The vantage point from BRKLYN’s first-storey windows over Rundle Street has always been great, and it’s about to get better.
A 50-square-metre, 70-person balcony is currently under construction right across the face of the building. Its opening will kick off the bar’s third-birthday weekender from Friday April 26 to Sunday April 28.
Talk of a balcony has been swirling for almost three years. When the cogs started turning, council approval took 18 months, but the build – a modular design made offsite then clipped in place – should only take a month.
“There’s not a single [small] venue [in the East End] that has a balcony like this,” says owner Rashaad Cezar. “You have The Stag and The Austral but nothing like this.”
Two windows will become doorways that lead onto the balcony, which will be decked out with cushy couch seating, high benches and low tables, and greenery, plus heaters and blankets for the cooler months. “We want to make it a space where you can really get comfy,” says Cezar. “As a more wintry bar, we can now branch out, and come summer we’re looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
Recently chef Chang Nam (ex-d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant) joined the team to help refine the menu. Cult favourites such as the Reuben sandwich and fried chicken will stay put, but there’s plenty of room to move elsewhere.
Over the next month, “We’re gonna use [Nam’s fine-dining experience] to add a polished touch to what we do,” says Cezar. New share plates will reflect the diversity of New York’s food scene. “We’re not tied down to just greasy, fried American food, and we want to open it up completely ‘cause New York’s a cultural melting pot.” Also in the works (and on-brief) are New York-style bagels and bottomless, diner-style filter coffee. Plus weekend trading hours will soon extend to lunchtime for optimum sunning on the balcony.
Pulling out all the stops for the bar’s third birthday, there’ll be a Mismatch Brewing Co tinnie bar and cheap Reubens on Friday, Never Never Distilling Co gin tastings and cocktails on Saturday, and the one-two punch of Bloody Marys and fried chicken for Sunday recovery.
You’ll also be able to thumb through crates of records curated by resident vinyl-based radio network Groundfloor Radio or grab a pizza slice from New York Fold.
BRKLYN’s balcony opens on Friday April 26 to kick off the bar’s third-birthday.
