As spending habits shift and Sydney’s hospitality industry faces ongoing challenges, this small bar is standing out with its calendar of creative events.
If you’ve been to Kings Cross or Potts Point before, you’ve probably walked past Dulcie’s without even realising. Tucked down a flight of stairs behind an unassuming door on Darlinghurst Road, the intimate 60-seat cocktail bar keeps a low profile, with only its glowing neon sign hinting at what’s hidden below.
The cocktail bar has been a staple in the local hospitality scene since 2018, when it first opened. It occupies the former home of the seedy Stripperama, but when Dulcie’s moved in, the venue was transformed into what the team affectionately describes as a “sip club, not a strip club.”
Named after the iconic Australian novelist, poet, journalist, and actress Dulcie Deamer, the drinking den is inspired by the bohemians of Sydney’s past, as evidenced by its red velvet seats, mismatched fringed lamps, and vintage stage. It’s also one of the few places in Sydney that only sells Australian produce, including every spirit, tincture and mixture.
But Dulcie’s doesn’t just rely on their funky interior and Australian-first concept to bring people in. It’s their roster of events that gets people excited. We spoke to Rhiannon Thomas, Dulcie’s General Manager of eight years, about the venue’s iconic crime talks, swapping “Dry July” for “Dry Martini July” and the secret to Sydney’s small bar success.
Dulcie’s Sunday History Talks
One of the most intriguing events on Dulcie’s roster has to be their fortnightly Sunday History Talks. Rhiannon recommends that any “true crime fans” come along, as they dive into local, regional and national cases and scandals. Led by an engaging crime writer and journalist, it’s a big hit for both locals and visitors looking to do something a bit different on a Sunday.
Rhiannon explains, “We bring in Duncan McNab. He’s a former detective who used to work for the CID [Criminal Investigation Department] in the Cross. He’s now a true crime historian, and he’s written a few books as well.”
During the crime talks, Duncan takes to the stage with Dulcie’s owner, Brendan Martignago, where they discuss a new case or person each week. Duncan will talk the audience through the story and the events that happened, and at the end, they’ll open the discussion up to the audience and conduct a Q&A.
Rhiannon tells us that they recently did a talk on Roger Rogerson, who “Duncan actually worked with while they were both in the force together.”
Not only did they once work together, but Duncan was “one of the officers who helped put Roger behind bars and continued to go on and talk to Roger while he was in prison, so he’s got a really big wealth of knowledge on the case!”
The Sunday History Talks are the only ticketed events on Dulcie’s calendar, with attendance capped at 30 people. Tickets cost $25 and include a complimentary cocktail, usually created to match the theme of the evening’s case.
“We get quite a lot of people who come back for those talks,” says Rhiannon. Tickets can sell out quickly, so she’d recommend booking ahead, though if you miss out, they do release the talks on a podcast, which is linked here.
Movie nights, jazz and dry martini July
Alongside their History Talks, Dulcie’s hosts weekly jazz and movie nights, as well as cocktail masterclasses available on demand.
Tuesdays are all about Dulcie’s free picture house, which transforms the bar into a cinema, serving up free popcorn with any drinks purchase and a bottle of wine and cheese combo for $85.
Each month is a different movie theme, with June’s titled “Yes Chef”, showing films like Chocolat, No Reservations and Julie & Julia. July’s theme is “First day on the job”, and will feature films like Mrs Doubtfire and Anchorman. They also always show a festive film in July, as a special Christmas in July tribute.
Rhiannon tells us that it’s “very much a team effort” coming up with movie themes, but they’re always open to suggestions from customers.
Thursdays are all about live jazz, with what Dulcie’s describes as “smooth sounds, strong drinks and a touch of old Kings Cross glamour.”
Entry is free, with performances running from 8.30pm to 10.30pm. Every jazz night features a double bassist, drummer and pianist, with special guest musicians occasionally dropping in. Rhiannon says that just last week, “Little Pattie”, a renowned Australian singer from the 60s, joined the lineup.
It’s not just about weekly events, either. Throughout July, Dulcie’s is putting its own spin on Dry July with a month-long Dry Martini July menu.
Guests will be encouraged to embark on a martini “road trip” around Australia. On arrival, they’ll receive a postcard to stamp as they work their way through a series of martinis, each inspired by a different Australian state or territory.
Every destination is represented by its own house-made tincture, which is used to modify the classic martini, creating a different flavour profile for each stop. The aim? Collect as many stamps as possible by trying your way across the country over the course of the month.
It’s yet another creative concept from the minds of Dulcie’s team to tempt drinkers into the bar.
The secret to small bar success
With Sydney’s hospitality scene continuing to be challenging to navigate, Rhiannon reflects on Dulcie’s success, achieved by combining a loyal community of regulars with a steady calendar of events that attract new faces.
As the cost of living continues to shape consumer spending, offering more than just drinks has become increasingly important. “People want value in where they’re going,” Rhiannon says. “Having something on definitely brings people in. It gets people out of the house as well,” particularly “especially if it’s quite accessible and free.”
The shift reflects broader changes in the way Sydneysiders socialise. “A lot of people are going out for special occasions, rather than just going out,” Rhiannon says. “Earlier in the week, on those quieter days, people are going out, but they don’t always want the main focus to be drinking. They want to have something to do.”
For Dulcie’s, those experiences are underpinned by a strong sense of community. “We’re very much a neighbourhood bar. We have a lot of locals that come here… It’s like you’re walking into someone’s house, and they’re welcoming you with open arms.”
“We’ve definitely got that community support behind us.”
To find out more about Dulcie’s upcoming events, click here.
