What is it like to be reunited with an old flame? It’s likely they are an improved version; lost weight, new haircut, gone to the gym, toned muscles and gained an improved sense of style. That’s what has happened to the much loved Australian Youth Hotel. After months of being closed it has reopened with a new name and more. We are swooning. Yup, its knee wobblingly gorgeous.
Jacaranda mural Upstairs in the ‘Loft’
Enter the main saloon bar and you are walking back in time as historic photos on the wall tell their story whilst chesterfield sofas and open fireplaces create a cosy atmosphere. Walk out towards ‘The Stables Bar & Grill’ and this where designers Alexander & Co (Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, The Imperial Hotel) really shine. At night the far back bar emits a honey warm glow, a dusky pink spiral staircase leads to a romantic ‘Loft’ lit with candles and a door leads down onto the much loved beer garden.
The centennial fig tree presides over it like a caring grandpa, sparkling with fairy lights as red and white umbrellas create playful environment. A new open kitchen, (like a good party) is where all the fun happens and a beautiful jacaranda mural by Sydney artist Indigo Jo brings nature inside. Its retained everything we love, but made it all, just a bit more, adorable.
British Chef, Ben Allcock’s sophisticated menu tips us over the edge. Starters of delicate chicken patties topped with scallops on a bed of cauliflower cream and roasted split hazelnuts are all the right shades of seared. Calamari is a perfect marriage of delicate soft flesh, crispy coating and spices. Hunks of angular sliced baguette is dripping with garlicky butter and shavings of parmesan.
You could opt for more pub-fair ‘counter meals’ but why would you when the dish of the night is more ‘doona’ than ‘pillow’ sized gnocchi on a bed of butternut pumpkin dotted with fluffy cotton balls of coats curd. Could we have a nose bag of this please? (we are dining in the historic horse stables after all). Lamb rump with twice cooked lamb belly and crispy skin Atlantic salmon are more creative versions with Ben’s flair using bulgar wheat and tarragon infused leeks as pairings. Some staples can’t be beaten; here they are the best versions of their kind – fat chips, onion rings, roast cauliflower. Add a White Rabbit dark ale, a creamy Scarborough chardonnay into the mix and we are happy horses.
This 1862 pub was a place for wharfies and workers, today they are offering a different kind of ‘feed’ with a creative chef at the helm. The Glebe Hotel already had a mighty fine bone structure, but whoah! with its new look, we are falling, falling madly in love all over again.
63 Bay Street, Glebe, Sydney
Hours: Monday – Friday: 11am to Midnight, Saturday: 12pm to Midnight, Sunday: 12pm to 10pm
We are here for the sabrage but we would suggest kicking off the evening with a champagne Rose Flight (Thursdays & Fridays). Start with a Tattinger Prestige Rosé paired with Ash goat cheese and coal crackers then Pommery Rosé with salmon rillettes and blinis then Ruinart Rosé with hazelnut cream pot and rasberrys. Executive Chef Eric Costille has worked in Michelin starred restaurants around the world finds his feet here.
Sun, Sea, Sand. Samui has it all. We came here when it opened 8 years ago. The stilted villas where a marvel in engineering. Their white legs looking a bit naked against its coconut tree green background. We longed to go back, how would this leggy teenager gracefully grow?
The Arrival
The Resort
The Villa – Horizon Hill Crest Villa H06
Service
This could be enough for any mortal but there is a daily action packed activity list of adventures from snorkeling, yoga and if you are game the ultimate – a catamaran. All of which is complementary. Our instructor teaches us how to sense wind on our ears and tac, tac till we are out on the open sea. Of course you could retire to your own muslin draped sala on the beach, be served with iced water and towels, wait for the happy hour mini van to arrive or accept afternoon treats such as flavoured ice drinks or fruit. If this is what it feels like to be Cleopatra we are signing up.
Dining
