Introducing Aster Bar and The Treasury: the two new venues rewriting InterContinental Sydney’s restaurant and bars concepts

The hotel’s rooftop bar in the stars will be made public for the first time whilst the lobby will be transformed into a modern hotel bar with links to the past

Set to reveal its new look this September following a $110 million renovation, InterContinental Sydney has today unveiled two new venues forming part of its transformation and rewriting the hotel’s restaurant and bars concepts.

Working closely with cocktail and spirit culturists Proof & Company, InterContinental Sydney has reshaped its bar and dining experiences to offer guests new and contemporary social destinations in the heart of the city.

Introducing Aster Bar

For the first time in the history of the hotel, the rooftop bar, located on level 32, will be open to the public, offering more people the chance to soak up Sydney’s best views from September onwards.

The transformed rooftop space, renamed Aster Bar, is set to become a desirable destination amongst those seeking unparalleled and uninterrupted 270-degree panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, spanning the city skyline, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens and beyond.

Inspired by the hotel’s legendary history, the magic of astrology and taking cue from well-known rooftop bars from around the globe, Aster Bar is sure to be placed among the canon of world’s best hotel bars. Retaining an air of exclusivity, Aster Bar will offer elevated experiences and high-end touches, whilst an experiential approach to service will push boundaries when it comes to creative mixology. Australian flavours and local produce will reign on the menu.

Sydney architecture studio, Woods Bagot, designed Aster Bar’s new look to be timeless yet contemporary and befitting of Sydney’s luxury bar scene. The interior design and layout heroes the rooftop’s spectacular views and allows the space to move seamlessly from a welcoming lounge to a destination bar. The colour palette echoes that featured throughout the hotel, introducing natural, warm hues of green and blue, which take reference from the neighbouring gardens and harbour.

InterContinental Sydney will continue to operate an exclusive Club InterContinental lounge in the hotel’s re-imagined rooftop spaces, offering club members an iconic experience with sweeping Sydney Harbour views, exceptional privileges and tailored luxury service.

Introducing The Treasury

At the heart of the hotel, located in the original cortile of the building, The Treasury will open as an all-new dining destination, located on the site of the former lobby bar. With strong references to the roots and history of its location, InterContinental Sydney’s new central meeting place will offer all-day dining and drinking amidst lush plant life inspired by the adjoining Sydney Royal Botanic Garden and the outdoor space that once stood in its place.

Here guests will step back in time to discover stories from the past whilst savouring a menu of botanical flavours that celebrate Australia’s expansive terroir. The bar will be experimental in its approach, offering contemporary interpretations of old classics and a unique mix of local wines and spirits.

Also designed by Woods Bagot, The Treasury has been thoughtfully curated to bring the outside in, as well as to seamlessly blend the old with the new. Evoking a sense of the hotel’s rich past as well as the grandeur of European lobby bars, The Treasury will be Sydney’s new iconic meeting place for locals and visitors alike.

Woods Bagot Regional Interior Design Leader Tracey Wiles says the ‘heritage meets modern’ design language of the renovation is distilled in the two hospitality spaces.

“It was so important for us to understand the historical lineage and the scale of the role we play in that,” said Wiles. “The spaces retain a long memory of what once was and this is complemented by contemporary insertions that announce themselves proudly, introducing a fresh hierarchy of graphic and biophilic elements.”

To oversee the new venues, InterContinental Sydney has appointed Behzad Vaziri as Director of Bars. In the newly created role, Behz will manage the hotel’s beverage operations, injecting his extensive knowledge, creativity and passion for experiential techniques to deliver contemporary and uniquely Australian experiences that will rapidly make their mark on Sydney’s bar scene.

On his appointment and the launch of InterContinental Sydney’s new bars, Behz said: “It’s an absolute privilege to be in the newly created position of Directors of Bars at InterContinental Sydney. From a food and beverage point of view, the hotel is transitioning from a luxury Sydney establishment to a contemporary operator and frontrunner on the international bar scene, and I’m excited to be a part of this new chapter.”

He continues, “Every element of the venue design and experience considers how we can share the hotel’s history with our guests, but with a modern and experimental approach. I wanted to find a creative way to bring the design and history to life through taste so that the guest’s experience is multi-sensory. We’re excited to unveil more in the coming months.”

Prior to his role at InterContinental Sydney, Behz was with The Star Sydney for six years, during which time he worked his way up within the group from bartender to Bars Manager, overseeing bar operations at venues including Sokyo, ELE, Flying Fish and Cucina Porto.

InterContinental Sydney’s General Manager, Jennifer Brown said, “Aster Bar and The Treasury are not your typical hotel bars. They are destinations and experiences in their own right; designed and developed to not only celebrate the building they’re located within, but to also sit proudly and independently within Sydney’s sophisticated bar scene. The exciting enhancements will also add to the iconic experience for our Club InterContinental guests. With Behz at the helm, we’re confident we’ll deliver something unique and exciting for all, including our Sydney locals so they too can enjoy the best experiences the city has to offer.”

For more information or reservations please visit www.sydney.intercontinental.com or via @intercontinentalsydney on social media.