Yorks Hollow Bar
Bowen Hills
YORKS HOLLOW HAS CLOSED ITS DOORS AND AS OF JUNE 2017 IS NOW THE GREEN OWL CAFE & CREATIVE HUB - STAND BY FOR A NEW REVIEW.
Yorks Hollow is Bowen Hills’ hidden treasure – an absolute gem of a speakeasy vintage bar tucked away upstairs in the old shop it shares with its café by the same name.
From Thursday to Saturday nights, the lit-up ‘Bar’ sign in the café window and the sounds of jazz music coming from within are the signs that Yorks Hollow is open for business.
Step inside the downstairs café room and pull up a seat here or head upstairs to a funky lamp and candle-lit bar that looks like a cross between someone’s retro apartment and a bar that time forgot.
A cellophane-fronted bar takes pride of place in the front room and from here there are a bunch of cosy little parlours, nooks and a dining room to settle into. A mix of Turkish rugs and astroturf cover the floor and the furniture is an eclectic mix of kitschy Nanna armchairs, 60s and 70s lounges and coffee tables.
On one wall shelves contain a collection of old skool vinyl – think anything from Engelbert Humperdinck to early Elton John and music varies between live acoustic and jazz acts and turntable favs.
The drinks menu at Yorks Hollow is as interesting and individual as the rest of the place – unique beers from around the world such as Quilmes Lager (Argentina), Delirium Tremens Strong Ale (Belgium) and Schoferhofer Kristallweisen (Germany) along with a smattering from Oz including Karma Citra (WA), Red Hill Pilsner (Vic) and local Granite Belt Pozieres Porter.
A small selection of wines come by the glass (NZ Tappo Sav Blanc, WA Isolation Ridge Chardonnay and SA Herbert Pinot Noir and Redden Bridge Shiraz, along with NV Louis Perdrier Sparkling from France) or some international drops by the bottle: Spanish and Italian whites, Spanish Rose and Argentinian and French Reds.
In addition there’s a decent range of premium spirits, poured over hand cut ice.
The house specialty at Yorks Hollow however are the cocktails, which use the bartender’s own hand-crafted syrups as a base. The small punchy list incorporates classics with a twist (think Yorks Negroni (given a French twist) and Espresso Martini and the house specialties: Ginger Julep (cucumber, mint, lemongrass and ginger-infused Tanquray gin), Absinthe Sour (Parisien bourgeouise absinthe, Peychards Bitter, lemon juice and sugar), The Chipmunk (vanilla and cardamom-infused cognac, peanut butter syrup with chocolate bitters) and the Double Blood Rum (fresh apple, Rosella-infused rum, Rosso antico and lime juice).
To accompany there’s Tapas plates (choose 3 for $20) of cheese, charcuterie, dip platters, melon and serrano skewers or sun-dried tomato and bocconcini.
