Meraki Arts Bar acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional owners of the land upon which our bar stands.

A cosy cocktail lounge featuring a capsule art gallery and casual dining.

The ever changing Gallery Lounge is a chameleon of creativity and energy. A new list of house recipe concoctions are served every week, as well as a highlighted feature artist on the gallery wall. Activities are always free and community based, with a delectable menu that's perfect for a pre-show feed.

Opening Hours

Tues – Sat: 6pm – late

Group Bookings

Walk-ins Only

Guest Enquiries

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Artist Enquiries

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Accessibility

The Gallery Lounge is located on the ground floor of Meraki Arts Bar, and is wheelchair accessible via a slight incline ramp at the front doors on Oxford Street.

What's On

23/05 - 03/06 : 6:00pm

Gallery Exhibition: Iris Huang

 
Gallery Lounge
Art
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Our next exhibition is from Sydney artist Iris Huang, which will be on display and on sale in the Gallery Lounge bar from 23 May to 3 June. Enjoy her incredible works throughout the fortnight, and join us from 5pm on Tuesday 23 May for a special free Launch event!

Iris will also be hosting a paper quilling class in the venue on Tuesday 23rd May from 6:30pm (tickets $40 and sold separately, either pre purchased or on the night in-venue).

Artist Bio: As a passionate quilling paper artist based in the vibrant city of Sydney, Iris Huang has spent years honing their skills and mastering the intricate art of quilling. Also brings a unique perspective to her quilling creations. She seamlessly blends traditional quilling techniques with contemporary design elements, resulting in artworks that are both timeless and modern.

06/06 - 10/06 : 6:00pm

Gallery Exhibition: Fabian Svejkar

 
Gallery Lounge
Art
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Our visual art exhibition for this week is from Sydney artist Fabian Svejkar, which will be on display from the 6th to the 10th of June, with a special Launch event on the 6th starting from 6pm with full bar and kitchen service, as well as free live music from Pyjama Sundayz and Fergus Bailey & the Teeth during the evening!

‘Exposure’ visually documents a burgeoning live music scene in Sydney from 2016 to 2023 between lock-outs and lockdown. Photographer and Videographer, Fabian Svejkar turned his hobby taking photos as favours for friend’s bands into a marketable profession, hopscotching across the city as venues fought to open and stave off closure in an ever-changing Sydney landscape. From pubs to concert halls, clubs to bowlos, festivals to DIY warehouses – the spaces show themselves just as dynamic as the artists in his work.

Through the revealing form of 35mm & medium format film photography, and 8mm tape video; Svejkar works with low-light, fast-paced environments and grain, often employing a shallow depth-of-field or fill flash to capture ‘small moments’ – a memory of the event. The exhibition will launch with over 50 prints, an 8mm video loop presentation and live performances to recapture the sense of agitation among the angry and the avid in the spaces we occupy.

 

 

10/06 : 8:00pm

Live Jazz Bar – June 10th

 
Gallery Lounge
Music
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FREE EVENT

A free evening of gold standard Live Jazz by The Sazeracs in the Gallery Lounge. Enjoy a smooth and sexy night of top quality music alongside our full food and weekly house cocktail menus. Entry is free but bookings recommended.

13/06 - 24/06 : 6:00pm

Gallery Exhibition: Alvin Ruiyuan Zhong & Amy Ge

 
Gallery Lounge
Art
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Our new visual art exhibition this week is from artists Alvin Ruiyuan Zhong & Amy Ge. A selection of their works will be on display and available for purchase from Tuesday 13th until Saturday 24th June.

Alvin Ruiyuan Zhong is a Chinese-Australian multidisciplinary artist working across illustration, graphic design, projection art and CGI. His work often invokes feelings of nostalgia, wonder and child-like joy. He brings aboard a sense of schoolyard antics into his art-making, often blending the aesthetics of hyper-masculine rave culture and the saccharine cuteness in kawaii culture to investigate his surroundings.
Amy Ge is a Chinese-Australian artist and illustrator from Noongar country (Perth, Western Australia) currently living and practicing on Gadigal land (Sydney, New South Wales). Often inspired by the natural world, Ge’s print, illustration and animation work grapples with finding joy in incoherence and the layers of meaning that are lost-in-translation.

 

The free Exhibition Launch will be from 5pm on Tuesday 13th May, so come along and enjoy the first look at the stunning works alongside our brand new weekly house cocktail menu… and then stick around for our Tuesday evening Live Jazz in the space from 7:30!

14/06 : 8:00pm

Freddie Stafford

 
Gallery Lounge
Music
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FREE EVENT:

Local Sydney artist Freddie Stafford, will be presenting a set of reinvented jazz standards mixed with original music derived from his background in jazz and contemporary music arranged for a piano and double bass duo.

15/06 : 8:00pm

Tilli Kay

 
Gallery Lounge
Music
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Described by many as an “old soul” Tilli Kay delivers a vocal performance beyond her years. The Northern Beaches 18 year old singer / songwriter delights with rich tones, insightful and introspective original compositions and clever interpretations of classic covers. Inspired by blues, jazz and folk legends, Tilli Kay combines her youthful energy with mature insight as she revels in delighting an appreciative audience.

22/06 : 8:00pm

Werewolf Game Night

 
Gallery Lounge
Interactive
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Once a month, under the light of a full(ish) moon, Meraki is your home and host for the ultimate game of deception, teamwork, and treachery… WEREWOLF!

The game alternates between Night and Day rounds, starting with Night. To begin, the host tell all players to close their eyes, they given roles and goals (some helpful, some devious!) and then they all awake… and the race to uncover the werewolves before they pick off the villagers one by one begins.

Filled with twists and tension and best enjoyed with a cocktail or two to get your synapses firing, Meraki’s Werewolf night is the perfect way to experience one of the best party games alongside food and drink almost as delicious as unsuspecting villagers.

27/06 - 01/07 : 6:00pm

Gallery Exhibition: Solaris Shariati

 
Gallery Lounge
Art
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Our new visual art exhibition this week is from artist Solaris Shariati. A selection of their works will be on display and available for purchase in the Gallery Lounge from Tuesday 27th June until Saturday 1st July. Enjoy his incredible works throughout the week, and join us from 5pm on Tuesday 27 June for a special free Launch event!

Meet Solaris (@beeanboyy), a 19 year old trans artist who has created intricate blue ballpoint pen drawings of European architecture and natural beauty.

While his drawings may have a certain level of spontaneity and playfulness that might remind some viewers of high school sketches, the intricacy and attention to detail in his work demonstrate his skill and dedication as an artist.
In addition to his visual art, Solaris has also explored his creativity through writing and aspires to work as a director in the future. Recently, Solaris performed a monologue in the show “Stories From The Heart”, run by ATYP and Wear it Purple, under Sydney World Pride, where he shared his experience as a half Persian, half Kurdish queer person growing up in Australia, while feeling deeply connected to queer people not only in Iran but all queer people around the world.
The free Exhibition Launch will be from 5pm on Tuesday 26th June, so come along and enjoy the first look at the stunning works alongside our brand new weekly house cocktail menu… and then stick around for our Tuesday evening Live Jazz in the space from 7:30!
04/07 : 6:00pm

Femeraki Festival Launch Party

 
Gallery Lounge
Femeraki
Special Event
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Step into a world where feminine power ignites, voices rise, and unity flourishes. The stage is set, the spotlight glimmers, and anticipation fills the air as Femeraki, a groundbreaking feminist festival, unveils its breathtaking opening night. Prepare to be mesmerized by a symphony of diversity, celebrating the boundless spirit of womxn and their allies.

As the curtains part, the energy surges through the crowd, pulsating with an electrifying blend of art, music, and activism. From thought-provoking performances to captivating visual displays, this opening night of Femeraki weaves a tapestry of empowerment, unapologetic expression, and inclusive, intersectional storytelling.

Tickets are $15 with a drink included with the purchase.

05/07 : 7:30pm

Hungry for Attention Gameshow: Femeraki Festival

 
Gallery Lounge
Comedy
Femeraki
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You like game shows? Of course you do! Wanna see Freya Reviews put two comedians through their paces? Join us in the Gallery Lounge for the beloved comedic and casual game show Hungry for Attention, now performing live at Meraki where you can enjoy the show with our full food and drink menus… including our special weekly house cocktails.

06/07 : 6:30pm

Positive Self-Portrait Drawing Class: Femeraki Festival

 
Gallery Lounge
Art
Femeraki
Interactive
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Embark on a transformative journey of self-love and artistic expression at the positive self-image drawing class, led by the visionary artist Jess Zlotnick. Hosted within the vibrant realm of the Femeraki Festival, curated by Queen Hades Productions, this captivating workshop is designed to empower and celebrate the beauty within each and every one of us.

In this safe and inclusive space, Jess Zlotnick invites participants to embrace their unique features, quirks, and strengths. Through her expert guidance, you will learn to wield the pencil as a tool of self-discovery and affirmation, unlocking the inner artist that resides in all of us. All drawing materials provided.

Thursday 6th July

Event begins at 6:30

Duration 90 minutes

Tickets: $10

19/07 : 8:00pm

James Grandison

 
Gallery Lounge
Music
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On the 19th of July James Grandison invites you to the free entry Gallery Lounge located on Ground Level of Meraki to watch a riveting performance of Solo Bass Guitar Compositions, Originals and Covers of Classic tunes!
James is an emerging Composer and Performing Bass Guitarist based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. James is an eclectic and diverse Multi-instrumentalist musician and is inspired by the likes of Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller & Paul McCartney.

Meraki Arts Bar

VISIT

231 OXFORD STREET, DARLINGHURST NSW 2010

Trading Hours

TUES - SAT 6PM - Late

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