A visit to The Smoking Panda is an education in the art of classic cocktail-making.
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 carefully-curated cocktails to choose from, spanning signature, tiki and retro classics. Think Blue Lagoons, Sex on the Beach and Harvey Wallbangers.
It goes without saying that to pull off any kind of cocktail-making feat, you need a sizable larder. And The Smoking Panda’s six-metre wooden bar delivers, stocking a wall-full of spirits – 260 bottles to be precise. It’s a small liquor store back there!
What a pandamonium
The Smoking Panda sprung onto the scene a couple of years ago, and it’s cocktail-making prowess has made it a favourite of the hospo and Town Hall work crowd, as well as those looking 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 here recently, I tried a cross-section of the cocktails on offer and they all 110% delivered:
- Zombie – a mix of rum blend, apricot brandy, pineapple, orange and citrus, this drink sets the house on fire. No, it literally sets the house on fire! Who doesn’t love some cocktail theatre?
- Mai Tai – what a classic! This tropical and fruity, rum-based cocktail stars, well, rum. But also triple sec, orgeat, falernum and citrus.
- Jungle Bird – each cocktail has a food-based element here at The Smoking Panda. In this tiki classic, it’s pineapple, paired with rum, campari and citrus – me like.
- Mango Daiquiri – nothing says summer quite like a daiquiri laden with mango (and rum). This is summer in a glass. Drink up!
The Zombie
A Mai Tai
Introducing… the Jungle Bird
This ain’t your average bar menu
If you’re getting hot under the collar from all that cocktail drinking, rest assured there’s some seriously good American-Asian eats to balance out the alcohol, with The Smoking Panda having just launched a new menu. Hint: the baby pork ribs are some of the best ribs in town, and an absolute crowd favourite.
There’s also food specials four out of the seven nights of the week. On a Friday, you can get three sliders for $15; on a Wednesday, Cajun chicken tenderloins for $7; and on a Thursday, seven of those 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 here, but there’s a little encore of beer, cider and wine (phew!) to keep everyone happy. Plus, it’s happy hour Tuesday to Friday from 4–6pm and Saturday 4–7pm, and there’s too many specials to list. You know what that means? Gather the work crew because this solid gold city bar just got better.
The Smoking Panda | 5–7 Park Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Phone: (02) 9264 4618
thesmokingpanda.com.au
