Review of Blacksleep Bar

Review by Nancy Merlo

Of the many small bars along King Street in Newtown, Blacksheep is one of my favourites. Mainly because it’s home to a couple of boxes of Jenga and a Nintendo 64 game console where patrons can have a round of Mario Kart if their date gets boring – both surprisingly fun to play after a few cocktails.

However, for those of you who do not share my appreciation for retro games, there’s plenty more to love about Blacksheep from the moody décor featuring fairy lights dangling over the bar area and black wallpaper under low lights, to the awesome drinks and cheap eats (I can’t go past the curly fries!). A great place to go on a date or to catch up with friends, most of the tables at Blacksheep are for small groups, and although there isn’t a tonne of seating, I've managed to find a spot to settle in every time I’ve stopped by.

The average crowd is a wonderful mix of alternative, typically ‘Newtown’ types, painfully cool hipsters and stylish bar hoppers, as well as average Joes and Janes. Mostly, the bunch consists of guys and girls aged around their mid-twenties and early-thirties, although there are few outliers that can be spotted around the room in the forty-plus and under twenty-one age groups. The truth is it doesn’t really matter how old you are, most people would enjoy Blacksheep.

Along with the decent wine list, the cocktail menu has a great selection of unusual concoctions and classic mixes (think fresh lime Caprioska), with prices ranging from around $13 to $20. The more exotic the cocktail, the higher the price. The managers also change things up with the seasons so in winter you can order an amazing mulled wine or cider with a hint of cinnamon, and something a little more fresh and fruity in the summer months. It’s nice to know they put such thought into their offerings.

They also put a lot of effort into the mouth-watering range of tapas dishes that are available when ordering at the bar, a couple of popular choices being the chicken wings and pulled pork roll. Both are divinely delicious. Just don’t wait for table service; all orders are taken at the bar.

Overall, Blacksheep is an improvement on the old Funky Bar that once stood in its place; despite the similar décor some major changes have been made. The place has a great atmosphere that pulls off being cool without being pretentious, there’s great food and drinks, plus live jazz bands playing on weekends – what more could you ask for? It’s well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

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