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Temperance Lane
SYDNEY, NSW, 2000 -
(02) 9947 9... (02) 9947 9025
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Pubs & Bars
Lounge Bars
Eating house and bar
In the grand tradition of hard to find laneway bars comes Grasshopper, which is tucked down Temperance Lane in the CBD off George Street (between King and Market Streets next to the RM Williams shop). There's an intimate bar downstairs and a restaurant upstairs.
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Reviews of Grasshopper
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ClaudiaAsc 7 reviews
People who are up for a quiet drink and deep conversation...this is not the place for you!
I love this place although it has gotten me stumbling home on many late weeknight!
Right across from my work its the closest and most convenient bar to hop across!
Anyone who has ever been here loved it and anyone who is going to go will feel just the same! What I love about this place is it's position, hidden away on a small laneway off George St makes this place seem like a 'secret' although it wasn't too long before everybody knew about it and for good reason.
The ambiance is dark and alternative in comparison to a new age bar e.g Ivy or Marble Bar at the Hilton. This place is quirky serving cocktails in jam jars which aren't only delicious but also skilfully made! Grasshopper without doubt is one of the best little places in Sydney and the best advice is to get in early before the crowd hits in. Most nights the place is jam packed with people it's so loud you almost can't hear yourself speak!
Some people would shy away from this scene but it's somewhere were you can have a drink or too and not worry about how loud conversation is getting! Everyone in this place is up from some fun!
Highly recommend it! -
Jarrod M Newbie 1 review
After reading reviews we thought we'd give it a try as part of our ever quest for finding that elusive cocktail haunt.
After battling the raging torrent that flows down Temperance Lane after the heavens open, we made it to the unmarked door and walked on down the stairs.
Decor was well in keeping with the theme of the alleyway bars the owners are so famous for. Lots of 'clutter kitsch' if you like. Complete with an old colour TV playing nothing but static, and your credit card tab being passed back to you as a cassette tape.
Settling in to a bar stool and looking through the menu of cocktails that didnt have any fancy names, just numbers. The philosophy behind this was so that people would actually read the ingredients that comprised their drink.
And what ingredients. There were some specialist liquors, and concoctions of which Ive never seen nor tasted in my life. Take the number 5 for instance, a sake based cocktail, you must be joking. This was what was recommended to us by the very friendly staff first, and it went down a treat. They also went off the menu for us and delivered something that was equally as tasty as all other advertised.
This is where the cocktail lovers bar comes into its own. There are no fancy glasses, fancy names or drinks served with pomp and ceremony. Just pure mixologists at work combining some of the most amazing flavours all served in just a jam jar. Pure and simple.
If you want to eat I can highly recommend the steak. Just a devine combination of flavours with a pepper encrusted exterior. A reduction adds an amazing flavour to the dish that reminded me of traditional French style cooking.
All in all a great place for someone who wants to try some drinks that are complex in design, but delightfully delicious in taste. -
bonkersin Barfly 33 reviews
I really wanted to like this place but as its still newish I'm going to have to get past the really annoying incident that left a bad taste in our mouths. But perhaps Thurs, Fri or Saturdays are best avoided if you're not into crowds in small places.
First up, being located in a laneway off the middle of George St means its mainly a corporate crowd. It's small so as the previous reviewer said, get in early because when this place is packed it isn't pleasant. The cute decor with the mismatched furniture makes it feel pretty cosy.
I'm a strong supporter of a bar scene that's an alternative to the personality-free zones that are have plagued Sydney for so long but if your bar is busy, and I can't keep one seat for a friend who's yet to arrive, yet you insist on taking all the seats in our little area for patrons who are clearly friendly with you, then that gets on the nose a bit. The compensatory gesture of 2 glasses of wine was appreciated but it didnt make us want to stick around.
That said, it is a place worth checking out for yourselves but we probably won't go back in a hurry.
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Chelseatom Newbie
while i understand your frustration and not getting a seat, your criticism is completely unjust. If your friend isn't there, and the bar is as busy as you suggest, then why shouldn't the seats be used by people who are actually there? Whether they are friends of the staff is irrelevant, surely? I would say that being prom'd two glasses of wine is more than you deserve. You are complaining for complainings sake here.1 year ago
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bonkersin Barfly
@chelseaatom, hey - I'm just sharing an experience. And "completely unjust?" I'm not sure what sort of places you frequent but i'm assuming from your comment you never go to bars/pubs (crowded or not) and mind a seat for a friend until they arrived? Maybe you're right and we were expecting a bit too much. i'll know better next time.1 year ago
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Jackie M Barfly 62 reviews
You need to know this place exists to visit it. It is down a lane way just off George Street. The lane way is a T shape, and the door opening is on one of the arms of the T and therefore unnoticeable from George Street. The lane exists between the Oakley store and the R.W. Williams store. If you find yourself at the Apple store, you've walked too far.
The bar has an eclectic collection of chairs, lamps, and other bric-a-brac. The bar area is downstairs and there is an upstairs that appears to be more of an eating area.
The bar has an extensive collection of cocktails - all of which are identified by a simple number, and served in an interesting array of glasses - including jam jars. Their beer range was quite limited (just Peroni when we were in), but that could be because they just opened?
The bar is pretty small so even though it is hidden away and not signposted it packs out quickly so get in there early.
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Monday:12:00 PM-1:00 AM
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Tuesday:12:00 PM-1:00 AM
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Wednesday:12:00 PM-1:00 AM
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Thursday:12:00 PM-1:00 AM
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Friday:12:00 PM-1:00 AM
Pubs & Bars
Drinks
Cocktails Imported Beer Champagne Wine Spirits
grasshopper - jumping on a friday night
Grasshopper
Editorial Reviews
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Grasshopper
Ultimate Sydney
Thursday, July 22, 2010
There’s a great line in the 1996 flick Swingers about how saying you’ve been to a hard-to-find LA bar is really bragging that you were able to find it. Grasshopper is Sydney’s equivalent of that bar. Sans sign (save for a thatch of fake grass above the door) and tucked away down an obscure city laneway, finding Grasshopper is like stumbling upon buried treasure. The miniscule Grasshopper underground venue has a relaxed, retro vibe and cocktails served in jars a la its outdoor redecessor, Seven Metre Bar. Don’t miss the restaurant upstairs, too.
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