A true Sydney icon, The Pumphouse Sydney has recently reopened following a huge refurbishment and it’s definitely one to put on your list. A heritage-listed building that once supplied power to the city, the new fit-out features high ceilings, huge windows and plenty of warm wood decor. It’s not just the decor that’s had new life breathed into it though – the food and drinks list has also had a revamp, and we were lucky enough to be invited in to check it out.
Whether you’re a wine lover, cocktail fan or beerhead, The Pumphouse has got something for everyone. A gorgeous wine room is the perfect place for a tasting or to enjoy a carefully selected bottle from the collection, with wine notes available for all bottles by scanning a QR code. For those who like to be impressed by an Instagrammable cocktail, each unique concoction on the list is inspired by part of the building and include fanciful garnishes like fairy floss. Paying homage to its history as one of Sydney’s first microbreweries, there’s also a diverse selection of staple and craft beer, including the Thunderbolt Strong Ale which used to be brewed in the building.
While we love a good drink though, you know the real reason we came here was for the food. Sitting outside in Darling Harbour people watching, we perused the tasty menu and got a selection of plates to share. One highlight from the menu is the Crafted Boards, designed to be split with friends and perfect for nibbling on over some drinks. We went for the Bushman, which came with a generous spread of cured meats, cheese, olives, flatbread and preserves and had us picking at it well into the evening.
The Ocean Tartare is a dish that tastes as good as it looks, pairing a beautifully orange ocean trout tartare with dramatic black squid ink crisps. This was a beautifully fresh dish that went well with the equally as fresh Vanella Burrata, served with heirloom tomatoes, peach and basil.
Our choices of bigger dishes seemed to be quite Italian-influenced, as we ordered one of the wood-fired flatbreads with confit cherry tomato, mozzarella, basil and olive oil which had a great doughy base and plenty of sweet tomatoes on top. Our final dish of the evening was the Casarecce Pasta, which was definitely the standout for us all. The pasta was perfectly al-dente, giving it that sought-after dense texture, and tossed with summer greens, lemon butter, bruised mint. It was topped with lemon thyme crumb which gave a delicious crunch that contrasted with the softness of the rest of the dish.
We’ll definitely be heading back to The Taphouse for some after-work drinks and nibbles. It’s in the perfect central spot with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, making it ideal for dining year-round.
