Fodor's Expert Review Eau de Vie

You might have to seek them out but speakeasy-style bars are the new thing in Sydney. Eau de Vie, at the rear of the trendy Kirketon Hotel in Darlinghurst, perfectly fits the bill, especially with its cocktail menu. It's designed with the decades in mind, with drinks that fit into themes such as "1920s—The Train from Paris to Milan" and "1930s—The Boat to Cuba and Caribbean." Onboard the Paris locomotive you can try the Absinthe Frappe (A$20), a mix of La Fee Absinthe, maraschino liqueur, and honey and lemon squeezed over fresh ice. Drinks are a little pricey, but the bar staff and the patrons are friendly and the jazz-infused music takes the pain out of the bill. There's a bar snack menu, too.