Purple Pit

A simple Martini requires only two ingredients. Three parts gin or vodka, one part vermouth. It’s a simple duo that must be expertly balanced. Like the Martini, Purple Pit has two very dynamic (and acclaimed) ingredients: Joe Jones (now-closed Romeo Lane) and Maurice Terzini (Sydney’s Icebergs, Caffe e Cucina).

The duo’s subterranean drinking den is easy to miss: its door is marked only by small white lettering and velvet rope. Inside, the space strikes a balance between brutalist edge and luxuriously soft textures. Theatrical curtains are illuminated from the bottom up. The roof is black, as are the floors, seats, and the bar. Some of the only flecks of colour are in contemporary artworks, leaving the focus on what’s on your table and the person at the other end of it.

Drinks include a peach Negroni, which subs vermouth for peach wine, finished with a single drop of smoked vinegar. For food, expect small plates that complement the cocktails. There might be a Big Mac-inspired calzone served with pickles, lettuce and onions; a tomato tartare brushed with shio koji; and a spicy tuna loin that pairs best with a Martini.

In true Terzini style, the food pairs with the music as much as it does the cocktails. The closely curated soundtrack spans post-punk to modern country. The musical genres might sound like they would clash, but at Purple Pit they don’t. Like the perfect Martini, everything here is miraculously balanced and finds comfort in contrast.