Arabian Nights at Zeta BarLevel 4 Hilton Hotel
488 George St
Sydney CBD
Zeta Bar is a sophisticated cocktail bar sitting on level 4 of the Hilton Hotel in Sydney CBD. It has long had a reputation as a great spot for a drink and a nibble. However on Friday nights for six weeks part of Zeta Bar transforms into Arabian Nights - with all the style and show you would expect from the name and the venue.We were fortunate to be invited to the launch event to experience Arabian Nights, sample the food and sip the new cocktails they had available. They have really gone all out here - it really feels like you are in an exotic oasis with all the sights, sounds, colours, food and drinks you would imagine were there - even live camels at the entrance! Arabian Nights at Zeta Bar is an experience rather than a bar.
As foodies we were of course very happy that we had a chance to sample the food on offer. It all started with a lovely selection of dips and pita bread. We particularly liked the humus with fried cumin and paprika oil but to be honest the rest of them were also almost as nice.
Of course the bar is important - as are the drinks there! We started with "One Thousand and One Nights" made from Tanqueray gin with saffron
infused sherry, sweet vermouth and hints of apricot topped with a star anise. It was delish but the next was our favourite - the "Sumac Sour" had a really interesting taste combining Ketel One Citroen Vodka, yoghurt, dill, cucumber, lemon and sesame all in an ice filled wine glass dusted with spices. It was so unique!
Then of course there was - more food! It just kept coming in wave after delicious wave. We had mitt kofta with eggplant harissa, spicy garlic and tomato prawns that came with Turkish bread, chicken sish with sumac onions-grilled-pita bread and garlic yogurt sauce and grilled harissa lamb cutlets with potato humus muhammara sauce. These made great nibbles but would also be a fantastic meal when ordered as platters. My favourite was the harissa lamb cutlets and Mladys choice was the chicken sish. They all disappeared fast but more platters kept arriving!
There was a brief entertaining speech by Felix Busch who is the Hotel Manager Hilton Sydney explaining their concept and direction. Also there from the hotel were Davide Barbero - Food and Beverage manager Hilton Sydney and Florencia Aimo - Marketing and Communications Manager - Business development, Hilton Sydney.
The entertainment kept flowing during the night as well. We had a clever conjurer, an exotic belly dancer and a flamboyant juggler who used flaming bottles!
The belly dancer was certainly captivating and the juggling ended with a giant ball of flame from spirits being spat into the flames!
They were setting out to impress at Arabian Nights and it was working!
The belly dancer was certainly captivating and the juggling ended with a giant ball of flame from spirits being spat into the flames!
They were setting out to impress at Arabian Nights and it was working!
We finished up with a final cocktail called "Shahrazad" which was delicious and unique. It was made with coffee, cynar, port and Ketel One Vodka with a pinch of salt. It also came with a square of Turkish delight. It certainly had a kick and we both loved it! Around this time the baklava and Turkish delight platters started appearing. I simply love this - and ate way to much, but it was just so good!
Zeta Bar was impressive - and Arabian Nights at Zeta Bar was spectacular. The colours, the atmosphere, the entertainment, the food and the drinks - it wasn't just an Arabian Night theme - it was like living Arabian Nights! It's an experience that is amazing!
Sir and Mlady were guests of Zeta Bar. Special thanks to Hilton Sydney and thanks to Rachel Cameron, Eliza Harley and Sophie Foster of SBPR for inviting us.
