Globe Bar & Brasserie

2.5 Not Recommended

Drinks  2      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  1     

Shocking experience, supposed to be the best service of the renowned 5 star hotel. Was nothing like 5 Star. We had an impression that staff had no control over the restaurant floor. Our order from the bar took more then 15 minutes to arrive with a news that they have not necessary ingredients to make one of the cocktails.

One of the waitress was a very unpleasant with the "attitude:. All my friends could not believe that The Observatory Hotel would allow for such a non professionalism. Would not come back to this hotel.

Dec 10, 2011 

6 Average

Drinks  7      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  6     

Went for high tea with the girls.

Negatives - Booked weeks in advance so expected a good table but was seated in the doorway, was barely acknowledged when we arrived, pointed to our table, took a good 15 minutes to receive the tea menu, was "bullied" the champagne option by the waiter who did not speak English very well, waiters doubled up on asking service questions.

Positives - a good variety of sweets and felt sufficiently full from afternoon tea, good size pot of tea. Not sure if I'd go back again as negatives outweigh positives.

Jul 09, 2011 

5.5 Average

Drinks  5      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  1     

Went here for high tea. Didn't understand the whole point why people these days still like to go to high tea. I can understand why it would have been seen a worthwhile experience back 200 years ago, but not now when everyone can enjoy premium teas, sandwiches and scones at their local supermarket. The setting is great but at $49 each, this was the most expensive set of sandwiches, mini desserts and scones I have ever had.

Jul 19, 2010 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Drinks  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

It was a rainy public holiday when we drove past and decided to take a high tea. Inside was cosy and there were few people around which helped the ambience. Even later when more people arrived I was surprised at how quiet it was. I have a thing about noisy dining venues.

Service was attentive and low key. There was many choices in teas, from Japanese and Chinese to Indian. The tiered tray came out with a good selection of goodies, cut into tiny squares and even though my partner grumbled it wouldn't be enough, it was deceiving. There were four kinds of sandwich choices and then a selection of chocolate mousse cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, creme brulee's and panacotta as well as two kinds of scones. The room looked like an old English drawing room and was very pleasant to sit in. I have been to this bar before for drinks and the only thing I would say is that it is starting to look a little shabby, including the dented silverware.

The waiter also forgot to tell us that he could top up the water in the teapot, and I ended up having to give the rest of my tea to my partner to wash down his last bit of scone. As it was a public holiday we paid $10 more each, however, I believe this kept a lot of people away and, therefore, was happy to pay the extra for some quiet space.

Dec 28, 2009 

7.8 Recommended

Drinks  8      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  6     

Decided to try this place because of the Enliven Sydney buy one main course get one free promotion www.seesydney.com.au

Two of us had medium rare Wagyu beef with salad ($45) and another person had the wagyu steak sandwich $22. The steak sandwich actually came out in a hamburger bun. The chips were delicious, perhaps, twice-fried as they were very crispy on the outside yet still fluffy inside.

The wagyu steaks were cooked perfectly. The mixed leaf salad had a nice olive oil dressing and some green Sicilian olives. We also tried the entree of Crystal Bay prawns (about $22) wrapped in pastry, this was amazingly underwhelmingly described on the menu. 5 or 6 prawns came out encased in a very fine noodle casing that was deliciously light and crunchy.

The atmosphere is very restful, a live pianist was playing. The bar is furnished like an English club room with dark wood upholstered furniture and wood panelling. We sat next to the library of first and early edition books which was fascinating just reading the titles on the spines - The Letters of Christian Fletcher, Journals of Matthew Flinders etc.

In the lobby is a collection of one of Australia's largest private collections of Sidney Nolan paintings. The service was attentive, however, was let down at the end when it took us a while to gain the waitress's attention for the bill. Worth trying if you have the Enliven Sydney card, promotion ends 31st July 2009.

Jun 14, 2009 

6.8 Recommended

Drinks  6      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  6     

We went for high tea here on a Sunday. The cakes were lovely and well presented. Great selection of teas, however it was disappointing that given we were a large group (9) we were limited to choosing 4 types of tea. It would've been nice for each person to be able to pick a tea of their own. Service was unobtrusive but not overly attentive.

Feb 17, 2009 

10 Highly Recommended

Drinks  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I went to afternoon tea with my girlfriends at The Observatory Hotel in the Globe Bar, it was amazing. We went for my friend's Bridal Shower and we all had an absolutely excellent time. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. Mohan, the bar manager was especially lovely.

The variety of food was great! There was so much variety from yummy chocolate mousse to creme brulees and delicious traditional finger sandwiches. There is such a large variety of tea that has been brewed especially for the hotel. My favourite was the Warm Spice which was a cinammon apple and ginger mixture and was absolutely delicious.

I believe all of the food is made at the hotel and you could definitely tell. Everything was really fresh and appeared to have been only just made with great presentation.

I have been to other afternoon teas around the city but I would have to say this has been the best I have come across! I would recommend this place to anyone!

May 07, 2008 

3.8 Below Average

Drinks  2      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  2     

What a disappointment. Came here with a group of friends to enjoy a good laugh over a cocktail and ended up laughing in despair over the experience.

Poorly trained bar staff resulted in cocktails that could have come from school students on work experience. One friend ordered something with lychees and mint leaves. The mint leaf was like a branch poking out of the glass and the two lychees were buried in the foliage at the bottom of the glass. She had to pick through the 'shrubbery' to get to the actual drink!

I had a strawberry concoction however this could really have been anything made with left over spirits and a dollop of cream. For $20.50 I would expect, at the very least, some decoration - even a cocktail umbrella would have been innovative!!! As it was a hefty black straw was the only concession to decoration. If you are going to charge prices like these make the cocktail look interesting and present them with a little flourish.

The afternoon tea appeared to be a far better option and not that more expensive either!

Oct 31, 2007 

5 Average

Drinks  2      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  4     

I have been to the Globe bar on several occasions and was always very satisfied with the quality of both service and cocktails. On a visit last night however I was saddened to see the fall of a great place for drinks.

The atmosphere is still one of the best in Sydney for cocktails so I am hoping this was an abberent display but the cocktail served to me was poorly made and presented with no finesse in a glass closely allied to the vegemite glasses of my childhood. A wrong choice on my part??

Unfortunately not, my two companions were aslo served cocktails (25% more expensive than last visit) that looked like they could have come from the slushie machine at the 7/11. Pick up the game Globe Bar, you are better than this.

Oct 21, 2007 

7.5 Recommended

Drinks  7      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

A very sophisticated and classy place to drink. Love the way they design the place, very relaxing. It reminds me of old movies where people drink cognac with books and leather couch and everything. Really good place to chat, relax and drinks all in the same time.

Sep 30, 2006