Assembly

Bars & Pubs

Is this bar Sydney’s best kept secret? If their lack of signage and basement location is anything to go by, then the answer is yes

First published on 12 Jan 2012. Updated on 4 Apr 2012.

Walk straight into Regent Place, past the excellent ramen shack Ton Ton Noodle, and glide down the escalators. You’ll pass the new locale for the latest Miss Chu (“you ling, we bling” is spray painted on the wall), which will open within the month. When you see the fairy lit gardenette, with Astroturf and outdoor furniture, you’re here.

No doubt you’ll most likely hear it before you see it – Assembly plays quite the selection of throbbing Euro-house. It’s a beautifully curated bar. Crystal punch bowls and dainty glasses are arranged within old upturned packing boxes, along with a straight-shooting selection of quality booze. The vintage glassware shines in neat rows under some very well selected lighting. Carbon footprint be damned – we want to know where these guys are getting their Edison-style incandescent globes from.

You’d never accuse the guys at Assembly of being all talk. They pretty much leave you alone till you’re ready to order. The drinks, however, more than make up for the lack of chat from the bartender, and the menu has been written with care. Try a Problem Solver (rye, maraschino, Bénédictine, Fernet Branca, orange twist), which is described on the menu as ‘the solution to (and in some cases the result of) all life’s problems’. We’re inclined to agree: it’s an unctuous mix of some of our favourite things all in one glass and a perfect way to start – or end – your night. Or perhaps a Bosom Caresser is more your speed. It’s a shake up of Cognac, Grand Marnier, grenadine and egg yolk and ‘more socially acceptable to have in your hands and could even lead to the real thing…’ SOLD!

The problem with Assembly is the fact that no one knows it’s here, so the combination of empty room + thumping bass + disinterested bartender = an experience akin to drinking in an empty nightclub. Decent music, friendlier staff and better signage could really make this place pop.

Show a new Sydney bar your support and gather for Assembly.

Time Out Promotion

World Class Cocktail: Zacapa and Mango Tart
by Christopher Pettit

45 ml Zacapa 23 rum + 15ml Lemon Juice + Vanilla/Cinnamon Syrup + 30ml of Prosecco + Chilli Mango Crisps = Zacapa and Mango Tart
(This sweet yet refreshing dessert beverage marries the sweetness of mango and sugar with the complexity of Zacapa 23 rum and a slightly more savoury Chilli Mango Crisp. Boom! Dessert is served)

Recipe:
45ml Zacapa 23 rum
15ml Lemon Juice
15m Vanilla/Cinnamon Syrup
1 1/2 Scoops of Mango Sorbet
30 ml Prosecco or Sparkling White Wine

Method:
Add all ingredients to a boston glass (with the exception of Prosecco) and shake vigorously with one large rock of ice. Add prosecco and strain into chilled coupette.

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Words by Myffy Rigby