The team behind hatted Surry Hills restaurant Bar Copains has officially opened two new venues.
Bar Alma’s and Bessie’s – located in the former Albion Street site of Surry Hills’ Chefs’ Warehouse, just a stone’s throw from Copains – opened late last week.
The much-anticipated restaurant and bar are a nod to the co-owners’ grandmother’s, with Bessie’s named after Morgan McGlone’s gran and Bar Alma’s named after Nathan Sasi’s.
Promising “classic cocktails and fun times”, Bar Alma’s is a walk-in only cocktail bar. The team is serving stalwart cocktails alongside a list of special creations, with bar snacks like grilled wagyu rib cap skewers with mustard and pickles.
Next door is Bessie’s, a Mediterranean restaurant harnessing fire cooking. Menu items include wood fired prawn with lardo and paprika oil, and rosemary; chorizo with salsa mojo verde; whole Murray cod with fried garlic and pil pil; woodfired lamb empanadas with salsa mojo picon; and salted peanut and caramel parfait with chocolate mousse.
Sydney-born Remy Davis returns home from Basque food capital San Sebastian, leaving a role at Michelin-starred Elkano to take on the position of head chef.
Bar Copains remains open and continues to serve crowd favourites.
Bessie’s and Alma’s are open at 111-115 Albion Street Surry Hills, 5pm to midnight Monday to Wednesday, and midday to midnight the rest of the week.
