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A pay a visit to to The Smoking Panda is an education in the art of classic cocktail-producing.
The Smoking Panda – you know, the tiny city bar tucked above Hotel Coronation on Park Street – has just launched a new drinks menu and classic cocktails are the show-stealing star. There’s 15 very carefully-curated cocktails to pick out from, spanning signature, tiki and retro classics. Assume Blue Lagoons, Sex on the Beach and Harvey Wallbangers.
It goes with no saying that to pull off any type of cocktail-producing feat, you will need a sizable larder. And The Smoking Panda’s six-metre wooden bar delivers, stocking a wall-complete of spirits – 260 bottles to be precise. It is a little liquor shop back there!
What a pandamonium
The Smoking Panda sprung onto the scene a couple of years ago, and it is cocktail-producing prowess has produced it a favourite of the hospo and Town Hall operate crowd, as nicely as these searching for a pre or post-dinner drink and snack.
This low-lit space sports a confusing get-up that marries “LA hip” with “the charm of a retro Chinese eatery”. There’s kitsch gold and red chairs, a fish tank filled with Nemos and jellyfish, and a neon-lit Malboro sign, which matches the dull smell of smoke harboured in the faded purple carpets.
15 shades of cocktail
When I was right here lately, I attempted a cross-section of the cocktails on provide and they all 110% delivered:
- Zombie – a mix of rum blend, apricot brandy, pineapple, orange and citrus, this drink sets the home on fire. No, it actually sets the home on fire! Who does not adore some cocktail theatre?
- Mai Tai – what a classic! This tropical and fruity, rum-primarily based cocktail stars, nicely, rum. But also triple sec, orgeat, falernum and citrus.
- Jungle Bird – every single cocktail has a meals-primarily based element right here at The Smoking Panda. In this tiki classic, it is pineapple, paired with rum, campari and citrus – me like.
- Mango Daiquiri – practically nothing says summer time rather like a daiquiri laden with mango (and rum). This is summer time in a glass. Drink up!

The Zombie

A Mai Tai

Introducing… the Jungle Bird
This ain’t your typical bar menu
If you are having hot beneath the collar from all that cocktail drinking, rest assured there’s some seriously excellent American-Asian eats to balance out the alcohol, with The Smoking Panda possessing just launched a new menu. Hint: the child pork ribs are some of the greatest ribs in town, and an absolute crowd favourite.
There’s also meals specials 4 out of the seven nights of the week. On a Friday, you can get 3 sliders for $15 on a Wednesday, Cajun chicken tenderloins for $7 and on a Thursday, seven of these ribs for $10.

Prawn popcorn, with chives and maple syrup

Panda combo sliders: pulled pork, soft shell crab and Tom Yum beef

Mozzarella cheese sticks, with spicy mayo

Pot sticker dumplings
The Smoking Panda is…
Yes, classic cocktails now steal the show right here, but there’s a tiny encore of beer, cider and wine (phew!) to maintain everybody pleased. Plus, it is pleased hour Tuesday to Friday from 4–6pm and Saturday 4–7pm, and there’s also lots of specials to list. You know what that suggests? Collect the operate crew due to the fact this strong gold city bar just got improved.
The Smoking Panda | 5–7 Park Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Telephone: (02) 9264 4618
thesmokingpanda.com.au
I dined as a guest of The Smoking Panda. Even so, all comments and opinions are my personal.
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