The InterContinental Sydney Double Bay has opened the doors to The Bar, with restaurateur Maurice Terzini taking up a residency at the famous eastern suburbs hotel.
The launch of The Bar marks what the InterContinental describes as the first steps towards re-establishing the hotel’s grandeur.
“The best bars and restaurants in the world are inside a hotel,” Maurice said.
“We are bringing back elegance to Australian hotel bars with service and high-end quality,” he added.
Working with long-time collaborator and InterContinental Director of Operations Dave Owen, Maurice took inspiration from the great hotel bars of London, Rome, Paris and New York in overseeing The Bar’s drinks and dining experience.
The Bar will serve classic drinks and cocktails with a modern twist and put up a menu that showcases local produce with a focus on classic Italian, Australian and European dishes.
Beverage Creative Director Ana Page designed The Bar’s cocktail card with a view to catering to a range of tastes.
“For us it is all about the guest. The Bar is open to everybody,” Ana said.
“We want to create that unforgettable moment for all, you can walk into the room and have a detailed, worked cocktail, a martini trolley, or a cocktail mixed right at your table.”
“With the service and the surrounding interiors, you would have thought you were in the sophisticated bars of the 1920s and 30s,” she added.
Head Chef Lewin White will take charge of The Bar’s menu, which was overseen by Maurice alongside Icebergs Dining Room and Bar Head Chef, Alex Prichard.
Sydney rock oysters, beef tartare, spanner crab, freshwater crayfish and Kaluga caviar will sit alongside an American cheeseburger in dining options for guests.
The InterContinental is known for hosting the likes of Princess Diana, David Bowie, and Elton John in times gone by, and the hotel’s operators see the launch of The Bar as an opportunity to bring back the glamour associated with classic hotel bars.
“InterContinental Double Bay has so much history in the eastern suburbs,” Maurice said.
Sydney-based firm Alfred was charged with bringing the InterContinental’s vision for The Bar’s design and interiors to life. The venue will feature pieces from the hotel’s archive and include historical items like signed photographs and grand silverware. The Alfred team described the bar as ‘a Supper Club mixed between a classic cocktail bar and a 1920s piano lounge.’
With artwork commissions for The Bar by local artist Vicki Lee, the venue will also welcome back piano and vocal entertainer Scot Finnie three nights a week.
The Bar is located at InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, 33 Cross Street, Double Bay, and is open 12pm till late, seven days a week.
