Review - Drink Streets, May 2005
Walsh Bay's new mix of heritage, harbour views and cutting-edge cool make for a great night out
YOU can get seriously comfortable in this pocket-sized waterside bar. So comfortable, in fact, that you might pop in for drinks before the trip to the nearby Sydney Theatre and then forget to go to the show. I did, and it happens like this: you score your favourite table (mine's in the far front-corner, nearest the water view), tuck into one of the tapas platters - perhaps some Peking duck pancakes accompanied by a tasty pinot noir - lose your self in good conversation, then check your watch. Drat! Curtain-up's been and gone. Might as well stay and enjoy more of Firefly's friendly service and giant wine selection while ogling the yachts moored outside the Walsh Bay wharves' new luxury apartments.
Another reason for lingering longer is that the bar's only big enough for about 45 people at a time, so when you've found a seat on a busy night you're inclined to hold onto your territory for as long as possible. Tables rather than standing room mean Firefly never becomes packed and squashy, like other small bars. It also means table service, in the form of cute, unflappable waiters happy to chat and take extra care of everyone.Warm lighting and dark wood add to the intimate atmosphere, and with all the new development in the area, there's plenty to look at from your harbourside perch. We suggest visiting the toilet before you arrive, for to do so at Firefly is an arduous ritual involving a key on a big wooden stick and a trek along the warfe to a hidden bathroom. But it's the only moan I have about this otherwise fun and funky spot. Don't bother with pre-theatre drinks - I'd recommend devoting a whole evening to this special little bar.
