Time Out has announced the nominees for its 2017 Bar Awards, recognising leading bars and bartenders in Sydney and Melbourne.
The awards comprise categories including Best New Bar, Best Wine Bar, Best Cocktail Bar, Best Neighbourhood Bar, Bartender of the Year, Best Bar Team and the Hot Talent Award.
There’s also a new category in the Sydney awards: Best Restaurant Bar.
“Between the lockout laws, and changing customer demands businesses are having to get more creative in their offerings. The line between restaurants and bars has blurred to the point of non-distinction, and both kinds of establishments are benefiting from this,” said Time Out national food and drink editor, Emily Lloyd-Tait.
Time Out has dropped the Best Party Bar category from its awards in Sydney because “not enough venues remain open to create a healthy competition in this category.” Despite this, Time Out has confirmed that a special award acknowledging those working to improve Sydney’s nightlife will be announced at the awards ceremony on 29 January.
The Best Party Bar category will remain in the Melbourne awards, which will be held on 23 January.
Full list of Sydney nominees:
Best New Bar
- Bibo
- Jangling Jack's
- Kittyhawk
- Leadbelly
- PS40
Best Cocktail Bar
- The Barber Shop
- The Baxter Inn
- Bulletin Place
- Earl's Juke Joint
- Eau de Vie
- Kittyhawk
- Lobo Plantation
- Papa Gede's
- PS40
- This Must Be The Place
Best Wine Bar
- 121 BC
- Bibo
- Dolphin Wine Room
- Love Tilly Devine
- Monopole
Best Neighbourhood Bar
- The Bearded Tit, Redfern
- Crooked Tailor, Castle Hill
- The Gretz, Enmore
- Leadbelly, Newtown
- Uncle Kurt's, Parramatta
Best Restaurant Bar
- Bar Bros
- Big Poppa's
- Continental
- Dead Ringer
- Hubert
Best Bartender
- Michael Chiem, PS40
- Charlie Lehmann, Ramblin' Rascal Tavern
- Stuart Morrow, The Baxter Inn
- Mikey Nicolian, Continental
- Dre Walters, Kittyhawk
Best Bar Team
- The Baxter Inn
- Big Poppa's
- Eau de Vie
- Kittyhawk
- Ramblin' Rascal Tavern
Hot Talent Award
- Marcus Dullard, Continental
- Jemima McDonald, Earl's Juke Joint
- Zach Morgan, Bulletin Place
- Ryan Snedden, Lobo Plantation
- Evan Stroeve, Shady Pines Saloon
Legend Award
- No nominees, winner to be announced on the day.
Bar of the Year
- No nominees, winner to be announced on the day.
People’s Choice
Vote here
Full list of Melbourne nominees:
Best New Bar
- Above Board
- Bar Liberty
- Bodega Underground
- Heartattack and Vine
- Loretta's
Best Cocktail Bar
- Bar Americano
- Black Pearl
- Eau de Vie
- The Everleigh
- Romeo Lane
Best Wine Bar
- Bar Liberty
- Embla
- Gerald's Bar
- Marion
- Smalls
Best Party Bar
- Cherry Bar
- Heartbreaker
- Hats and Tatts
- Lazerpig
- Leonard's House of Love
Best Bar Food
- Bar Lourinha
- The Beaufort
- Lm
- Loretta's
- Smalls
Bartender of the Year
- Trish Brew, Gin Palace
- Joe Jones, Romeo Lane
- Dave Molyneux, The Everleigh
- Serena O'Callaghan, Boston Sub's Jungle Boy
- Jack Sotti, Boilermaker House
Best Bar Team
- Black Pearl
- Boston Sub's Jungle Boy
- The Everleigh
- Romeo Lane
- Whisky and Alement
Hot Talent Award
- Cennon Hanson, Bad Frankie
- Hannah Lawson, Loretta's
- Andrea Marseglia, Boilermaker House
- Mel Musu, The Rooks Return
- Liana Oster, Bar Americano
Legend Award
- No nominees, winner announced on the night
Bar of the Year
- No nominees, winner announced on the night
People’s Choice
Vote here
