Bar SOUL

When it comes to this restaurant, the name says it all. Known all over for its bold Korean tapas, Bar Soul is one of the books in Surry Hills.

The first of its kind in Sydney, Bar Soul is giving a new look to Korean dining - and it's oh-so chic. It might surprise you to enter a space that is so Mediterranean in look and feel but when you remember the origins of tapas, it makes complete sense. Bar Soul is a rather dreamy location with its wafting sheer linen drapes, intimate lighting and rustic furniture. Where you feel a million miles away from Sydney, you can easily picture yourself in a bustling French bistro.

That's until the food arrives, however. They're flipping expectations again with a menu that immerses diners in the crazy streets of South Korea. There are lots to sample, with many diners preferring to start off slow with traditional gangdoenjang and scallop crudo before moving on to meatier plates like seared wagyu rump cap with a Korean beef consommé and a dry aged duck breast with a Korean cabbage salad.

Such perfectly balanced plates deserve equally delicate wine, and you'll find their selection to be comprehensive, showcasing some of the best Australia has to offer. And with that, 건배 or Sante if you're still daydreaming in Italy.