Latest news with #BarFreda's
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.
