Kittyhawk New York will open its doors tomorrow, with Jared Merlino of Merlino & Co guiding the transformation of the Parisian-inspired venue into a late-night NYC-style cocktail bar with a focus on live music and immersive experiences.
Located in Sydney CBD, the latest iteration of the venue is designed to replicate the energy and culture found in New York’s nightlife and vibrant cocktail culture.
Speaking about the decision to steer Kittyhawk into a new phase, Jared said: “After eight years of Kittyhawk as an old-world Parisian cocktail bar we decided it was time to introduce some more fun into what is an amazing venue space. We wanted more energy, and we wanted to have live entertainment at the core of what this business was going forward.”
Inside the venue, the reinvention of Kittyhawk honours the raw, underground vibe of New York City with a plush drinks lounge featuring velvet curtains and carpets in deep red and purple hues.
An immersive DJ booth sets the stage for live performances five nights a week, with genres spanning hip hop, soul, funk and disco across both vinyl and electronic formats. Framed by vinyl storage, the raised DJ booth provides an intimate space for guests to connect with the music.
Jared added: “Music is at the core of what we want to do. A venue is not only about what you eat and drink but also about energy and how you feel, and with DJs and musicians curating the experience the whole way through we really want a high energy venue from open to close.”
Kittyhawk New York Venue Manager Daniel Hilton leads the cocktail list with an emphasis on classic cocktails and vibrant reinterpretations, while a roaming spirits cart creates an elevated experience in the booth area.
Further strengthening Kittyhawk’s connection to New York, the bar will partner with top cocktail bars in NYC for week-long collaborations – bringing two to three renowned New York bars to Sydney every year for cocktail masterclasses and menu takeovers.
Featuring 80-120 bottles, the wine list has been curated by Junior Sommelier Michelle O’Donnell and reflects the exceptional winemaking of Italy, Australia and France.
Evolving from the French-influence that was prominent in the previous menu, Kittyhawk New York will serve up pasta late into the night with a new Italian-American menu. Spearheaded by Head Chef Marco Gosta, the menu will feature six to eight pasta dishes that change according to seasonal produce, accompanied by Italian snacks.
Take a look inside the venue:
The new phase of Kittyhawk leans into the success of Jared’s other venue, Big Poppa’s, a lively late-night restaurant on Oxford Street in Surry Hills. Having earned a dedicated following, Jared hopes to bring a similar, yet expanded experience to the CBD.
“Sydney has loved what was created at Big Poppa’s with great food late into the night without any pretension or fluff. This will be the same at Kittyhawk New York, with delicious food all night long and amazing staff to serve you. But this will also be a great live entertainment venue with some of Sydney’s top DJs making sure you are having a great music experience all week long,” Jared explains.
Paying homage to the signature Notorious B.I.G mural found in Big Poppa’s, Kittyhawk New York will feature a custom 1.5-metre handmade marble mural of Busta Rhymes at the centre of the dancefloor.
While Big Poppa’s is temporarily closed, the venue will return later this year following the Oxford Foley redevelopment.
