Lobo Plantation named Time Out Sydneys Bar of the Year

Now in its eighth year, the annual Time Out Sydney Bar Awards were held at Sky Terrace at the Star on Sunday 6 December.

The Awards spanned a total of 13 categories with underground rum bar, Lobo Plantation taking out the top accolade – Best Bar of the Year.

Since opening in 2013, Lobo Plantation, has become one of Sydney’s most popular haunts and owners Michael Hwang and Eddie Levy have since gone on to open cocktail bar and diner, Darlo Country Club in Sydney’s Darlinghurst together with The Island’s Adam Abrams and Julian Tobias. 

Darlinghurst proved to be one of the city’s most vibrant hotspots with This Must Be The Place named Best New Bar, and Eau De Vie taking out Best Cocktail Bar.

Best Wine Bar went to the Surry Hills bar 121BC for its extensive list of Italian vintages; Redfern’s The Bearded Tit was named Best Neighbourhood Bar; and The Baxter Inn scored two awards including Best Bartender which went to James Irvine, and Best New Talent which was awarded to Rachelle Hair.

The inaugural Party Started Award was presented to artist management and touring company Astral People for its commitment to Sydney’s nightlife scene, and this year’s Legend Award went to Lord Mayor Clover Moore in recognition of her efforts to bolster Sydney’s small bar scene.

“Sydney's lockout laws have definitely created new challenges for bar operators,” said Time Out Australia CEO Michael Rodrigues. “But Sydney's best have managed to defy the odds through a combination of resilience and innovation, lifting already high levels of service and product to great new heights. Our Bar of the Year, the Lobo Plantation, represents all that is great in Sydney drinking right now.”

2015 Time Out Sydney Bar Award winners

BEST NEW BAR

• This Must Be the Place
• (Highly Commended: Dead Ringer)

BEST COCKTAIL BAR

• Eau De Vie
• (Highly Commended: Bulletin Place)

BEST WINE BAR

• 121 BC
• (Highly Commended: Monopole)

BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD BAR

• The Bearded Tit
• (Highly Commended: Wilhelmina's)

BEST BAR FOOD

• Sokyo Lounge
• (Highly Commended: Surly's)

BEST BARTENDER

• James Irvine – The Baxter Inn
• (Highly Commended: Tom Egerton – Eau De Vie)

BEST BAR TEAM

• Earl's Juke Joint
• (Highly Commended: Lobo Plantation)

HOT TALENT AWARD

• Rachelle Hair – The Baxter Inn
• (Highly Commended: Nathan Pepper – Papa Gede's)

THE PARTY STARTER AWARD

• Astral People
• (Highly Commended: Picnic)

BEST PARTY BAR

• Freda's
• (Highly Commended: Goros)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

• Papa Gede’s

BAR OF THE YEAR

• Lobo Plantation

LEGEND AWARD

• Lord Mayor Clover Moore