Where to find the best hidden bars in Chinatown

Heading to Chinatown for Lunar New Year? There's more to this buzzing strip than meets the eye. Take a detour down hidden laneways and clandestine staircases to discover secret basement cocktails, secluded rooftop bars and a fairytale wonderland.

Bar Clara

Once you descend the stairs to Bar Clara, it’s easy to forget you’re in Chinatown. Glimpsed from street level, this is a sleek space of plush emerald upholstery, sharply dressed bartenders and seasonal craft cocktails. Put their signature sweet-and-sour banoffee cocktail on your tippling bucket list. The cocktails not only taste fabulous, they also help the planet. Why? Because Bar Clara are planting trees annually with proceeds from every one sold.

One or Two

Cap off your night with whisky and cocktails at One or Two. You’ll find this tiny laneway gem down the cobblestones of Celestial Avenue. Inspired by the Japanese TV series Midnight Diner, the ‘wabi-sabi’ bar is chic, minimal, and housed in a heritage listed building. Let the bartenders curate a whisky flight to your taste. Then order the Shiso Shock for a kick of sour. You might not stop at one or two.

Union Electric

With an award-winning bar team, enjoy the ever-evolving drinks menu at Union Electric. Buried in Heffernan Lane, you can enjoy old-school hip hop tunes in a groovy, dimly lit venue. Head to the rooftop gin garden to enjoy the city views with a G&T in hand. Think of it as a modern Tiki bar, serving cocktails with bright, punchy flavours.

StoryVille

Tumble down the rabbit hole into the fantasy world of StoryVille. This hidden bar is packed with whimsical wonders and nostalgia in every nook. Relive your childhood with fairytale-themed drinks. Order blazing bevs beneath a giant glowing mushroom. Sip mystery cocktails out of a teapot surrounded by larger-than-life books. And taste magical Butterbeer and Polyjuice potions.

Aster Cocktail and Wine

Tucked away in a loft above Tattersalls Lane is your next go-to hangout spot, Aster Cocktail and Wine. Drop by for seasonal cocktails or try the signatures. A highlight is the Japanese skipper made with green melon liquor, pandan and lime. Feeling peckish? Snack on tasty bites like shiitake mushroom parfait or black truffle salami.

Longsong

Located above Longrain in a former 19th century horse stable, Longsong is an inviting space lit by flickering lanterns hanging from the vast, exposed ceilings. Make for the large central bar for casual seating, fine wines and spirits from regional producers. Choose from an array of share-style bar snacks prepared on a woodfire grill. Influenced by Thai cooking, the food is thought-provoking and moreish.

Moutai

Hidden in plain sight, this spot looks more like a sleek shop than a bar. A visit to the Moutai tasting room is a one-of-a-kind experience. Grab a seat at the intimate 12-seat table and sip your way through a guided tasting flight or a Moutai-based cocktail. If you've never heard of this spirit, it's been dubbed the national liquor of China and has a fiery flavour.

Section 8

Surrounded by graffiti-covered walls is the hipster haven and permanent pop-up bar Section 8. The converted shipping container bar in a car park on Tattersalls Lane exudes funk and is constantly humming with music and the occasional live band. Sip beers and shoot hoops on the classic b-ball courts or pull up a wooden pallet and sip a spicy marg.

Ballers Clubhouse

Get the gang together for a spirited round of shuffleboard at multi-level party palace Ballers Clubhouse. Who will have the mix of luck and skill to hit the target? Karaoke, darts, glow in the dark tennis – Ballers Clubhouse has it all. Wine, cocktails and spritzes are in high supply. Fuel your gameplay with snacks like waffle fries, fried chicken and pulled pork sliders.

Pearl Diver Cocktails and Oysters

Take a foray into the French Quarter of New Orleans at Pearl Diver. This chic bar dishes up modern tropical cocktails and the freshest oysters from around Australia. Although cocktails and oysters are its bread and butter, there’s also a full wine list and a tasting menu to share. Order bites like lobster jaffles, confit duck legs and caramelised leek tarte tatin.

Manchuria

After 20 years on Waratah Place, Manchuria is still slinging killer cocktails. Make the pilgrimage down a tiny alleyway and up a flight of stairs to be transported to an old-world opium den. The bar is dimly lit with wafts of sweet-smelling incense filling the room. Slide into a booth or find a secluded nook while the bartender pours your drop of choice. The classic cocktails are all covered, but why not try something inventive?