Just Open: Darlo Country Club, Darlinghurst

What do you get when you cross a rum bar with an island? An old-world, vintage-Beverly Hills Country Club, it turns out.

Welcome to the Darlo Country Club. After the Victoria Room shut its doors, Michael Hwang and Eddie Levy from the rum-loving Lobo Plantation bar in the CBD and Adam Abrams and Julian Tobias of the cocktail party pontoon the Island teamed up and took over the Darlinghurst stalwart with winter pop-up the Chalet.

The snow thawed and the team decided to move in permanently, creating the latest incarnation modelled on Californian country clubs.

"We created an environment where, much like a country club, it offers the ultimate social experience," Hwang says.

"A post-match or after-work drink, evolving into dinner and even a little dancing as your friends roll in throughout the night. We found most of our inspiration in the California institutions where the four of us have had some of our most memorable times."

The boys have had fun with the drinks list, creating drinks such as The Bubbarita – a take on a margarita with bubble gum-infused tequila, grape citrus foam and an orange blossom flame – and the Eton Fizz, a liquid Eton mess made with Tanqueray, strawberry shrub, lemon juice, thyme syrup, egg white and a dash of soda.

And because it just isn't a country club without lobster and steak, the kitchen has put lobster truffle mac'n'cheese on the menu along with a sliced scotch fillet with chimichurri and bitter leaf salad.

235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst; open Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu-Sat 5pm-2am