A wonderful evening of food, drink and Sax

If you find yourself in the Barangaroo retail district at dusk and hear the sultry sound of a saxophone wafting coolly over ambient vibes, follow the sound — you will be richly rewarded. 

The source of the sound is Sax Café and Lounge Bar, a little oasis of fine food, excellent wine, unique cocktails and live entertainment. 

I was invited, along with a guest, to sample the menu and the vibe last Friday night, and I can report that both are exceptional. 

Sax is located on the corner of Shipwright Walk and Scotch Row, less than 10 minute’s walk from Wynyard Station or Barangaroo Wharf. It’s far enough away from the noisy club strip of King St Wharf to allow for a peaceful dining experience, yet definitely close enough if you want to kick on into the witching hour. 

My friend and I were hosted by the friendly and attentive Brook, who recommended dishes for us to try — and they were terrific choices. Meanwhile, the charismatic and extremely knowledgeable Gabriel, our wine/drinks specialist, presented us each with a bespoke cocktail starter.

I was promised the best Negroni I’ve ever tasted and that’s exactly what I got. It had quality Negroni ingredients plus the top was fired with a mini-blow torch and capped for a few seconds. The result was a smokey cloud that infused the drink with a wonderful extra flavour. It was served with a square of 85% cocoa dark Lindt chocolate. Perfect. 

My friend had a martini that was ever so slightly spiced with a speck of black pepper. It had vim and bite. 

Our degustation began with antipasto ensemble: salami and pickled vegetables accompanied with a burrata cheese island on a pond of crude oil pesto. An intuitive combo that worked well. 

With our cocktails polished off, Gabriel returned with a selection of wines and several glasses. We sampled several excellent whites and reds, before settling on a divine dry red. Gabriel knows his stuff! 

Our second dish was ricotta lemon zucchini flowers with truffle honey. Papery, deep fried zucchini flowers filled with fluffy ricotta with truffle honey drizzled over the top. An exquisite combination of textures and flavours. 

We then shared two mains. The first was a crumbed pork cutlet topped with fried capers and served with tangy rocket and shaved fennel salad and a lemon wedge. A satisfying, simple dish. 

Kingfish carpaccio dressed with citrus oils with pomegranate seeds sprinkled over the top completed our savoury dishes. The tender pieces of kingfish are given tangy overtones by the dressing and a little bit of crunch care of the seeds. A lovely way to round off the palate. 

Gabriel returned with a superb dessert wine to complement a ridiculously large, delicious, decadent crispy flakey cannoli filled with custard and dusted with cinnamon…or maybe chocolate — we gobbled it up and forgot to ask. 

Sax Café and Lounge is an elegant establishment with a relaxed feel. It’s an intimate space, but the high ceiling and large glass windows allow in plenty of light and make it feel spacious. There are tables outside with heaters for warmth. 

You can pop in for breakfast and lunch every weekday. Dinner is available from Wednesday to Saturday. On given nights you can experience chilled beats from a live DJ  who will occasionally play along on his saxophone, or you may be entertained by a burlesque dancer. 

Sax Café and Lounge Bar
Shop 7a/100 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo
Crnr of Shipwright Walk and Scotch Row, at the base of Tower One
sax.sydney