Henry Deane

Hotel Palisade, now a multi-level boutique pub-slash-cocktail bar-slash-hotel, was once an overnight nap-and-grog stop for Anzacs and “wharfies”. A rooftop cocktail bar above the pub pays homage to the Australian engineer-architect who designed the hotel. The first Palisade Pub was built in the late 1800s, but Sydney Harbour Trust commissioned an engineer – Henry Deane Walsh – to build a hotel on top of the pub.

The cocktail bar, which sits over two levels – the top floor and rooftop of the original hotel – has had some influential creatives involved. Sibella Court designed the interior. It’s complete with pink-leather sofas, copper furnishings, double-hung windows and marble everywhere. Architect Alex Popov reconstructed the rooftop.

Cocktail varieties include Bob’s Biscuit (Chivas Regal, house-blended vermouth and Dom Bénédictine, served with shortbread); Stone Fruit Cobbler (Manzanilla sherry, prosecco, peach shrub and pecan syrup); and Henry Deane’s Negroni. There’s also an extensive wine and spirits list.

Food highlights include kokoda, aka kingfish and coconut ceviche with taro crisps; smoky eel croquettes and baby octopus with chilli, garlic and labne.