QTips – The Bondi Cocktail Crawl

By Dan Hutton on February 25, 2016 in

Let’s get down to business – sweet, alcohol-fuelled business. Where does one roam in Bondi for the liveliest and most inspiring cocktails? In all honesty, trying to narrow that down to one spot is nigh on impossible as Bondi is home to more cocktail haunts than Vegas. And that’s a fact (but don’t quote me on that). From lunchtime muddles to arvo sundowners and late night concoctions, Bondi has a plethora of places to get your drink on. While some joints are classy, others are homely and many are a dive, but they all have their charm and they all serve up a delicious mix of spirits.

While we don’t have the space to sit here and list every spot you can go sipping liquor, we will show you one boozy route that we think makes for an epic cocktail crawl…

Time Midday
Location The Bucket List
Our starting point is the Bucket List, the popular bar and eatery that’s so close to the sand you could flick your cocktail parasol onto a group of Swedish sunbakers. Its location means it’s more of a daytime perch, so head down around midday, sit outside with some dark shades, order a ‘Jam Out With Jimmy Hendrix’ jug (Pimms, strawberry puree and cucumber topped with ginger ale) or two and watch the bronzed bikinis, salted surfies and selfie-stick tourists stroll by.

Time 3pm
Location Neighbourhood
Next up is Neighbourhood on Curlewis Street, a local favourite and home to Bondi Radio. Their mantra revolves around life being too short to drink boring booze, and we’d have to agree. Their cocktail list is divided into ‘Cocktails’ for the layman and ‘Extra Fancy Cocktails’ for those who take their drink seriously. Set yourself down in the ‘Hood around 3pm and order something like a ‘Dark & Stormy Bra!’ (house-blended blackstrap rum with Pampero Especial, spicy ginger and honey syrup, fresh lime and soda) and let the good times roll down your gullet.

Time 5pm
Location Bondi Hardware
We stagger south to Bondi Hardware next, the former hardware store turned cocktaileria. Merrily (but always politely) request a ‘Chilli Margarita’ (chilli infused El Jimador Reposado Tequila with Cointreau, lime, agave and pineapple) or a ‘Hardware Sour’ (strawberry infused Amaretto, lemon, sugar, Angostura bitters and a dash of egg white). You’re a few deep by this stage, so it’s a good time to get something in the stomach. Try the polenta, quinoa and goats cheese bites, or a cheese plate with quince paste, fruit bread and lavosh.

Time 7pm
Location 34 Degrees South
The clock strikes 7pm and it’s time to press on to 34 Degrees South to lock lips with a couple of ‘Skinny Bitches’ – calm down, calm down; that’s the name of the cocktail! Westwinds Gin, elderflower, grapefruit, basil and mint combine in a fruity, light and sassy mix. It’s sexy, delicious and fun to order.

Time 9pm
Location The Anchor
To finish off the night, continue down the beach to The Anchor, the sort of place you can really sink into your seat. What are you going order here? That’s up to you; we’ve helped you enough already, so use your tipple initiative.