Concrete Playground

Heavy Feather has now closed.

While it's only a hop, skip and a jump away from Ching-a-Lings, Heavy Feather is an indulgent experience worlds away from the earlier establishment's cool minimalism. This is not at all a bad thing. The room is centered around the bar, giving you an insight into the priorities here. The counter is a pressed metal, reminiscent of fish scales, and the room is dotted with art deco lamps, leather sofas and the occasional fern. The scene is dark, moody and candle-lit. Along one wall is a richly-coloured mural of a bird with wings outstretched.

The cocktail list is the focus here, and tends towards fruity formulas. My pick is the aptly named Fine Mess: a playful mix of tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, passionfruit and honey. For those after something a bit less sweet, it's hard to go past Heavy Feather's twist on an Old Fashioned - adding peach liqueur and a dash of orange juice. Or, if it's back to basics, this bar also offers Dos Blockos: a new local beer, served up real nice in a paper bag.

The food comes highly recommended and is reasonably priced. Choose from Pork Belly with Apple and Red Cabbage, Prosciutto with Toasted Ciabatta, or a Grilled Chicken and Feta Salad. You can also pick up smaller bars snacks, like Buffalo Wings or a mixed bowl of Hand-Cut Fries.

Like almost all of the close-to-Oxford-Street small bars, this one is super busy on Friday and Saturday nights. Your best bet is to pop in mid-week for a cheeky drink. Look out for unusual evenings, like a recent Mojito Jugs and Chilli Bowls night, as well as live acoustic sets from local musicians.