Peter Conistis’ Alpha Restaurant has long been known as one of Sydney’s greatest Greek restaurants, situated right next to the Hellenic Club with one of the CBD’s most enticing interiors. The space, the work of designers DS17, is as charming as the food and drink Conistis’ team serve daily, which leaves little wonder as to why DS17 – particularly Director Paul Padadopoulos – has been invited back to help with an extension for the restaurant, an upstairs Greek bar titled Beta Bar.
Beta Bar is a chic extension of Alpha, maintaining much of the same classic structure that characterises the building, making full use of the floor right above the restaurant. Padadopoulos has complemented the raw brickwork with elegant arches extending from the original honeycomb ceiling illustrated by metallic accents and muted tones, working with the original space to create a sympathetic modern installation which is now flowing with modern Greek interpretations of classic dishes and cocktails.
The modern Grecian mezze and cocktail menu has been designed by Conistis, who has curated a selection of small dishes with paired drinks, showcasing flair from the simple (Rock Oysters with cucumber, green olive, rose, and sumac) to the unique (Greek Salad with feta jelly, candied olives, and papara dressing). Guests will be able to wash down small dishes like the Sweetbread Popcorn, which is served with zhoug skordalia, with a selection of concoctions like the Dirty Greek Martini (Belvedere, cucumber tomato tea, Noilly Prat, and crushed Volos olives) shaken and served with a grilled horiatiki.
The bar also spills into a large glass-encased atrium, an event space (up to 200 for drinks reception; up to 150 for dinner) that will be offered with optional Greek spit roasts cooked in a sunken fire-pit to emulate the atmosphere and theatre of a traditional Greek village wedding.
Beta
Address: Level One, 238 Castlereagh Street
Contact: 02 8599 8970
Website: hellenicclub.net.au/about/beta
Images supplied and used with permission.
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