Bar Fly – Gin Garden

Gin Garden
MCA Ground Floor Outdoor Terrace, 140 George Street, The Rocks (02) 9245 2400 mca.com.au/series/gin-garden/
Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art has rolled out the Astroturf, popped the pink umbrellas and created a truly whimsical fairy-lit pop-up leafy oasis called the Gin Garden, that had me feeling like I’d time travelled and gatecrashed a 1950s backyard tea party. After arriving, I passed a drink en route to the bar that had me asking the bartender for “that one with the petals”. Apparently I was talking about The Rose Garden ($18) – Archie Rose signature dry gin, earl grey tea, ginger beer and marmalade. Floral tipple in hand, I bee-lined for the garden’s swing, where I sipped, swung and picked at the Ploughman’s Platter ($26): gin and juniper cured salmon, chicken parfait, aged cheddar, piccalilli, onions, ‘cress and toast, while making eyes with the charismatic ‘Gramophone Man’ for the afternoon. Throw on your cutest tea dress or saddle shoes and enjoy summer at the Gin Garden at the MCA until February 14.