East Village | Darlinghurst
Who would have thought that hidden right under our nose in the heart of Darlinghurst, was a hidden rooftop gem where you enjoy a drink and a meal under the mood lighting of beautiful fairy lights. East Village Hotel with all the fairy lights, the open space and panoramic views of Sydney make this an ideal romantic dining experience. We felt like we've just visited one of Sydney's most secluded restaurant and bar. It would make the perfect first date, just be mindful that you have to walk up four sets of stairs.. just think of it as a secret passage way to something special. As you are walking up the stairs, look up to see the sign 'you are gorgeous' :)
We started off the night by ordering some drinks to keep us warm on a cold winter night:
Birds of Paradise: A mixture of Havana Club 3anos rum, mixed with regal rogue, wild rose vermouth, rondo aperitivo, passionfruit and crawleys real falerum. The passionfruit make this drink quite sweet, however the alcohol tones the sweetness down quite a lot.
Mulled Cider: Served warm, this cider is perfect for winter. It has a mixture of cider, martel VS cognac, ginger, honey and amaro montenegro. This reminded us of a relaxing warm, ginger and honey tea that we regularly drink at home when we are sick.
Blue Blazer: Another cocktail served warm because it is literally lit with fire! (above). It is a mixture of Martell VS cognac, mixed with triple sec, sugar and orange peel. This is a very strong drink, you could probably even get drunk of sniffing the fumes it is that strong. It definitely is not for the weak drinkers.
Birds of Paradise: A mixture of Havana Club 3anos rum, mixed with regal rogue, wild rose vermouth, rondo aperitivo, passionfruit and crawleys real falerum. The passionfruit make this drink quite sweet, however the alcohol tones the sweetness down quite a lot.
Mulled Cider: Served warm, this cider is perfect for winter. It has a mixture of cider, martel VS cognac, ginger, honey and amaro montenegro. This reminded us of a relaxing warm, ginger and honey tea that we regularly drink at home when we are sick.
Blue Blazer: Another cocktail served warm because it is literally lit with fire! (above). It is a mixture of Martell VS cognac, mixed with triple sec, sugar and orange peel. This is a very strong drink, you could probably even get drunk of sniffing the fumes it is that strong. It definitely is not for the weak drinkers.
Beef Bourguignon
This was our first time trying beef bourguignon so had absolutely no idea what to expect. The serving size is on the smaller size, it might go well with some potato or pasta to give it more context and break up the bold flavours of the beef. The croutons did in fact contribute to balancing out the flavours, but there are only a handful in this dish. That said when you do have a bit of everything on your fork, this is a really well structured dish. The bold, salty flavours of the beef with texture of the mushroom and the hard crunch of the crouton!
This was our first time trying beef bourguignon so had absolutely no idea what to expect. The serving size is on the smaller size, it might go well with some potato or pasta to give it more context and break up the bold flavours of the beef. The croutons did in fact contribute to balancing out the flavours, but there are only a handful in this dish. That said when you do have a bit of everything on your fork, this is a really well structured dish. The bold, salty flavours of the beef with texture of the mushroom and the hard crunch of the crouton!
Prawn Cakes
The prawn cakes were a complete contrast to the beef. They were quite bland and provided with some sweet chilli sauce for dipping. I can really see these working well on a night out with the boys over some beers, but not really at a cocktail bar.
The prawn cakes were a complete contrast to the beef. They were quite bland and provided with some sweet chilli sauce for dipping. I can really see these working well on a night out with the boys over some beers, but not really at a cocktail bar.
The Wagyu Burger
Matt just could not resist the temptation of a burger, especially a wagyu beef burger. Needless to say it was quite a mouthful (and a handful), it's definitely not the meal you order on a romantic date!! This thing is LOADED with sauce, from the mayo slaw to the very sweet tomato relish, this burger will have your eyes popping! Served with golden fries, it's nothing fancy but it will keep you grinning.
Matt just could not resist the temptation of a burger, especially a wagyu beef burger. Needless to say it was quite a mouthful (and a handful), it's definitely not the meal you order on a romantic date!! This thing is LOADED with sauce, from the mayo slaw to the very sweet tomato relish, this burger will have your eyes popping! Served with golden fries, it's nothing fancy but it will keep you grinning.
Zucchini Flower Pesto Pasta
Zucchini flower is a godsend, it really is.. especially when they are wrapped with ricotta, tossed in flour, lightly coated and deep fried. Unfortunately this was what I was hoping for when I noticed the zucchini flower pasta on the menu! When the pasta arrived, I must admit I was a little disappointed but the flavour from the pesto pasta brought back my spirits quickly. The zing from the lemon and the creaminess from the cheese made me a happy girl. Even though it didn't match my misjudged expectations, it was an enjoyable dish nonetheless.
This renovated and redesigned pub is definitely one to visit. The rooftop terrace says it all and we guarantee this place will be a hit in summer!
Zucchini flower is a godsend, it really is.. especially when they are wrapped with ricotta, tossed in flour, lightly coated and deep fried. Unfortunately this was what I was hoping for when I noticed the zucchini flower pasta on the menu! When the pasta arrived, I must admit I was a little disappointed but the flavour from the pesto pasta brought back my spirits quickly. The zing from the lemon and the creaminess from the cheese made me a happy girl. Even though it didn't match my misjudged expectations, it was an enjoyable dish nonetheless.
This renovated and redesigned pub is definitely one to visit. The rooftop terrace says it all and we guarantee this place will be a hit in summer!
