Misfits

On the south side of George Street in Redfern, this massive 200-seat retro restaurant and bar is hidden behind two large, dark brown doors – ones that look like they open to an unscrupulous basement-style club. That’s Misfits.

It’s from the W. Short Hotel Group, the team behind The Glenmore, The Australian Heritage Hotel and The Tudor Hotel just down the road.

An old-fashioned ’60s and ’70s vibe was preserved, almost like something out of Peter Sellers’ The Party. The Brompton Group’s multi-faceted design (a dining room, sort-of-rooftop courtyard, casual front bar and secret bar behind a bookshelf) is lavish and full of mid-century furniture. The colour scheme takes inspiration from paisley patterns and ’60s pastels.

The venue is what you’d expect from a modern Sydney pub – half burgers, commercial brews, half craft spirits and handmade blood sausages. There’s a notable range of tap and bottled beer, spirits and cocktails that include a lot of big, commercial products. The whisky selection is particularly impressive.

Pub classics such as steak frites and roast lamb cutlets sit next to more up-market dishes like the smoked-beef tartare with charcoal tapioca crisps; and a kingfish carpaccio with kaffir lime, puffed rice and compressed cucumber.