Spread across three levels, the 98-seat space blends subtle Japanese styling with playful warmth - cherry blossom motifs, kimono-print cushions, warm timber finishes and glowing pink-red lighting creating the kind of atmosphere you stumble across down a Tokyo or Osaka side street.
The pièce de résistance or medama (Japanese for main attraction) is the extraordinary handcrafted floral ceiling.
Inspired by Japan’s spring cherry blossom season and the tradition of picnicking beneath the blooms, it creates the illusion of an entire sky covered in flowers. It’s worth dropping in for a drink just to see it.
Downstairs, owner Adam Tremont has realised a long-held dream: a dedicated Japanese-inspired whisky bar unlike anything else nearby.
The basement space feels intimate and relaxed, but the whisky collection is serious. Hanami houses one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest collections of Glenmorangie, with rare pours from Tremont’s private collection sitting alongside new and limited releases, including the latest Harrison Ford collaboration that had only just arrived when we visited.
For true enthusiasts, there’s Glenmorangie Pride 1984 at $1,495 a pour, though the venue never feels intimidating or overly formal. Instead, the energy remains approachable and fun, helped along by playful cocktails including the Fairy Floss Tingle and Lychee Sau Wau.
The drinks menu leans heavily Japanese, from icy Sapporo pints to craft beers like Hitachino Nest IPA, whose softer, less bitter profile pairs beautifully with the food.
The menu itself moves comfortably between Japanese comfort dishes and broader Asian flavours, think keema beef noodles, skewers, wok-fried vegetables and dumplings with most dishes sitting between $14 and $30.
Bottomless dumplings for $40pp, imagine 90 minutes of unlimited steamed, fried and saucy bites, available: Tuesday to Thursday from 5pm–8pm, plus Fridays and Saturdays 12pm - 3pm and the menu includes gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options.
Happy Hour runs Tuesday to Saturday from 4pm–6pm with house wines from $9, Sapporo beers from $10 and selected cocktails for $16.
Conveniently located near Central Station and just one stop from Moore Park, Bar Hanami feels like a hidden Japanese backstreet bar tucked quietly into Sydney - playful, atmospheric and very easy to settle into for the night.
Address: 403 Crown Street, Surrey Hills Opening hours: Tuesday- Thursday 4pm- 12pm | Friday - Saturday 12pm - 2 am https://barhanami.com.au/ Insta: @bar_hanami
