Sydney locals will be all too familiar with Verandah Bar. The watering hole has been a favourite of Sydney CBD regulars for the past 17 years, welcoming a motley crew of visitors through its doors week in week out.

But the Verandah Bar of yesterday is long gone and in its place is a revamped new Caribbean affair that comes accompanied with a new restaurant (Social at Verandah).

The new Verandah creation of Simon Tilley and Nick Wills, owners of emerging hospitality group Tilley and Wills (Greenwood Hotel, Verandah Bar, Social at Verandah) who will open doors to the venue shortly after a three-month closure.

A self-described urban oasis, the venue has taken the brief literally in its design (but no one is complaining!). Designers Luchetti Krelle have crafted a venue awash with playful elements like custom wallpaper and light fittings, distressed hand painted murals, curved banquettes, hanging planters and plenty of greenery designed by Loose Leaf and The Plant Room.

“Structurally, regulars will notice a change in the orientation of bigger features, with a 14-metre curved timber bar now welcoming people on entry,” says Patrick Lawrence of Luchetti Krelle.

“An eclectic mix of furniture has also been used to separate the space into various zones. Plush velvet banquettes and lounges create intimate settings while large timber tables and stools surround the bar.”

Simple cocktails designed for decompressing, an all-Australian menu and a promised focus on 10/10 service accompany the new (but not new) city haunt. “This has been a passion project of Simon [Tilley’s] and mine for quite some time,” says co-owner Nick Wills. “We’ve been coming here for years, as have our mates and our mate’s mates and we hope everyone loves the face-lift as much as we do.”