If there’s one thing Sydney loves, it’s a hidden bar. Now thanks to the masters of mixology at El Primo Sanchez, we’ve got one more. La Prima is secreted away behind an innocuous door within El Primo Sanchez, and is inspired by the southern Mexico city of Oaxaca. 

To score a spot inside the 10-seater speakeasy you’re going to have to play it cool though – it is by invitation only, given out at the discretion of the staff. La Prima is also the domain of the goddesses out there, a distinctly feminine space that is flooded with candlelit ambience, old-school Mexican music, walls adorned with agave, and a dedicated female bartender crafting the drinks. Girls to the front, please and thank you.

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A special rotating menu of curated cocktails by the Maybe Sammy team adds to the allure, with the opening menu including the Encanto with Patrón Silver, dry vermouth and cherry soda, Perfume de Gardenias with Patrón Reposado, peach and citrus cordial with jasmine soda, and Pastel de Planto with Patrón Reposado, banana and cinnamon cordial, salt and agave. 

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Guests also have the option to order select offerings from the El Primo Sanchez menu, curated by head chef Alejandro Huerta. Alejandro’s menu brings a playful twist to Mexican classics, including guacamole with fermented green tomato, chilli crunch and totopos, pink ling with baja base, pineapple pico de gallo and coriander, and the Blackmore wagyu barbacca with salsa roja de miso, burnt onions and shiso. 

La Prima is open now, somewhere inside Oxford House, 27-33 Oxford Street, Paddington; elprimosanchez.com/la-prima

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