Spectacular bar in southwest Sydney lets you have a pint without a punt
A NEW bar that would look at home in Newtown or New York has opened up in southwest Sydney — and residents are flocking there in increasing numbers.
Fairfield
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YOU can have a pint without the pokies at a spectacular new bar in the southwest.
Andrew Chase and Ninos Shlaimon opened 53 Canley on Canley Vale Rd two months ago and residents are flocking to the pokie-free venue in increasing numbers.
“This is the number one area for gambling in Sydney,” Mr Shlaimon said.
“Gambling is a choice but when you’re 18 and the only place you can drink is at a pub full of pokies, it’s so easy to get caught up.”
The business partners acquired a coveted general bar licence and opened the first bar of its kind in the southwest’s heartland.
“The idea of having a bar out west is so foreign to most people,” Mr Shlaimon said.
“We just wanted to provide an alternative because we know how much people like to drink socially.”
In the burgeoning dining precinct of Canley Vale, 53 Canley is creating a fresh scene for the region’s younger generation.
The aim is simple — to create a fun, social environment without the gaming machines.
“The idea was to create the vibe of a house party,” Mr Shlaimon said.
“The bar looks like the kitchen in someone’s house — there’s a dining room, a lounge room, and then there’s the backyard with the fake grass and the fire pit.”
There is also a wall full of celebrity mugshot Polaroids, neon lights and a collection of intimate nooks in which patrons can kick back with a cocktail.
It is a vibrant, thoughtfully assembled space that would look right at home in culture capitals like Newtown, Melbourne or even New York.
“Most of the ideas came from travelling,” Mr Chase said.
“Melbourne’s bar scene is really quirky — gaming is only in RSLs and casinos and we brought that back to Sydney with us.”
A particular point of pride for the partners is the distinctly personal approach they took with their new venture.
“We built it all ourselves,” Mr Shlaimon said.
“There’s a lot of character in it — we didn’t use a design team, we figured it all out ourselves and it’s our vision.”
Mr Shlaimon humbly describes the bar’s team, which includes kitchen staff Robert Truong and Robinson Trinh, as a bunch of kids with a dream they realised after watching an episode of Shark Tank.
“When you have pokies someone sneaks off and then they’re gone for 20 minutes and come back pissed off because they just lost money on the machines,” Mr Shlaimon laughed.
“There are no distractions here — people love to grab a burger, listen to some decent music and stand around the bar and watch us make drinks and have a chat.”
It is only the step in a three-to-five year plan for Chase and Shlaimon, who have their eye on the bar’s vacant rooftop space as well.
“We would love to turn that into an outdoor cinema and beer garden where you can go and have your Sunday sessions,” Shlaimon said.
“This is the first venue of its kind in this area — it’s a social alternative to the typical pubs around here,” Chase agreed.
RAISING THE BAR
■ 53 Canley is open seven days a week at 53 Canley Vale Rd, Canley Vale.
■ The bar opens from 4pm on weekdays and from 12pm on weekends.
■ For details, visit facebook.com/53canley
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