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Heavy Feather

Small Bars

Ditch the mirror ball - it's all about small bars on Oxford Street now

First published on 25 Jul 2011. Updated on 30 Apr 2012.

This venue closed on 29 Mar 2012

Heavy Feather, Oxford Street’s newest little bar, is not named for the feather used to weigh the souls of the dead in ancient Egypt mythology. More's the pity, really: a big mural of Thoth could really pull the room together. You’ll find the bar a couple of doors up from Chingalings (the first small bar to open on the pink strip), up a narrow set of stairs. Like Chingalings, Heavy Feather brings a different sound to Oxford Street, better known for mirror balls and thumping house music than rock’n’roll hidy-holes. Heavy Feather is decked out in that ‘oops-I-just-walked-into-someone’s-lounge-room’ style, with the bar taking pride of place in the middle of the room.

“It’s meant to be an oxymoron,” says our bartender, when we ask about the name. Take a look at the cocktail list and you’ll see all the drinks are oxymoronically named. There’s a Fine Mess (tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, honey, passionfruit); Terribly Pleased (light and dark rums, coconut liqueur, lime and orange juices, passionfruit, bitters); and Friendly Fire (a riff on the El Diablo, with the addition of hazelnut liqueur with tequila, creme de cassis, lime juice and ginger ale).

The cocktails are geared towards the fruity end of the spectrum. For us, the drinks are a bit busy - we’re generally pitched in the less-is-more camp. But try the Modern Old Fashioned - a regular Old Fashioned with the addition of peach liqueur and a splash of orange juice. It’s about as far removed form Old Fashioned as you can get, but it’s a good drink all the same. Or you could always just go a beer - there’s Dos Blockos, a new Aussie microbrew that comes in its very own paper bag, as well as Coopers, Knappstein, Cascade, Corona and a Batlow cider we’re quite keen on going back to try.

Make sure to claim a lounge at Heavy Feather: the bar stools are fairly uncomfortable - especially if you’re tall. It’s a great spot for a mid-week drink - leave Saturday nights to the tyre kickers.

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Words by Myffy Rigby

Heavy Feather details

Address

137 Oxford St

Darlinghurst 2010

Telephone 02 9331 1229

This venue closed on 29 Mar 2012

Price per person including drinks Up to $50

Open Mon-Sat 5pm-12 noon; Sun 5pm-10pm

Darlinghurst area guide

Heavy Feather map

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Readers' comments

Community guidelines

Taylah said: “On the fence”
This place has an air of 'unfinished' about it. Chingalings is still my number 1 hang-out. and yeah I agree the first comment sounds like an ad - with bad grammar.

Posted on Wed 05 Oct 2011 10:48:15
Geoff said: “Does Chrissy work there?”
First comment reads pretty advert-like. Love the outdoor terrace? Great for a mid-week hang?

Posted on Fri 16 Sep 2011 12:09:23
Finchy said: “Bring on summer!”
this place has a sweet vibe, great place to meet people, funky music!.. Well worth a look

Posted on Mon 22 Aug 2011 15:05:28
Drydo said: “Nice joint ”
Really cool small bar, could be a great live music spot. The beer in the paper bag was really tops. Check it.

Posted on Sat 20 Aug 2011 20:09:08
Feeble said: “Cocktails a must”
This is the home of the best cocktails on Oxford St, because it is the ONLY place on the pink strip that do cocktails. Big TICK from me

Posted on Thu 18 Aug 2011 17:58:31
Mary said: “My new Bar!”
Checked it out with my mates, food was great, staff really welcoming and they sure know how to make a cocktail :)

Posted on Thu 18 Aug 2011 04:15:35
Josh said: “Good eats”
food was good, music also, decor was OK shame about the wall behind the bar. Outdoor area also cool.

Posted on Wed 10 Aug 2011 15:30:33
Chrissy said: “We love heavy feather!”
We love this bar, cool people, awesome beats, great service. We tried the cocktails... A well know secret and the new old fashion, they rocked! Love the outdoor terrace.. Perfect mid week hang out.

Posted on Fri 29 Jul 2011 22:05:42

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