Odd Culture and Fortunate Sons in Newtown declared the best bar venues in Australia

As a growing number of punters slake their thirsts in Newtown, Odd Culture and Fortunate Sons have been declared the best bar venues in Australia.

In its first year of operations a bar in Newtown has been voted Australia’s Best Speciality Beer Venue.

Newtown’s Odd Culture took out the honour at the 2022 Bar Awards. While the best bar in the whole country was voted to be just down the road at Fortunate Sons.

Odd Culture restaurant and bar counts itself as the watering hole for “the weird and wonderful” and is run by hospitality group, Odd Culture.

The group also is responsible for venues like Petersham’s Oxford Tavern and Woolloomooloo’s The Old Fitz.

Group Beverage Manager Jordan Blackman said he was “stoked” to take out the award.

Celia Doyle and Nicolai Henriksen at the bar Odd Culture in Newtown, voted Australia’s best beer venue. Picture: Damian Shaw

“[We] may be somewhat in it’s infancy, but this is the culmination of many, many years of hard work,” he said.

“I'm glad to see the team recognised for being the best at what they do. The response and support is both humbling and inspiring as we look toward the future of this institution. Maybe we can take out best wine bar next year, too!.”

Odd Culture in Newtown.

In its first year of operation, Odd Culture has been named Australia’s best speciality beer venue.

The two story venue launched in 2021. Next month they will launch their Oddity series of events, which will be sculpted around the oddness of things. In October they will focus on the Loire Valley, and look at the epicentre of the natural wine movement and pair wines with a “very, very French” menu from chef James MacDonald.

In other bar news, a new venue is opening up dedicated to negronis in fittingly what is World Negroni Week.

Couple Rafaele Lombard are Victoria Hampshire will open the doors to Bar Conte on Riley Street in Surry Hills, a bar with 20 versions of the Italian aperitivo.

“I have dreamt of this concept for the past 10 years. The negroni is my drink of choice,” said Lombard.

A bar dedicated to negronis, Bar Conte is opening in Surry Hills.

Those not set on the drink, there is also a selection of beers and Italian wines.

While food is provided by Head chef and co-owner Steve De Vecchi, ex sous chef at esteemed restaurant The Apollo. Although parts of the menu will also have a distinct negroni flavour – with the drink being infused into salumi and dressed on top of oysters.

In other Negroni news, QT Sydney has launched a month-long menu of six-new age negronis. While for Negroni week, Ovolo hotels have created a drink that sees the cocktail combined with a kick of caffeine, to create The Decadent Count.