THE VERDICT
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Setting & Atmosphere
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Food
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Service
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Value For Money
OVERALL SUMMARY
Best Mulled Wine
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walkin’ in a winter wonderland… And psst… I know exactly where you can catch your own winter wonderland right here in Sydney! Escape the winters blues for a beautifully magical night under a sky adorned with over 4000 fairy lights. Enjoy rustic meals while sipping on mulled wine and let the world go drifting by…
SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE
The East Village Hotel has unveiled the perfect escape from the cold, with a winter wonderland themed rooftop garden and delicious winter inspired menu.
Located on a quiet street in Darlinghurst, The East Village hotel looks like your typical Aussie pub upon first glance. But don’t be fooled by appearances, for the hotel’s rooftop holds a secret only shared with those that venture inside.
Making your way up six flights of a winding staircase, a winter wonderland awaits with stunning decor, a warm and cosy atmosphere and a night sky filled with fairy lights. Inspired by the extravagant light displays in Europe throughout winter, the team at East Village hotel have worked hard to ensure their representation was as accurate as possible – and they succeeded. There is something so lovely about being able to experience a winter night outside in such a magical and cozy setting with views of the CBD skyline. Simply perfect.
FOOD
Serving modern Australian cuisine, the team at The East Village Hotel accompany their Winter Wonderland setting with a deliciously rustic and hearty winter menu.
But first. We need to speak wine. Mulled wine to be exact. Ordering the Gluhwein is a must and has got to be the best mulled wine I have ever tasted. This home brewed recipe is so perfect that a myriad of spices and winter berry flavours fill your mouth upon each sip. It’s complex, layered and delightfully sweet, without being sickly sweet.
To eat, start the night with the Grilled Haloumi Skewers. They are fantastic with perfectly balanced flavours. The saltiness of the cheese is accompanied by the sweetness of honey and balanced with a freshly squeezed lemon. Yum!
For main, I couldn’t go past the Honey Glazed Ham Board served with spiced pear chutney. This dish is delicious and just oozing with the essence of winter. Having invited the boy with me (he’s vegetarian by the way – I know how is a foodie to cope?) I was extremely delighted to see a number of vegetarian options available. He decided to go for the Zucchini Flower and Mint Orecchiette which was nice, but I was soooo badly hoping there would be some stuffed zucchini flowers on top!
Finally, we finished the night with the Hot Doughnuts. They were gorgeously crispy on the outside and amazingly soft on the inside. So soft in fact that they melted in your mouth – I kid you not. Coated in cardamon sugar and served hot with a dollop of Chantilly cream, they are the perfect indulgence for winter.
SERVICE
Really friendly and attentive. Service was a little slow at times (and sometimes forgetful – our second serving of mulled wine never came) but hey we’re all human and it definitely didn’t deter from the beautiful night! I’d definitely go back!
VALUE FOR MONEY
Great food at standard pub-style prices.
THE DETAILS
Where:
234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact:
0431 622 944
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 11am – 12am
Sunday: 11am – 10pm
Find Them Here:
*Please note that this was an invited event.