MasterChef favourite Khanh Ong and pop artist Brendan Maclean are taking the stage this month for an exclusive event as part of American Express delicious. Month Out.

Ong will host Cabaret & Canapes, a night of raucous entertainment, drinks and snacks at Tiva live music lounge in the Sydney CBD.

The unmarked door at the entrance to Tiva offers a clue to the kind of theatre that awaits inside the so-called secret bar tucked away underneath The Charles in Sydney’s CBD.

And finding the basement bar is part of the fun. Duck down the stairs and pull back the navy-as-night curtain to reveal this sumptuous sanctum for good times. It’s like a velvet-clad jewellery box.

“Tiva is one of the city’s best-kept secrets, says director of bars (and good times) Jonothan Carr.

“If you can find the unmarked door, descend downstairs underneath the cityscape and discover a sophisticated and luxurious underground hive for great food, high-end cocktails and incredible live music.”

The dimly lit drinking den evokes the glamour of 1930s New York with golden age cocktails, sumptuous banquette-style lounge seating, closely packed tables around curved enclaves and some serious Rat Pack vibes.

After years of pain for hospitality and the arts, it’s the kind of venue that is critical to Sydney’s nightlife. One of the highlights of the night will be the line-up of live entertainment headlined by singer-songwriter Maclean.

“Live music and entertainment are a hugely important part of the city’s fabric and we’re thrilled to be able to provide a platform for this,” says Carr.

“We’re very excited to have singer-songwriter Brendan Maclean performing for the event – he’s guaranteed to put on an incredible show that’ll have everyone dancing.

“But it won’t end after the event winds up at 9.30pm. We’ll have live bands and DJs on through to the early hours,” he says.

The Cabaret & Canapes event at Tiva starts with a tequila rose cocktail on arrival. There will be free-flowing Cape Mentelle wines and a specially curated food menu for the night which includes spanner crab and caviar tartlets; steak and anchovy tartare; Moreton Bay bug rolls; and Jamon iberico and Comté toasties.

The roving desserts within Tiva will include pistachio financiers as well as chocolate and muscovado caramel tarts.

Carr says Tiva is a top spot for curated cocktails, Champagne, lounge snacks and live music four nights a week. “It’s sophisticated, luxe and fun.” Carr says he’d like those attending the event to come away feeling like they’ve “discovered Sydney’s best-kept secret”.

What: Cabaret & Canapes
When: Wednesday, May 3 from 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Where: Tiva, 68 King St, Sydney
Cost: $100pp which includes a substantial canape package, free-flowing wines, live entertainment and gift
To purchase your tickets now, visit Resy.