Descending on Cockle Bay Wharf early in the evening, looking for a relaxed, yet atmospheric destination you can't go past Home Bar, situated right on the stunning harbour and in the middle of the entertainment precinct. Offering breathtaking views of the harbour, Home Bar is the kind of venue where you can kick back with mates, enjoy a drink and bask in the setting sun.
With striking contemporary interiors featuring fantastic wood work and interesting metals, the bar offers anything you can dream up and more; the experienced bartenders have a distinct creative flair for concocting mean cocktails, and with such reasonable prices you'll probably find yourself spending far more time in this spot than you ever intended. Especially when the generous happy hour (make that hours) runs from 5 til 8pm Monday through Friday, offering cheap as chips $4 basic spirits, beer and wine. Come this time and you'll be lucky to score a seat outside, but there are still plenty of super comfy leather couches inside as well as proper dining tables. If you get hungry the menu has a great variety of offers a little more luxe than your basic pub meals sure to satisfy any appetite, and it's very reasonably priced.
Depending on the time of day or evening you visit Home Bar determines the typical crowd. Come day and early afternoon it's a huge mix of ages and backgrounds, people either stopping in for a drink or having a quick bite; think mum and daughter, or a group of young mates. By the time happy hour starts the place is usually filled with your typical suit crowd; read 20 and 30 somethings. It's a great time to mingle with some new faces; everyone is friendly and for the most part wearing a smile, because most of them have just finished work for the day, and let's face it, that's a happy time!
It's definitely worth eyeing off an outdoor table and chairs if there aren't any free on arrival and pouncing on it as soon as it is free. Chilling outside and watching the sun set over the spectacular harbour is a must do. Pair that with the carefree type attitude that
Home Bar has and you've got yourself a recipe for a good time.
Once you've had a few drinks, the bathroom is a bit of a trek. You have to make your way up a couple of flights of stairs, and they are so dimly lit you might be left wondering if they are even going to be open. But rest assured they are clean and there are enough of them that you'll never be left waiting in a queue.
Whether you're looking for a place to kick off your evening, or looking for somewhere to go for relaxed after work drinks,
Home Bar is certainly, in my opinion, the pick of the bunch on the harbour.
