Negroni Aperitivo Bar, Bar Conte, Launches Late-Night Dining
Fancy a Negroni and authentic Italian cuisine in the late hours of the night in true Italian-style? Bar Conte, Australia’s first Negroni-centric bar in Sydney’s Surry Hills has you covered.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Steven Woodburn
Burrata caprese, heirloom tomatoes and croutons at Bar Conte.
‘It’s been almost 2 years since we launched Bar Conte, offering over 30 iterations of the Negroni,’ says Raffaele Lombardi, Bar Conte co-owner.
Freshly shucked East 33 Sydney rock oysters and squid ink spaghetti, scampi, heirloom tomatoes and caviar at Bar Conte.
Settled on the corner of Riley and Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, the 38-seat venue is a warm and inviting space with brass accents, shades of green and earthy red walls.
Australia’s first Negroni-centric bar in Surry Hills, Bar Conte, opened it doors almost 2 years ago. Since then, the focus has been on true-Italian cuisine with a Negroni bar that caters from the traditional to the more adventurous palate.
Bar Conte is now open later, with an expanded menu and extended dining on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, with last orders at 11:15pm—catering to those who prefer to dine out past the usual 8pm seating time.
‘I split my time between Sydney and Italy and I’ve loved researching and exploring bars in Italy. I wanted to bring these authentic experiences to Surry Hills. I’m proud to offer a true Italian venue where locals and visitors can come early in the morning for their daily coffee and pastry all the way into the night, for dinner a late night digestive,’ says Raffaele Lombardi, Bar Conte co-owner.
Head chef and co-owner, Steven De Vecchi (ex The Apollo) has expanded the menu to include larger dishes, including: baked tomino with sage, pancetta, and truffle honey; king prawn pasta with tomato sauce and nduja crumb; squid ink spaghetti with scampi, heirloom tomatoes and caviar; paccheri octopus ragu with stracciatella; and a 500g O’Connor rib-eye on the bone.
‘It’s been almost 2 years since we launched Bar Conte, offering over 30 iterations of the Negroni. We felt it was time to expand and create more of a focus on head chef Steven De Vecchi’s menu. We have customers coming in after 10pm looking for a proper meal, so the choice to extend our dining hours will hopefully fill that gap in the market. It’s the true Italian way, dining later in the evening. Personally, we like to have the option to eat late and felt others in Sydney would too,’ Raffaele says.
In true Italian-style, Bar Conte will continue to serve complimentary aperitivo with all drinks. Designed daily, snacks can include: focaccia, truffle mayonnaise, mortadella; roasted spiced nuts; and mixed olives.