Lobo

Address: 209 Clarence Street, Basement, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)415 554 908
Website: view Lobo’s website

Door: Open door/walk-ins
Style: Cocktail bar
Food: Bar Snacks

Julio Lobo was a plantation owner, sugar broker and "the sugar king of Havana" until Castro took over the show: even today in Cuba, his name is synonymous with wealth. And this rum bar, inspired by Lobo's love of high living, fine rums and the Caribbean, is a truly surprising spot in Sydney's CBD.

Next door to a tired-looking Chinese restaurant, a spiral staircase leads down into a basement dressed up with faded wallpapers, plantation style chairs, retro photos and tropical plants: the perfect setting for any Our Man in Havana moments you'd like to recreate.

There are more than 250 rums on offer at Lobo, many of them served up in accessible, long, crowd-pleasing mixes with spices, fruits and ginger, and a few in more challenging combinations.

The menu features a wise selection of house twists and signatures, feel free to pick, the crew know what they doing. No matter what you pick however, make sure you start with a Daiquri (or two), it will set the right tone for a night of Caribbean travel.

Massively popular since its opening in mid-2013, long lines on Thursdays and Fridays mean Lobo is best enjoyed mid-week.