Mary’s gave Circular Quay its first hipster boost and now Miami based nightlife brand Hyde tells us to ‘Rise Above it All’ as it takes over our much loved Hacienda Bar. There’s just one catch…you need to climb a few stairs.
It’s a stairway to instagram heaven. Hyde Hacienda overlooks the Harbour Bridge making any snap a good one from a pink neon bodycon dress to a plate of prawns (let’s just say the prawns won it on our visit). By day, it’s an oasis of baby pink and mint sofas, palm trees and hanging fernery. It has a range of options to keep you happy from bottomless Chandon brunches to Veuve Clicquot packages which include a personal bartender (who by the way, you cannot take home). By night the place transforms with DJ’s, private hire booths and table service.
We take our chances by day and peruse the cocktail list designed by award winning Tim Philips-Johansson. Our pick is Pimms Smash, a blend of pomegranate and watermelon with a marigold flower tucked behind a mound of ice like a playful flower tucked behind your ear. Next a ‘Berry Mocktail’ is paired with a nourishing stick of blueberries.
Tiger Prawns 
Lemongrass chicken skewers
Food is a range of ‘snacks & things’ which are mostly on the small size of tapas plates, so you’ll find yourself ordering much of the menu. A bowl of crushed ice is topped with bright red tiger prawns; just hold the tail and dip in cocktail sauce. Calamari is topped with an asian style slaw of green papaya salad, whilst tempura pumpkin flowers are a line up of five teeny stemmed delicate flowers dusted with dukkah. Chicken lemongrass skewers are one bite, one handed morsels.
Three miniature crispy tacos ($18) are filled with fresh tuna and avocado, lime and aioli – its Miami on a plate. Bigger orders include sweet potato fries and a retro style cocktail sauce shrimp roll. The soft milk roll is thoughtfully sliced with paprika pimped-up shrimps and a few ready salted crisps.
So whether its by day or by night. Grab a friend, don something glamourous and enjoy one of the best views in town. You’ll find no matter how your day has been, rising above it all is just a bit easier with a cocktail or two in hand.
Hyde Hacienda Sydney Level 3, Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, 61 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (located in Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour)
