Herbs Taverne, a new negroni bar from Mucho Hospitality Group – the team behind Bar Planet and Cantina OK! – has opened on Clarence Street in the Sydney CBD.

The small, 80-person bar is unlike anything else in the city, with red-hued, gold-tinged interiors influenced by ’60s New York, a glittering disco ball and innovative twists on one of the world’s most famous cocktails (traditionally made with gin, Campari and vermouth).

The drinks menu focuses on quality over quantity, serving three signature negronis (a traffic light medley of red, gold and green) alongside a tight list of cocktails and shots devoted to the Italian cocktail’s bittersweet backbone.

“It’s a journey into the world of amaro and negronis, with [creative director] Jeremy [Blackmore] putting his own unexpected, delicious twists on them,” says Daisy Tulley, who co-owns Mucho Hospitality Group with founders Blackmore and Alex Dowd.

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Mucho has received widespread acclaim for its concept bars, which anchor their drinks lists around a single cocktail or spirit. Bar Planet introduced a new generation of drinkers to the martini, while Cantina OK!, the mezcal-centred micro-bar two doors down from Herbs, featured on the World’s 50 Best Bars list for three consecutive years, beginning in 2020.

“We always keep our menus short because we like to present what we think is delicious, but people can always dive deeper,” Tulley says.

“You can snorkel, by starting to explore with our signature negronis, or you can scuba, by trying some of the 45 amaro we have behind the bar. We want our bars to be inclusive, and for people to feel comfortable to explore what’s on offer, learn what they like … and maybe change what they drink forever.”

The “red” negroni, made with gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, is an accessible option for fans of the classic. The green and gold varieties are underlined by bold, botanical and tropical liqueurs made with parsley, passionfruit and the roots of the blue flowering gentian plant.

Herbs has transformed an “empty concrete box” site into a warm space with chequered black carpet, comfortable table seating and a throwback soundtrack of twangy indie tunes from the mid-2000s.

“That kind of music is quite nostalgic for us,” says Tulley. “We’re in our mid-30s now, and I feel like every bar we do is an expression of the stage we’re at in life … we’re growing up, and our bars are maturing along with us.”

But mature doesn’t have to mean serious. Blackmore, who has become known for creating a signature popcorn flavour at Mucho’s other venues (Bar Planet’s salty-sweet curry popcorn is particularly popular), has taken the complimentary snack to another level at Herbs Taverne. Inspired by Chicago deep-dish pizzas, the popped kernels are tossed with cheese and drizzled with hot honey.

“It’s really, really delicious,” says Tulley. It’s also the only food on offer.

Open daily 4pm-2am

213 Clarence Street, Sydney, muchogroup.com.au/herbs