Don your best fedora or fur coat, The Cat’s Meow is Darlinghurst’s glamourous new venue inspired by the suburb’s shady past. Head past the velvet rope and enter through the heritage facade to discover a series of drinking dens that bring Sydney’s dark and mysterious underworld to life.

Design studio Henderson & Co has created a shadowy interior, that captures the mysterious mood that underpinned the nightclubs of the era. Subdued and ambient lighting is achieved through abstract light installations and hanging vintage pendants, which create the perfect atmosphere for sly winks and whispers.

The interiors have been divided into three distinct chambers. There’s the main bar – or The Vault – which is home to arched windows, soft, velvet furnishings and marble surfaces; The Butcher’s Library, where cut-throat razors and cellared wines sit side-by-side in meat-ageing cabinets; and the Champagne Room, a plush parlour where circular booths and Champagne trolleys make the perfect setting for sipping, with flutes delivered à la Champagne cart.

Forget the bootleg booze, The Cat’s Meow revisits all the classic cocktails of the 1920s alongside an extensive selection of Champagnes and single malt whiskeys. For those who like the finer things in life, the bar menu serves high-end snacks from fresh oysters and caviar to prawn cocktails and a truffle croque monsieur. Head to The Butcher’s Library for a selection of Australian cured meats and cheeses – only the best make the cut.

The Cat’s Meow is located at 52 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. It opens Mon–Sun 5pm–12am. For more details, head to @thecatsmeowsydney.