It’s rare that all the elements of a bar align – fantastic cocktails, delicious bar snacks and a wonderful ambience, but Print Room ticks all of these boxes and has quickly become one of my favourites. With a decor evoking old school glamour with plush leather sofas and herringbone marble tiles on the walls, there’s been plenty of attention to detail here in both the interior and on their menu.
Today we’re trying out their Boston Tea Party ($50 per person) as part of the World Class Cocktail Week, featuring tea inspired cocktails matched with canapes for a twist on the standard afternoon tea. We started off with a Mate Green Tea Soda Pop as the invigorating palate cleanser – a lightly sparkling cocktail blending Don Julio tequila, green tea, as well as the South American caffeine-rich drink called “mate”, served in a cute mini milk bottle.
Mate Green Tea Soda Pop
After that fun start, we launched straight into the paired cocktails and canapes, with The Capetonian cocktail which was quite a strong negroni, centred around a rooibos tea (paying tribute to the head bartender’s South African heritage) and the intensity boosted with Tanqueray, rhubarb bitters and a sweet mulberry tea glaze laced with pearl dust for a luxe, shimmering touch. The matching canape was a delicious crabmeat salad with a fancy guacamole (more like a puff of avocado mousse) on gluten free cornbread.
The Capetonian, paired with Crabmeat Salad and Guacamole on Cornbread
Next up was an east meets west concoction called the Manuka Nashi showcasing Ketel One vodka infused with chai tea, rich manuka honey, aniseed and nashi pear. It’s a wonderful cocktail with the distinctive aroma of the manuka honey shining through, complemented nicely by the pair of Asian morsels – a surprisingly delicious tempura tofu with a light batter, and a confit duck pancake with hoisin sauce.
Manuka Nashi, paired with Tempura Tofu and Confit Duck Pancakes
Last but not least, we had the Chamomile Cartel, a tropical blend of Don Julio Blanco Tequila, BBQ pineapple (churrasco style) with a homemade chamomile nutmeg tea syrup and a drizzle of salted caramel. This was my favourite cocktail of the trio and was also paired with my favourite canape – an addictive chorizo and cheese empanada with smoked paprika salsa. The empanada’s pastry was a revelation, with airy layers of pastry, rather than the usual crumbly, solid pastry that normally envelopes the empanada filling.
Chamomile Cartel, paired with Chorizo and Cheese Empanadas
The Boston Tea Party at the Print Room was an indulgent way to spend an afternoon, where the fabulous cocktails was matched by the thoughtful and well-executed canapes from the kitchen. Each course was a delight and we were thoroughly won over by the old school glamour of the decor at this classy Paddington watering hole, hidden upstairs from all the boutiques near The Intersection.
Excuse Me Waiter dined as guests of Print Room
Print Room
11 Glenmore Road
Paddington NSW 2021
Phone: 0424 034 020
