“Where have you been tonight buddy?” by Goose
So for our latest adventure, Maverick and I decided to hit up Sydney’s The Argyle, a somewhat classier establishment located at The Rocks, in Sydney. I wouldn’t say that The Argyle was a traditional bar and certainly not a club, it is somewhat in between, which can make for a more relaxing night. Throughout my review of the joint, I will cover some key area’s which will be of use to anyone who wishes to have a look see.
The following areas that I will cover are:
· Location
· Price
· Facilities
· Staff
· Ratio and Etiquette
Location:
As mentioned earlier, The Argyle is located in Sydney’s Rocks area. Generally this is a nicer area to dine and put down a couple brews. I like to think of The Rocks as a yuppies area, and The Argyle is no different. The Argyle’s website (http://www.theargylerocks.com/) provides customers with the exact address, as well as a map of the area and location. In my opinion this is a great service, as not everyone knows where Argyle Street is. This makes The Argyle an easy venue to locate.
Price:
As mentioned earlier, The Rocks is a yuppie area, so expect to pay through your teeth for drinks and food. That being said, I was not upset by the price that they ask for food and drink. For starters there is no entry fee, which for this particular type of venue, there shouldn’t be, a massive plus. For a bowl of chips they are charging $9 for a Wagyu Beef Burger $18. Drinks however, are a different story. Clearly this is where The Argyle makes its money. The Argyle is a beer and wine joint. Pricing for beer and wine is standard to any other establishment around. However, spirits and cocktails, I find you will pay a little too much for. I was drinking Vodka and Coke all night, which was near $10 per drink. I expect to pay that much for a Vodka and Red Bull, not watered down tap Coke. As you can imagine, a standard cocktail was nearing the $20 mark. This is a little bit of a letdown in my eyes, as I don’t drink beer or wine. However the drinks are nice, if you can afford that type of price, then The Argyle is worth the money.
Facilities:
Ok, so here is what I really like about The Argyle, the facilities are some of the best that I have seen to date. Four bars, two bathrooms, a dance floor and plenty of seating. What more could you ask for? Cleanliness if you ask me. Well, the bars are to be expected, a little sticky in parts due to people spilling their drinks; however glasses are clean (thumbs up). The bathrooms are clean; I noticed throughout my time there, someone had a spew in one of the bathrooms. Before I had even left, the staff had cleaned it up. Also adding to the experience is that the tables and floor (even the dance floor) are clean. You don’t stick to them. Sticky floor and tables is something that I personally can’t stand, where The Argyle doesn’t have that problem, the staff clean up.
Staff:
As you can already guess, I am impressed by the staff that works at this joint. All accept a few. The bar staff are all friendly and quick to serve, as well as very professional. So I give them two thumbs up as they made the experience even more enjoyable. The only let down was the door man, who almost ruined the night for me. So Maverick and I arrive nearing 9 o’clock and for reasons known only to the doormen, he didn’t want to let me in. After having my ID checked not once but three times and asked “where were you before here?” Before being let in, makes me question the type of people they want in this joint, as I am not a very yuppie person, more typical Aussie, board shorts and a wife beater for me. Thankfully I got in, and was able to put that behind me.
Ratio and Etiquette:
Ok, so the ratio of guys to gals isn’t the best. I would say for every four guys, there are two girls. The dress standard was a bit of a mystery to me. For girls it seemed that prom style dress was the way to go (guys, this means the girls look great) for guys however, it seemed like you only needed to look clean and stylish. Maverick got was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and I was questioned in jeans and a button up shirt, go figure. My tips for the lads out there is to be stylish. Girls, as always it doesn’t really matter, I think you would be let in naked if you tried.
One thing I found very surprising was that the people seemed to be very polite and the girls approachable. I didn’t see any trouble the whole night, which is a change from the usual spot I go to week in and out. If you are after a friendly night out, I would recommend this joint to anyone. It seems the doorman is able to keep the Riff Raff out.
The Bottom Line:
If I had to give The Argyle a star rating, I would say 3 and a half stars out of five. The main reason for this is the price of drinks and the real lack of anything to do, except dance on a small floor and talk. That being said, I would recommend to anyone, that they give The Argyle at least two nights to see if they appreciate its charm. In the end, the night is what you make it; a good venue can only help. If people ask about my night, I simply say that I enjoyed my night, met lots of Americans and drunk my fair share of Vodka, danced like a tool and walked away with a big smile on my face. The night was eventful enough, without any real hiccup and I believe a good night all round.
Yes I will visit The Argyle again someday.
