Many of us walk past them every day. On the way to work, as we go to dentists appointments or meetings with lawyers. And yet, the row of grand old buildings that line the eastern side of Macquarie Street remain a mystery to many of us. That’s all about to change. NSW Parliament House has opened its doors for the time honoured tradition of high tea.
High Tea at Parliament House takes place just once a month, on a Friday afternoon when a few dozen diners are lucky enough to settle in for a session in sweet delights. Tea is held at the back of the building, in a room overlooking The Domain. Large, wide windows look straight out to the fig trees and manicured lawns, the afternoon sunlight streaming in to a room set with crisp white linen tablecloths, bespoke Wedgewood china and silver tea pots.
The tiered tea stands arrive laden with savoury and sweet treats – starting with bit sized prosciutto bagels, rye BLT buns, Gruyère cheese tartlets and vegetable muffins. An array of mini cupcakes, tiny pear tarts, raspberry meringue drops are to follow, with a final tier of fruit scones and Persian orange blossom cakes. Paired with a glass of Tyrell’s sparkling, or Peterson House Brut Rose, it’s a generous serving when it comes to high tea. But we challenge anymore to turn down teeny tiny lime meringue tarts and almost too-cute-to-eat mini bagels.
There’s an extensive tea menu, served in the house’s delicate gold-plaited teacups, that are perfect once you’ve moved on to the scones. All that’s left to do is settle in to watch the sun set.
Parliament House High Tea
6 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Bookings essential, from $46 pp
Juanitaaas!! It’s a name you want to shout out while rattling some maracas or swishing your flamenco skirts. The brand new bar at everyone’s favourite Potts Point eatery, The Butler, is making us kick up our heels and want to have some fun.
You’ll certainly be in the right mood to try some of the brand new cocktails – The Butler’s brand new head chef Amber Doig has brought bold, brave Ibero-American flavours to the table and the bar list follows suit. Heavy on smokey flavours that still make for easy drinking, the cocktails range from a zesty Juanita Spritz, with rhubarb and lemon, or a Highland Flower, given a kick with Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky and sloe gin, to Smoke & Chocolate, a decadent mescal, crème de cacao, lime, orgeat and orange bitters concoction. Right On Thyme is a fun, herb and gin cocktail that cleanses the palate or there’s the ubiquitous Espresso Martini that’s given some oomph with toasted coconut.
Barangaroo is a buzzing hub of hot new restaurants, shops and big office buildings, but sometimes it’s a little too sleek and chic. But that all changes at NOLA.
Brought to us by the team behind The Swinging Cat, one of King Street’s best basement bars, NOLA has that winning formula of killer cocktails, top notch nosh and staff that aren’t afraid to have a bit of fun. Just like the name suggests (NOLA is one of New Orleans’ many nicknames), everyone is here to have a bit of fun and a very good time so get ready for a night out in New Orleans smack bang in the middle of the Sydney scene.
Start your evening at the bar, which although it has no bar taps, has one of the largest whisky collections around town, with more than 500 different bottles and counting. They’re aiming to hit 1,000. Then there’s the cocktails – all your New Orleans classics like Sazeracs and Hurricanes, along with a few great gin-based tipples. If you’re settling in, grab a table (in “The French Quarter”) and get stuck into the bar menu. Executive Chef Richard Duff’s hot wings, mac and cheese pork scrumpets and wagyu burgers are bringing in the crowds.
