THE ABERCROMBIE’S ITALO-DISCO ROOFTOP COCKTAIL BAR & NEIGHBOURHOOD WINE BAR + SHOP

Media Release: 17 January 2023

Multi-level party palace, The Abercrombie, is now home to three wildly unique yet complementary experiences. For the first time, the Abercrombie’s top floor and hidden rooftop is open to the public as Casa Rosa, the playful late-night Italo-disco cocktail lounge with rooftop terrazza inspired by a NYC icon. In the Abercrombie’s adjoining terraces, Lil Sis, is the neighbourhood wine bar and shop with an ex-Monopole sommelier curating the wines. The Abercrombie – entailing Casa Rosa, Lil Sis and the Abercrombie’s ground floor performance and club space, public bar, and beer garden – all opened on Friday 23 December.

“Our vision for The Abercrombie is a welcoming, day to late-night destination for Sydney that delivers a diverse range of experiences,” explains CEO of Solotel, Elliot Solomon. “We want it to be a place that the local community feel is their own, whether that’s picking up a bottle of wine, enjoying a slice of pizza in the beer garden, or soaking up the sun on the rooftop. The Abercrombie is a place you can come to any day, night, or early morning and have a fun experience.”

You’ll find Casa Rosa on level two of the Abercrombie – the first time this level has opened to the public. This inner-Sydney cocktail bar and rooftop terrazza is all about Italian-inspired cocktails, DJs playing Italo-disco beats, Mediterranean-style lounge snacks, table service, and dancing on the couches late into the night (and through to the early morning).

Inspired by the iconic Palazzo Chupi ‘pink house’ in New York, the space is awash in colour with plush lounges, original contemporary art, and a layout designed to feel like you’re partying in that fabulously eclectic friend’s home. Inside the vibe is Neapolitan colour-washed walls, green leather lounges, yellow and black terrazzo tables with delicate scalloped edges, a mirrored disco ball, and pink leather director’s chairs. Outside on the rooftop, built-in booth seating with lobster red cushions provide an ideal spot for soaking up that inner-city sunset.

Sip on a 'Pet-nat Sgroppino' with rhubarb and blood orange sorbet; a refreshing ‘Clementine’ with gin, mandarin, and the floral bitterness of Amaro Montenegro; or a nightcap pick-me-up in ‘Ivy League’ made with Cognac, chinotto nero, coffee and habanero. Bar snacks are served until midnight and include blistered grapes with prosciutto and vincotto; yellowfin tuna tartare; pizza fritto with tomato and Stracciatella; salted cod croquettes; and crispy agnolotti with sausage, mozzarella, and spicy tomato. 

Lil Sis is the Abercrombie’s (very) late-night wine bar and shop inspired by the charming ‘cave à vins’ found in the neighbourhoods of Paris. Except this one has a DJ spinning French-inspired lounge disco tunes and it’s open until 2am.

Enter the cosy neighbourhood wine shop via the terraces on Abercrombie Street and either pick up a bottle to take away or pull up a chair at the communal tasting table and start sipping. Keen to settle in? Head upstairs to the moodily lit wine bar and get comfortable in a booth or at the bar. Date night and friends-who-catch-up-for-one-but-stay-for-five vibes are high.

Zoe Brunton is curating the wines on offer at Lil Sis and while she’s got a bunch of wine cred (most recently as the head sommelier for Monopole), she’s keeping things relaxed, approachable and fun. “The idea behind Lil Sis is to showcase and share producers and wine regions we are excited about from all over the world. Some may be familiar, and some we believe you should get to know,” explains Brunton. “We focus on producers that are organic, biodynamic and focus on sustainability as a whole. Winemakers that are passionate of their terroir and make wine that speak of their place. Most of the wines will be by the glass for those wanting to venture through and explore. We want the list to be fun, approachable, and diverse in its offering.”

The grazing-focused bar menu, also served until midnight, includes a range of local cheeses; Pino’s and LP’s cured meats sliced to order; gildas; and Ortiz anchovies and mussels escabeche. For a kick of nostalgia, order one of the jaffles – triple cheese; Heinz spaghetti with cheddar; or pastrami on rye with Swiss cheese, pickles and Russian dressing. You can enjoy the menu down in the wine shop too if you’re lucky enough to nab the window seat. 

Casa Rosa and Lil Sis join the Abercrombie’s ground floor club space, public bar, and beer garden to create a multi-level, multi-experience late-night party palace.