Newtown welcomes an eclectic new venue – Odd Culture – offering drinks, dining and a “cool and casual all-day vibe” on King Street.
Aspects of Odd Culture revolve around working to an overarching fermentation theme. The food menu is an amalgamation of inspirations, largely from Europe and Asia. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, cuisine is designed to complement the natural drinks offering.
The drinks menu proffers a strong focus on wild fermentation, with the Sour Negroni, and lacto-fermented Strawberry Daiquiris. There is an extensive range of organic and biodynamic wine, wild ales and lambic, natural cider and sake, alongside a rotating tap list of 12 in the bar.
For the less experimental, there are still big IPAs and imperial stouts available, and ice-cold Reschs.
Soon-to-open is the Odd Culture Fermented Goods & Liquor store, located a few doors away but truly an extension of the main bar offering. Not your standard bottle-o, it will also offer a range of fermented goods and condiments, such as pickles, vinegars, shrubs and hot sauces, from local producers. There will also be an online delivery service, offering local delivery in 30 minutes.
Seen as a fluid cross between a bar, restaurant, café and bottleshop, Odd Culture Newtown has been in the works since late 2020, and is the latest concept by Odd Culture Group. It joins the portfolio of The Oxford Tavern in Petersham, The Duke of Enmore, and Woolloomooloo’s Old Fitzroy Hotel.
An all-star team has been corralled into Newtown; head chef Jesse Warkentin will work alongside group executive chef James MacDonald, the bar and cocktail offering will be led by Sam Paech (formerly of Baxters) alongside beverage manager Jordan Blackman, and Katharine Crowe-Mai (formerly of Rockpool) will manage front of house.
Hesitating on how to categorise the new digs, group GM James Thorpe is nonetheless proud of what the team has accomplished.
“There is really nothing like it anywhere else in the world,” he says. “The pool of talent that has come together to execute it in the bars, floor and kitchen is really second to none.
“It’s such a unique concept – born out of a management trip to Europe pre-COVID.”
Following a pre-opening event Friday, Odd Culture Newtown opened to the public Saturday (30 October) from midday.
It is the first new King Street development permitted open until 2am, and this week the early trade begins, starting each morning from 7am.
“It’s been a wild ride putting this all together,” offers beverage manager Jordan Blackman. “A monster of a project with one of the most extensive booze offerings in the country, world class chefs in the kitchen, an all-star management team and an iconic site on King Street.
“I can’t think of a more exciting venue opening.”
