Just Open: Garden bar, The Sheaf, Double Bay

The Sheaf in Double Bay has opened its new garden bar and introduced a fresh bistro menu to mark the first stage of renovations taking place this year.

The ground-floor indoor-outdoor bar features fairy lights and vines as well as bent steel furniture and wooden tables.

"The original concept was to 'fall into the rabbit role', with a sort of escapism, magical, ethereal, romantic-garden feel … with lots of unique, fanciful items," The Sheaf operations manager, Bede Hunt, says.

The new design is by Alexander & Co, who is also behind the transformation of Watsons Bay Beach Club, The Morrison and Daniel San.

The new bistro menu has a range of options from light snacks, including the "Cracker Jack" chicken lollipops with spicy green tomato relish, to meals such the Sheaf wagyu burger, the prawn pizza with chilli, spinach and garlic, and the lamb rump with apricot cous cous, green beans and cumin yoghurt.

"It's really great pub food, but that step above. We're incorporating new techniques … we're doing this really yummy olive crumble at the moment," Hunt says.

There is also a selection of daily lunch and dinner specials and some fresh additions to the beverage menu.

New cocktails include popcorn-infused tequila with lime caramel and grapefruit, soda and earl grey tea cocktail with spiced rum and pomegranate, and The Sheaf's new signature cocktail, the garden sling with St. Germain, limoncello and seasonal fruits.

The wine list has also been extended to include more local and international wines by the bottle.

Further renovations on other floors are expected by the end of the year.

The Sheaf, 429 New South Head Road, Double Bay, open 7 days, 12pm–late