There's a new vantage point for watching storms roll across Sydney's eastern skyline—and it comes with mango daiquiris.
Monica rooftop bar has opened atop The Olympia, Paddington's newest hotel occupying the beautifully restored art deco Grand Pacific Blue Room cinema. The 200-seat venue, conceptualised by hospitality company Ennismore, blends indoor and outdoor spaces with what can only be described as LA-meets-Sydney energy.
"If Ace Hotel feels New York, The Olympia feels LA," observed Good Food critic Myffy Rigby. "Or at least, an artist's impression of something that feels LA."
The cocktail program from drinks boss Roean Patawaran sits firmly in the easy-drinking category—perfect for rooftop conversations rather than dimly lit contemplation. The Bird Streets mixes blended scotch, peach liqueur, lemon, honey, ginger, and beeswax from beekeeper Tim Malfroy. The mango daiquiri combines white rum, coconut rum, macadamia and wattleseed liqueur with mango, lime juice, and mango syrup.
Culinary director Mitch Orr—known for his work at ACME and Bella Brutta—brings his signature playfulness to the food menu. The lightly devilled crab served with Jatz crackers showcases his love of Australian nostalgia, while crisp-fried rice cakes painted with wasabi and topped with soy-cured tuna demonstrate refined technique.
The dry-aged beef burger with herbed chips has quickly become a guest favourite, as have the cold wheat noodles dressed in ponzu and sesame—"about the worst sharing food you could ever place on a bar menu," notes Rigby, which somehow makes them more endearing.
For those staying at the hotel (weekend rates hover around $700), Monica offers the perfect spot to be a tourist in your own city. Pull up a seat at the crimson and cream-tiled benches, order that daiquiri, and enjoy the view of the CBD.
The Olympia features four dining options in total, three from London-based Studio Paskin. Monica is the only Sydney-born concept among them—and it's proving that local can hold its own against international pedigree.