For almost four years, the cool kids of Sydney gathered for spritzes in the sun outside Cafe Freda’s in Darlinghurst. Now, after a brief closure, founders David Abram and Carla Uriarte are bringing the concept back to Chippendale on April 24. Its latest evolution, named Bar Freda’s, takes over the two-storey terrace where The Abercrombie’s wine bar Lil Sis once stood.

“[We’ve drawn] inspiration from late-night bars in Berlin and other great after-hours cities,” Abram says. Think: cosy vintage vibes, a disco dance floor and classic bar snacks such as rock oysters, house-made pickles and simple pastas. Freda’s signature drink Mega Mate (vodka with caffeinated tea beverage Club Mate) returns, along with a fun lineup of cocktails such as an espresso martini slushie.

Good to know: Happy hour is 5pm-7pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and includes $7 schooners, $12 frozen cocktails and $15 Tommy’s margaritas. 

Abercrombie Terraces, 100 Broadway, Chippendale, abercrombie.sydney/bar-fredas

Alas is a casual neighbourhood wine bar from the team behind Either Or, the Newtown cafe that recently closed after 10 years of operation. Owner-chef Shy Libre says it was the right time to make a change: “Seeing as our part of South King Street has Earl’s [Juke Joint] and Bloodwood, we wanted to bring our own flavour to the night.”

The pared-back 60-seat bar is built to bring people together, with two long communal benches and a sunlit (and dog-friendly) courtyard out back. The wine list champions minimal-intervention Australian winemakers, while the menu (inspired by Libre’s Spanish and Filipino heritage) has snacky and substantial options, with standout dishes such as palm hearts with cashew cream, and blue mackerel with sauce gribiche. 

Good to know: Happy hour is 5pm-7pm daily, offering $2 oysters (until sold out), $10 glasses of wines, $12 spritzes and $14 negronis. 

420 King Street, Newtown, instagram.com/alasnewtown

Forget the cheeseboard. At L’Avant Cave, you can pair your glass of minimal-intervention Australian wine with a $35 set menu of French snacks from hatted Paddington restaurant Porcine.

Chef Nik Hill partnered with P&V Merchants to rebrand the independent bottle shop’s leafy courtyard wine bar in late March, introducing pigeon-liver Melba toast, trout rillettes with horseradish cream, and rock oysters with smoked-eel vinegar. P&V has a rotating list of eight wines by the glass, each representing a different category, from “fun orange” to “baller red” and beyond. 

Good to know: BYO any bottle of wine purchased from P&V Merchants to L’Avant Cave for $25 corkage.

268 Oxford Street, Paddington, @lavantcave

When Bar Demo opens on the Newtown-Enmore border in late April, you’ll be able to wander in without a reservation, casually linger over a freezer-chilled martini, and listen to some records. Food, while available, is not the focus.

“It’s snacks only — things designed to enhance your drinking experience without overcomplicating it,” says Claudia Morgan, who co-owns the 50-seater with fellow bartender Oliver Churcher, both alumni of Good Food Guide 2025 Bar of the Year Double Deuce Lounge. “No kitchen, just high-quality products [coldcuts; gildas] served simply and with care.” 

Good to know: The bar will host guest chefs for Sunday snack pop-ups once a month, kicking off with Pasi Petanen from two-hatted Newtown restaurant Cafe Paci.

Opening date to be confirmed.

85 Enmore Road, Newtown, @bardemosyd

For chef-owner Josh Raine (who led the kitchen at iconic Sydney restaurant Tetsuya’s for seven years) and his partner Keliann Zellman, Surry Hills wine bar 40Res is all about creative freedom and old school hospitality (“not rushed, no overcharging”, they say).

It’s a relaxed neighbourhood wine bar where the drinks list changes with the seasons. Food is subject to the whims of the kitchen staff, and prawn bisque risotto with cognac and seaweed creme fraiche was recently on the menu. Raine recommends kicking things off by pairing a Merimbula rock oyster with a glass of the Jo Landron muscadet. Walk-ins and reservations are available.

Good to know: The leafy, heated outdoor seating area is set to open soon.

40 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills, 40res.com.au

UK hip-hop is thumping and conversation is flowing at Sippenham, the new 20-seat pasta and wine bar on Unwins Bridge Road. “We want to make it a locals-only vibe,” says Stephen Mandis, who co-owns the bar with best friend and chef Nick Giannopoulos. “It’s been a long time coming for this area.”

The pair wanted to create a place where people feel comfortable settling in and socialising over a glass of low-intervention wine (curated by distributor Lo-Fi Wines). The menu is filled with crowd favourites made with family recipes, from Giannopoulos’ grandmother’s orange almond cake, to the seafood malloreddus Mandis’ yiayia used to make.

Good to know: You’ll need to reserve a table well in advance – the bar is already booked out until the end of the month. 

282 Unwins Bridge Road, Sydenham, sippenham.com

The team behind Surry Hills restaurant Shaffa will open their newest venture, Caness, on April 15. It’s a relaxed, 60-seat tapas bar with a focus on Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, approachable wines, and vermouth cocktails.

The list of 10 signature cocktails includes drinks such as the “figroni” (a Middle Eastern take on the negroni), while more than 20 wines will be available by the glass. Dishes are small and snacky, with easy-to-love options including prawn saganaki, grilled octopus and lamb kebab.

Good to know: Caness welcomes casual drop-ins, whether you’re dressed to the nines or in thongs and shorts.

348 Oxford Street, Paddington, caness.com.au