The Botanist bar and restaurant has been spicing up Sydney’s Kirribilli area since it opened its doors five months ago, and has launched  a new innovative cocktail and food menu last week (22 April).

 
Sydney’s The Botanist was buzzing last week with the launch of its new cocktail and food menu.

The bar references illustrious Botanist Gerard Fothergill, who travelled the world researching plants, and whose last years of his life were spent running a small bookshop in the very building the restaurant now occupies.

The Botanist pays homage to these historical and botanical themes of exploration and discovery, with food and cocktail menus using abundant offerings of fresh produce, herbs and spices. 

Bartenders at The Botanist event.

As well as launching the menu, the event celebrated a pioneering new website at this party for celebrities, locals and media.

Over 140 guests attended the packed out Monday night event, including celebrities such as Elka Whalan, Phil Waugh, Bonny Porter, Hayden Quinn, Hayley Jensen and socialites Simon Hancock and Becky Boyd-Bais.

Guests included tv chef Hayden Quinn (left) and Kayla Greenville.  

Cocktails on arrival included a selection of the new menu constructed by co-owner Hamish Watts, all of which continue to reflect the Botanist themes with simple and elegant flower and spiced infusions – The Flower Doctor made with Botanist Gin and Le Bulleit Bleu a blueberry infused Bulleit bourbon. Champagne, wine and beer were then served throughout the night.

Cocktails reflected the Botanist themes with simple and elegant flower and spiced infusions, including The Flower Doctor (pictured) made with Botanist Gin.

The global share plate menu, designed by head chef Justin Walshe (formerly of La Grillade), is made for exactly that, sharing, and a taster of the new food menu served last night included exciting additions with a Mexican flare such as soft shell tacos with the choice of marinated beef and chilli chicken, as well as pulled pork or southern style chicken sliders and two pizza choices, a veggie mushroom, artichoke and olive, and Italian sausage, potato and rosemary.

The Botanist caters to its surrounds perfectly and is Kirribilli’s first small bar and restaurant.