• Rebuilding Sydney's nightlife with chicken soup and psychics

As game-changing New York City bar Employees Only has spread its wings, its trademark neon "Psychic" sign has gathered more and more stories.

The Sydney launch this week of a bar routinely listed among the world's best is sure to add to the psychic folklore.

"We've always had a tarot card or palm reader at the front. One once told a customer they were going to have a baby with someone other than the person there were with, which ended up being true. But the person was in her 20s, so it wasn't that unexpected," says Robert Kreuger, an Employees Only veteran and investor in the Sydney outpost.

The local venue has another treat, a tiny Harry Potter-like space under the stairs that squeezes five people and just enough room for a ouija board.

If you prefer spirits of the cocktail variety, Krueger recommends the signature manhattan, made to a recipe they found that dates back to the 1860s. "It's one of the best first sips of the day," he says.

Employees Only started in 2004, branching out to Miami, Singapore and Hong Kong. But Sydney is the first to be located in a basement space, which has been given a makeover by designer Tim Leveson.

Chef Aurelien Girault​ will bring the New York-style bistro menu to life.

"We've made a couple of changes. The bacon-wrapped chops are wrapped in pancetta here, but the steak tartare and some of the other (New York) dishes are on the menu," Krueger says.

And what is the in-house psychic telling him about the bar's chances in Sydney? "Don't worry about the money," Krueger tells.

Open Mon-Sat 5pm-3am (late night dinner 11pm-2.30am), Sunday 5pm-12am. (Open to public on Saturday, November 24 from 9pm.)

Employees Only, 9 Barrack Street, Sydney