Out and About

Mapping your next Darlinghurst / Surry Hills bar adventure

Ching-a-lings

Address: 133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst

Ching-a-lings is a secret gem created and run by Cameron Reid and Jack Brown which is initially quite hard to find. Located on Oxford St, you could easily walk past the modest door way and bouncer. The exterior gives nothing away, in fact the only sign you are at your destination is a couple of stamps which say Chinglings on the Soleil Tanning Salon sign outside.

As you walk up the steep stairs and into the darkness, you enter into the main indoor area, which creates a balance between being quite dark and dimly lit with a glow from red lights which are both suspended from the ceiling and run along side the floor. The other focal point is the lighting feature suspended from the ceiling, numerous old light globes which fill a wire box. The atmosphere is relaxed and this is achieved through the combination of mute lighting, chilled music, ample seating and comfortable 20 somethings who reside in this bar.

This vibe carries through onto the rooftop bar, which is brighter and has a slightly more spacious feel to its interior counterpart. The space is modern - through the use of recycled timber decking and benches countered with a backdrop of compacted concrete, create an amicable texture opposite to the bare brick and dark lighting of the indoors, is a world away from the hustle of busy oxford street, where you first arrived.

Open from 6pm onwards, the bar features music themed nights that attract a regular and often large following that packs out the space each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, leaving many patrons to wait downstairs as space is limited. Between the hours of 6pm and 9pm, however, the vibe is different. Rather chilled out than chaotic, more room for people to move, Oxford Street people watching can be enjoyed discreetly (or not) from the large uncovered window, and the rooftop deck is abundant in bench space for patrons to soak up the last rays of the sun before darkness envelopes the city.

Ching-a-lings was the third bar to open under the New South Wales government licensing reforms, a move by the government which has changed the nature of bars and drinking culture in the state. The change in licensing has meant that smaller venues have a greater oppertunity to open in an market where large pubs, filled with poker machines have reigned. As such places like Ching-a-lings are able to open, offering diversity and unqiue expereinces to their patrons.

The Commons - Local Eating House

Address: 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst

The Commons concept was first imagined as a temporary 3 month “pop-up” bar/eatery; an advertising and marketing campaign in affiliation with the Fosters Groups’ brew Pure Blonde.

First known as The Pond, it was developed and designed by a group of friends from Right Angle Studios, who had previously popped up The Pond in Melbourne, their intention for both was to find derelict and ugly spaces and rejuvenate them to create an inner-urban oasis. It opened in November 2009 with a scheduled pop-down date of January 31st 2010, per the conditions with Pure Blonde sponsorship. It was then re-opened with a name change in February 2010, under the management of Right Angle Studios.

Located on Burton Street, parallel to infamous Oxford Street, yet away from the craziness of nearby Dr. Pong, The Gaff and The Colombian. It occupies a 160 year-old sandstone cottage, once an Italian restaurant left abandoned and empty for a good few years before Fosters Group and Right Angle Studios recreated the entire interior.

The rooms are fitted out with the uniformed eco-friendly recycled wooden furniture, creating simple clean lines against the ruggedness of the sandstone bricks which are further softened by the silhouette lighting and (sometimes) flaming fireplace, creating a warm atmosphere that flows into each area of the bungalow.

Sandwiched between 2 towering terraces, the fit out, particularly the hanging plant adorned front courtyard is a nice welcome to the surrounding concrete and glass structures.

During the day, patrons can opt to sit in the front courtyard, the main dining hall or amongst the plants in the downstairs courtyard garden. Each area is well lit by the suns rays that filter in through open doors, frosted shelter, or the cornice framed tungsten tubes and low hanging lamps.

Patrons are a mix of hip 20, 30, 40+ something locals / walk-ins drawn by the cuteness of the front courtyard / foodies who appreciate the simple yet delicate flavours from the menu / coffee aficionados / or those who have heard of The Ponds, but have never experienced The Commons.

Once inside, the choice of where to sit is simply based on the weather. The ambience is calm as music filters softly through the speakers, tunes of alternative indie pop and old classics float throughout the bungalow, and the smell of coffee and surrounding foliage floats throughout the space.

Front Courtyard: fitted with hanging plants, tall commune bench-tops, stools, and the coffee cart, with an abundance of natural light.

Main Dining Hall: commune tables with long benches, stools, draping plants suspended from the ceiling and simple arranged small vases sit at each table, chalkboard menu changed daily in accordance with produce sourced for the day at local markets, random pieces of art, and a hole in the wall for bill paying.

Back Courtyard Garden: stairs also double as a gallery, large jacaranda tree dominates the space, tomato vines grow up the wall (also used in meals), open area is uncovered. Right Angle has preserved much of the existing structure by working around the heritage listed cottage.

A home away from home type setting, sitting in this bright and open courtyard you forget you are in the middle of Australia's busiest city.

The Den: stools, retro chairs, a long dark bar, book shelf with accompanying music and book collection for everyone to enjoy.

Images by Jennifer and sourced from http://www.thecommons.com.au

The Winery by Gazebo

Address: 285a Crown St, Surry Hills, 2010

Located on Crown Street, The Winery by Gazebo in many ways depicts the changing nature of Surry Hills from a grungy inner-city suburb to a social hub boasting come of the best food and nightlife in Sydney. The Winery catches your eye as you walk down Crown, as fairy lights and well dressed ladies in their high heels ask you to question 'what's down the cobble path' slightly out of view from the bustling street. The fairy lights capture your imagination, although the exterior of the building in unassuming. As you enter the wine bar, you are again taken on a ride as the rooms maintain a balance of the magical, surreal, quirky and beautiful. It was described by Lenny Ann Low from Good Living as ‘a sassy, Alice in Wonderland experience’.

The wine bar which was opened in September 2009 is located on a former Sydney Water site dating back to 1889 and is loosely based on the sister store in Elizabeth Bay which also has a similar eclectic feel and is also product of Keystone Hospitality.

As co owner Paul Schulte, states “Everybody loves a hang-out - somewhere you can meet friends, drink amazing wines, eat incredible food and listen to great tunes… Surry Hills is the perfect spot (for that)… like Elizabeth Bay, its rich with great restaurants and pubs, but we wanted to bring something to the area that bridges the gap.”

The interior itself features quirky fittings including chandeliers, indoor plants, taxidermied animals and apparently French chairs from the 1900s, however a large part of the Winery’s appeal is the way in which the space has been divided into separate areas in a manner which is similar to, and has been popularised by places like the Ivy in Sydney. These sections include the Gracelands room, which is a self proclaimed room dedicated to Elvis, with disco ball, The Garden Room which features a wall of plants, the Balcony which has chairs from the early 20th century and the Laneway. The diversity of these rooms is accentuated through the diversity of furniture and overall styling of the interiors. The textures include velvets, from seating to curtains adding a sense of elegance and an old-world quality. Bare brick walls also line the areas, giving a rugged feeling, working in opposition to and balancing out the refined furnishings such as extravagant seating. Polished cement floors bring modernity as does the use of timber.

By night, the space achieves whimsical nature through the balance of dim lighting and bright interior colours. Overall the space is girlie, fun, playful and inviting.

Images from www.thegazebos.com.au/winery/index.html