Retro themed cocktail bar & diner in Sydney recalls its colorful history as an infamous 1940’s showbiz club
November 19th, 2014
Channeling the colorful past of the notorious The Roosevelt Club that first opened in 1947, renowned cocktail bar entrepreneurs The Speakeasy Group have resurrected The Roosevelt within its original art deco premises, nestled on the fringe of Sydney’s infamous Kings Cross nightlife district. Restored to its former glory as a glamorous venue for drinks and discrete schmoozing, The Roosevelt, in its latest iteration, allures a new generation of sophisticated patrons with its retro decor, and progressive cocktails creatively complemented with avant garde renditions of American diner food. With an authentic vintage interior decor of dark timbers, plush patterned carpets, black leather banquettes, highlighted with vintage cocktail shakers and crystal glassware, The Roosevelt elegantly replicates the glamour and glitz of its infamous predecessor.
In addition to the main bar and diner space, The Roosevelt offers two characterful private rooms – The Monroe Room – a space for banquets at two custom built tables adjacent to the semi-open kitchen; and the hidden PDR/Poker Room – a handsome, speakeasy-inspired space for intimate dinners – or a game of cards.
Progressive cocktails from the highly-pedigreed bar team headline the libations at The Roosevelt. Taking the same creative approach to mixology as found at their sibling venue – the much acclaimed Eau de Vie in nearby Darlinghurst, the tantalising cocktail list at The Roosevelt is built on classic cocktails – reinterpreted with adventurous modern techniques and imaginative presentation. Whimsically named cocktails are grouped under headings of 1950’s and 60’s showbiz legends – and served with a sense of style and theatre at both the bar and a bespoke retro-cocktail trolley. Copious and dramatic applications of liquid nitrogen create super-chilled glassware, snap-frozen ingredients, and some remarkable combinations of flavours and textures – served in both exquisite crystal glass ware – and idiosyncratic vessels such as hipflasks, glass guns and wooden crates. In addition to the sublime cocktails, The Roosevelt offers an approachable list of champagnes and wines, plus a good selection of Australian and American craft beers.
Similarly progressive, the kitchen team serve an Americana-inspired diner menu, featuring a selection of tapas-style dishes for sharing, together with some more substantial plates such as the ‘Fried Chicken & Waffles’ – buttermilk breaded & fried chicken thigh, Belgian sugar waffle, bourbon maple butter, sour watermelon salad.
The Roosevelt is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 pm until midnight, with the enticing Bottomless Champagne Lunch on Saturdays between 12 pm and 4 pm. The two private rooms are ideal for small group dinners and celebrations – contact The Roosevelt for booking information. Regular promotions and event updates can be found on their Facebook Page.
