Latest news with #BarFreda's
Time Out
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Revealed: The five most popular food and drink items Sydneysiders are ordering at the pub
Sydney's home to many cracking pubs – ones that bring people of all walks of life together over good times, cold ales, Sunday roasts, cheap, mid-week steaks, trivia and sunny beer gardens. But what are we all frothing on? A recent report by Tyro Payments – the team behind those handy EFTPOS machines – has revealed the top five most popular food and drink orders by Aussies. And it turns out we can't get enough of Sabrina Carpenter's boozy drink of choice, the Espresso Martini, and golden, crunchy, often-as-big-as-the-plate chicken schnittys. A high-octane cocktail made from espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka and simple syrup, Espresso Martinis are rocket fuel for a big night out. Fast-paced steakhouse Alfie's in the CBD does a spiced, creamy riff on the classic, pairing vodka and coffee with miso, custard and nutmeg. Over in Chippendale, Bar Freda's is serving a Frozen Espresso Martini with coffee tequila, salted caramel, cold brew and dairy-free whip (yum). And Uncanny Newtown – winner of Time Out Sydney's People's Choice Award 2025 for Best Bar – is shaking up a bright, citrusy take with rum, coffee liqueur, vanilla and orange bitters. As for schnittys, a few of my favourites include the one at The Bat & Ball, where the retro Redfern boozer serves chicken brined and crumbed in ancient grains, paired with a buttery mash and KFC-style gravy. Una's – an Austrian, German and Hungarian go-to in Darlinghurst – serves a massive schnitzel that ticks the crisp, juicy and downright huge boxes. And Corner 75 in Randwick is once again reeling in fans for its excellent, whopping schnitty. The report, which analysed more than 30 million food and drink orders over the past five years, shows that alongside chicken schnitzels, Aussies are also ordering parmys, steak sandwiches, Margherita pizzas and fish and chips like there's no tomorrow. As for what drinks we're ordering most at the pub, following in the footsteps of the Espresso Martini are Coronas, Aperol Spritzes, Margaritas and pints of Byron Bay's holiday-coded Stone & Wood Pacific Ale. Other interesting insights from the report include this: staying home doesn't save you as much money as you'd think – Aussies spend an average of $90 a week on takeaway and streaming services. (If you're looking to save money, our handy guide to Sydney's top affordable eats may help.) And 35 per cent say they're less likely to buy a round for mates now compared to a year ago. We all know someone who magically disappears when it's their round – don't be that person. The most popular pub food and drink orders for Aussies are: Drinks Espresso Martini Corona Aperol Spritz Margarita Stone & Wood Pacific Ale (pint) Food Chicken schnitzel Chicken parmigiana Steak sandwich Margherita Pizza Fish and chips If you're keen to read more, check out Tyro's Eat Pray Love Report here. As for me? I'm off for a parmy and a pint of Stone & Wood. These are the best pubs in Sydney right now. the best bars in Sydney.
Time Out
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Beloved Inner Sydney pub The Norfolk has reopened with a fresh new look after a two year hiatus
It's a big week for re-launches. Just as Freda's opens up its third iteration – Bar Freda's – in an intimate two-story space in Chippo, one of the most beloved pubs in the Inner City has reopened with a fresh new 'do. Straddling the border of Redfern and Surry Hills, The Norfolk is back in a big way – this time, with neighbourhood values (and a killer ice-cream lamington) at its heart. This is all thanks to the new ownership by Sydney group Solotel, who have taken over the watering hole from Public Hospitality, following a challenging few years (to say the least). Back in 2013, Time Out Sydney described The Norfolk as 'a party pub… good at walking the fine line between scheduled activities and unstructured revelry.' And in its latest form, it's still flying that flag: with an excellent happy hour (4-6pm Mondays through Fridays), Tuesday night trivia, 'spin the wheel' every Thursday, a hefty meat raffle every Friday and a fun, welcoming vibe that will keep you long into the night. But this time, things have stepped up a notch – with an on-point cocktail menu (order the pickle Martini) and schmick, warmly lit interiors that honour the pub's Art Deco roots with a refined sense of style. 'The Norfolk has always stood for good times, great food and that sense of belonging you only get from your local,' says Marcella Guilfoyle, the pub's general manager. A neighbourhood drinking hole at its heart, the new iteration of The Norfolk hasn't cut any corners when it comes to the booze list. With a focus on local, the wine list is ever-evolving and nicely priced, and alongside the local beers (including a Norfolk-exclusive dark beer from Yulli's Brews) you'll find a carefully curated cocktail list featuring aperitivo-inspired drinks and some delicious, creative non-alc options. Honouring their 'party pub' values, The Norfolk is also serving up batch-made cocktails (including Negronis, Americanos and a perfectly zesty Tommy's Margarita) on tap, available to order by the glass or by the carafe. Reflecting the neighbourhood-focused ethos, the menu has been designed in collaboration with local businesses, and it's bloody good as a result. With Toby Wilson (executive chef and 'Chief Taco Officer' at the adjoining Ricos Tacos) at the helm, the kitchen elevates old-school pub classics, and draws on the expertise of local stalwarts to bring you the best of what Redfern has to offer. French onion dip comes with freshly baked focaccia from Good Ways Deli, and the beloved Redfern sandwich shop has also teamed up with local gelateria Ciccone and Sons for The Norfolk's signature dessert: a perfectly fluffy lamington ice-cream sandwich. Other menu highlights include the gloriously loaded chicken and gravy rolls, hearty-as-heck beef and VB party pies, and a signature house-made sausage roll that's sold by the inch ($2 per inch at happy hour). Through and through, The Norfolk is a celebration of its setting – an ode to the people and businesses that build the culture of Sydney's quirky, colourful Inner City suburbs. And don't worry, Rico's Tacos isn't going anywhere.
Time Out
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Hell yeah: Sydney icon Freda's reopens today, bringing good times, killer music and yum eats and drinks to Chippendale
Sydney's nightlife is about to get a whole lot more fun as Bar Freda's – an evolution of Chippendale's OG party bar Freda's, as well as Darlinghurst's go-to Cafe Freda's – officially opens its doors today (Thursday, April 24) in Chippendale. Expect high-energy dance hits, backed up by groovy interiors and excellent eats and drinks. Bar Freda's has taken over a two-level heritage terrace connected to The Abercrombie, in the former home of Lil Sis, with co-founders David Abram and Carla Uriarte aiming to create a cool space that brings people together over a shared love of good times. DJs will be playing every Friday and Saturday night, from 8pm 'till late. To celebrate the launch, the team is throwing a 'Festival of Freda's', kicking off tonight, and running until Saturday, April 26, featuring a line-up of non-stop bangers and disco vibes. Tickets cost $20 – you can snap up the remaining ones and check out who's playing here. Plus, there's a fun happy hour on offer that we reckon you should get around: $7 schooners, $12 frozen cocktails and $15 Tommy's Margs, available Tuesday to Saturday, 5-7pm. Cheers. 'It's remarkable that we're coming back just a few hundred metres from where the original Freda's was. That venue had a big impact on the nightlife scene at the time, and with Club Freda's nights in the works, I'm beyond excited to be back in a position to provide opportunities for young DJs, promoters and creatives in Sydney and help give them a platform to perform and express themselves. At the heart of it, that's what Freda's has always been about,' Abram said. If you've ever spent an arvo or night at Freda's or Cafe Freda's (hello, all of Sydney), you know we're in for a treat. Food-wise, there'll be bar snacks like fresh oysters, punchy gildas and lasagne croquettes, as well as luscious pastas such as rigatoni with eggplant ragu and stracciatella, plus deli-style sambos. The menu is backed up by a fun cocktail list, including a frozen Espresso Martini with a dairy-free whip, a matcha-spiked Piña Colada, and Freda's Martini made with vodka, vermouth and pickle brine. Feel like a vino? The team will be showcasing drops from small-scale producers in Australia and Europe. Just like the other venues, the interiors at Bar Freda's are warm, relaxed and funky, with a massive glittering disco ball and bar stools reupholstered from the original Freda's. Excited? We are too.
