your Lambic from your La Sirene Biere de Cerise or not.