OPENING: OLD MATE'S PLACE

The latest venue to open in the Sydney CBD bucks the trend of street level or subterranean bars, instead occupying the fourth floor (and rooftop) of an unassuming office building on Clarence Street.

Old Mate’s Place is the creation of Andres Walters (The Lobo Plantation, Kittyhawk), his wife Gabrielle (barGEEK) and Daniel Noble (Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern). The idea for the bar goes back a decade, and while they’ve hit a few snags along the way – lockout laws, rental prices, design issues, and even hitherto uncharted asbestos – the doors finally opened at the end of August.

“I don’t think there was ever any turning back for us,” Andres Walters told BARS&clubs. “But finally getting the doors open was probably one of the happiest days for all of us recently.”

Inspired by similar venues in Japan – where bars can regularly be found on the mid-level of office buildings – the feel of the two-level, 98-person capacity bar is described by Walters as “a turn of the century library that’s been abandoned”. While its unorthodox location is somewhat difficult to locate, Walters says finding Old Mate’s is “half the fun”.

With some of Australia’s best bars a stone’s throw away, Old Mate’s main point of difference is its versatility; the backbar of roughly 300 bottles, and a concise list of 10 cocktails will be updated as the team see fit. “We didn’t want to pigeonhole ourselves as being a rum bar when you’ve got Lobo [Plantation] down the road, or a whisky bar with Baxter so close too,” explains Walters. “And how long has it been since a bar opened that was just a bar? For us, that will stand the test of time – we want to be here in 20 years.”

In terms of beer and wine, Old Mate’s keeps it simple with VB throwdowns, a rotating lager and a couple of Aussie craft brews and ciders (perfect for the upcoming summer season on the rooftop), while the wine list is curated by Charlie Casben (owner of Moya’s Juniper Lounge, and ex-sommelier), with minor adjustments made seasonally.

If guests get peckish, they can munch on a rotating selection of deli meats; when it comes to something more substantial, there’s a Philly cheesesteak, Iberico jamon cheesesteak (“which is off the chain”) and a vegetarian version as well. Keen eyes may also notice a waffle croque monsieur (made with roasted cauliflower béchamel) appear on the short but tasty menu in the near future.

Tying the whole concept together is a down to earth, ‘no bullshit’ vibe – combined with good ol’ fashioned customer service.

“One thing I’m huge on is not having that bullshit attitude that you might see in some cocktail bars – where they’ll begrudgingly make an ‘uncool’ drink for a customer,” says Walters. “At the end of the day, the customer is paying our bills, so whatever they want is pretty much what they’ll get here.

“If people want to come in and have a Tuxedo No.2, cool, we can do it; if they want to come in here and have a Cosmo, we’re more than happy to mix them one of those as well. That’s realistically what I want to get out of Old Mate’s more than anything.”

Address: Level 4/199 Clarence St, Sydney NSW