The Grasshopper Bar

Absurdly overpriced cocktail jars and a $ 25 card minimum. The atmosphere of drinking in an alleyway with friends could be a lot cheaper.

I wouldn’t really consider myself a «hole in the wall» type of chick but for some reason, it is starting to grow on me.
The Grasshopper is in the alley way next to the Apple store, you have probably walked past this laneway many times and never realised it was there!
I went here with my girlfriends (4 of us) for dinner and drinks. We had cocktail #109 (check it out on their website) which was refreshing and sweet. I love the use of watermelon in a cocktail, and well — vodka is my favourite so thumbs up for that.
We ordered the Banquet Menu which was $ 38 pp (minimum of 2 people to order) and food came out quickly. I didn’t love the pickled cucumber and the eggplant dish which was the first two dishes that came out, but my friends really liked it.
The crispy chicken wings with sherry, soy and sesame dressing was delicious! We had two bowls of chicken come out which were crunchy, tasty and sticky which was just, oh so fingerlickin good!
The red braised pork, steamed buns were similar to the ones that Ippudo has and they are on point! This was probably one of my favourite dishes.
We then had sweet and sour pork, and a beef dish, which were your regular chinese style of food with some veggies and fried rice.
We sat upstairs in the restaurant and it was dark, but it was a nice place. I enjoyed the food, the drinks and the company.
Service was good as well.
Overall, I would come back to the Grasshopper since I am becoming a hole in the wall kinda girl now.

I’m an alleyway kind of guy.
If it’s cramped and grimy and hard to find and maybe there’s a few bins or something, I am so there. Grasshopper was one of this town’s very first where-​the-​hell-​is-​it hard-​to-​find small bars. A pioneer, if you will, and as such I’m super late to the party writing this review.
The small food menu is really well thought out, the pork belly sliders are bang on point at 3 for $ 13, there’s $ 24ish mains too, and a whole slew of cocktails to work your way through, all in weird-​shaped glasses straight out of Walter White’s meth lab.
Sit in the laneway and pretend your a character from a Dickens novel. If you have a flap cap on, so much the better.

This is the perfect place to go for a low key date or catch up. The cocktails are good but the price range is a little x-​ie.

Crowded on a Friday… empty on a Tuesday, such is the life of a small bar in Sydney.
While I didn’t have any of the food on either visit, I did take advantage of the delicious cocktails that the Grasshopper is serving up. The cocktails change every 4 months, and because the owner thinks that naming drinks is «cheesy» (in the words of the bartender, not me) the drinks are just simply numbered. They’re up to drinks #91-#100, but if you’ve got a favorite and they’ve got the ingredients on hand the bartenders will make you one of the older cocktails.
I opted for the #99 to start me off and it arrived in the cutest teddy bear jar. It is a bit sweet (that’s what you get when you combine pineapple, peach and passionfruit with vodka??), but it goes down quickly! I moved to the #91 to satisfy my sparkling wine obsession and found it to be a great balance between bitter and sweet.
The bartender was super accommodating to music requests as well (I guess that’s what happens when you’re one of 5 people in the bar) so my friend and I decided to make it an 80s bar for the night, which is ok by me.

Good lord, this place used to be great (first place I ever saw cocktails in jars!) But last time I was here it was a little dire. It smelled distinctly like vomit, and the air con drone was so loud, it filled the place with unpleasant machine noise, which felt oppressive, rather than fun. It’s still in a great sneaky little location, and you’ve gotta love the fact that it’s located in Temperance Lane. But it’s no longer a bar that impresses…

Not a bad place at all, very cramped when its busy, but has a great vibe, great drinks list and great food too. I love it for after work drinks during the week, but its a really small space and just a few people standing in it makes it really difficult to get around in. I definitely recommend, but not to the claustrophobic.

Very cool little bar hidden down an alley in the main drag of Sydney’s CBD. Apparently there is a great restaurant upstairs, but we were there to check out the bar on the lower level.
I am sorry to say that I can’t comment on the cocktails. It was a cold, rainy Friday night so all I was craving was red wine. Their Grenache ($ 14 a glass or $ 60 a bottle) really hit the spot.
We tried a few of the bar menu dishes. The fried school prawns were gorgeous. The terrine was yummy and the dips delicious. My only gripe was that we spent $ 80 and walked out starving. The dishes, although tasty, are SO tiny and overpriced. It’s a real trend I’m noticing with the new small bar scene in Sydney. Although at least Grasshopper has a real kitchen with trained chefs and isn’t trying to charge $ 15 for a hot dog like so many of it’s peers… If these places are going to continue ripping off punters with $ 20 cocktails and $ 20 nibbles people just wont come back…

The Grasshopper is an unmarked bar and restaurant located at the far end of a dark alleyway hidden deep within Sydney’s CBD.
It’s split into two levels. Downstairs is a dark, quirky, and lively bar where they serve cocktails in jam jars, while upstairs is a cozy, intimate, and candlelit restaurant. As lively as the bar is, the noise fades into the background if you’re in the restaurant above, and for all purposes this could be two separate establishments housed in one space.
I’d characterize the restaurant offerings as upscale comfort food emphasizing quality ingredients, if on the expensive side. Service was very engaging and attentive. I tried a cheese selection and Ploughman’s platter, which made for one substantial dinner. If I were to come here again, it would be for the eclectic atmosphere in the bar down below. I’d give three stars for the restaurant alone, but when combined with the unique atmosphere of the bar, I’ll be generous with 4 stars.

Nice food, good service and a great venue. A little stingy on bread so ask for extra. We went here for a lovely meal upstairs and the bar downstairs looks like a great area with good seating and was busy.
Upstairs is a little less loud. Service was attentive and had some good suggestions on meals. Menus change regularly and specials on the board were good choices too. Lovely presentation in jars for water. Only tried a single cocktail before swapping to wine, but it was a good #49.

Who knew a random alleyway off George street could spark so much emotion.
Curiosity– Walking up the main alleyway I noticed a sizeable crowd standing in the side alleys drinking
Excitement — A cocktail that used Solo?! Definitely had to try
Uncomfortableness — Sitting on milk carts in the side alleys with fumes blowing from a neighbouring exhaust.
Disappointment — my cocktail just tasted like a vodka, lemon, lime and bitters that was twice the price.
Confusion — The experience left me a little lost for words. The inside of the bar and bistro upstairs look nice though. Don’t see the appeal in standing in an alleyway drinking. As my friend said «I could’ve just bought myself a beer from a liquor store and gone to a random alley to drink it!» The legalities my friend… the legalities.

What a great little find in the middle of the hustle of Sydney!
Having recently moved offices I was in need of finding a new place to unwind after work with a good drink. A new acquaintance I made in Cape Tribulation recommended of a bar hidden amongst the busy streets of Sydney. So I headed down there on Friday using the directions provided I turned up the alley, I must admit that I did feel a tiny bit apprehensive that this bar existed but once I saw the bar door I knew I’d found a great little spot.
The Grasshopper instantly puts you at ease leaving the woes of work at the door and able to unwind with a cocktail or two. The bar staff mix some great cocktails and serving them in little beakers is a great touch. Having only recently moved to Sydney from London, this bar instantly reminds me of quirky bars hidden in the East. This place provides the perfect mix of great drinks and a relaxing ambiance, I’ll definitely be back here on a regular basis.

You just can’t go wrong with a bar named The Grasshopper.
The Grasshopper is somebody’s lovechild, born in the era of relaxed laws on small bars in Sydney. Nobody knows who the parents are.
Heading down a dirty alley to find a small and (sort of) secret bar is all part of the mystique. The furniture is eclectic and the music just the same. Cocktails are sipped from olive jars while others are served in science beakers. It is clear that The Grasshopper doesn’t take themselves too seriously and you can certainly guarantee yourself a good time.
The drinks are expensive though and the jars only hold about half a drink, so for me it doesn’t really add up. I guess you pay for the experience, but other than being a small back alley bar with cool furniture, you are going to need a little more to hold onto regular customers. Just my two cents.
And for the love of God, don’t order beer. They will judge you.

There is a surprising lack of characterful bars along George Street. There are pubs, restaurants, fast food chains and a few swanky places, but not many rustic, quirky, relaxed and small little bars that have a good cocktail menu and a nice vibe for an after-​work-​wind-​down. It’s lucky that there’s the Grasshopper then — tucked away down a tiny and dodgy-​looking alley next to R.M. Williams on George Street.
It was busy when I got there at about 6.30 on Tuesday evening. I suppose it wouldn’t take much for the Grasshopper to fill up — there’s probably only capacity for about 40 people. It was dark and noisy, but exuded a sense of fun and entertainment. The bar was well stocked, and the service friendly. If you go upstairs, there’s a restaurant too (they call it an Eating House). The menu isn’t huge, but, a bit like the bar: small, interesting with a strong emphasis placed on organic and whole foods. Available at the bar is a range of nuts, olives, arancini and share platters — perfect to accompany one of their wonderful cocktails or a chilled glass of wine.
The bar has been very well received by Sydney; winning Small bar of the Year and Sydney Small Business of the Year. If you’re looking for a bar with a relaxed and rustic vibe, look no further than the Grasshopper. Remarkably diverse and flexible, they also offer a catering service. It just goes to show, good things really do come in small packages.

Don’t be put off by the slightly dodgy back alley that leads to this place. Positioned just off the bustling commercial street that is George Street, The Grasshopper will come as a welcome relief to those a bit jaded by all the sunshine and crowds.
It is a candlelit and intimate restaurant upstairs while downstairs it is a sultry bar characterised by mismatched chairs and mysterious corners.
Late afternoon you’ll find this place populated by suits de-​stressing after a day in the office but as the evening wares on they’re gradually replaced by a more artsy crowd. There’s a great selection of drink sat the bar with the some more unusual concoctions available too. A very unusual place to find in the centre of the city.

A low ceiling, dimly-​lit, tiny little bar serving fabulous cocktails in jam-​jar glasses. The Grasshopper Bar is a brilliant find.
Upstairs you can grab scrumptious french-​inspired food, while downstairs you’ll be lucky to find a mis-​matched second hand seat to sit and enjoy your drink.
Luckily the crowds move through this place in waves so you need only wait one drink before a table or chair frees up. If you’re lucky enough to snag a seat you can also order some great share plates downstairs, including a great breads, dips and meats plate to tide you over.
The last time I was here my friend and I had the extra treat of two arts students who sat happliy sketching the crowd and the bar for close to an hour, helping to give this bar an authentic bohemian feel. That was until one of the staff politely asked them to either buy a drink or free their seats for paying patrons.
Obviously they are well within their rights to do this, but it killed the atmosphere a little for us and we decided to leave shortly after. Interesting we weren’t alone in this as the people sitting next to us also commented on it and they left as well.
While this killed a little of the magic The Grasshopper Bar had created in my head, it won’t stop me going back. This is a great little spot and well worth a visit.

Hidden in a quiet, small, sometimes smelly alleyway off busy George St is one of Sydney’s first ‘small’ bars in Grasshopper.
Depending on what night you go, you may have to fight your way through people having a drink and smoke out the front and once in, the numerous patrons inside en route to the bar itself.
If it is a busy night you may have to wait a while as the few bartenders mix away at the array of cocktails on offer but there is always some old school tunes or someone close by to keep your mind occupied.
If it’s a large choice of beers you’ve come for then this ain’t the place for you as Peroni in the bottle is your only option. Wines or spirits are poured into old jam jars and drinking out of them does not seem as derelict as it may seem if you weren’t in a place such as this.
There are numerous share plate options to choose from down stairs or if you’re after a meal there is quite a nice restaurant up stairs. My companion and I were lucky enough to jag a couple of chairs overlooking the kitchen which I always find fun. It helps in keeping conversation ticking along and it’s stark realisation that working in a kitchen is not as fun as Masterchef may make it seem.
The salmon, the chicken and the dessert all got the thumbs up, as did the accompanying Pinot Gris each and our friendly waiter who was so nice and helpful he got a big double thumbs up from my companion.
All is forgiven though and this place definitely gets a thumbs up from me.