Drinks Digest dropped by Penny’s Hotel in Kings Cross for dinner last week, following its extensive renovation by Watering Hole Hotels hospitality group.
Previously the Hampton Court Hotel, Penny’s is located on the corner of Bayswater Rd and Pennys Lane, the once-medieval decor has been replaced by handmade pink and green Spanish tiles, Fibonacci stone bar tables and plush velvet seating, while head chef Adam Finlay (ex-Merivale) has created an elevated yet affordable menu.
Licensee and General Manager Peter Tate and his staff are a welcoming, friendly team who are intent on making both residents and visitors to the suburb feel at home.
It was fascinating to hear them reveal the story behind the new name for the hotel, which was inspired by a woman called Penny, who was forced into prostitution by homelessness in the early decades of the 20th century. Penny plied her trade on the curb of what is now known as Penny’s Lane and used the money she made to help those in need, especially the homeless who lived in Bourke Street Park.
We grabbed a table in the front bar and kicked off with a cocktail, sampling a refreshing Paloma.
Then we explored Finlay’s menu, which features classic pub fare, including chicken schnitzel, burgers, pizzas and a special steak menu, as well as a Chana split chickpea dal, pan-roasted salmon with white sweet potato, housemade miso butter, charred corn, shallots, corn and ponzu, and a beef and guinness pie.
The former Establishment chef has also introduced a range of share plates, including twice-cooked pork belly bites, falafel bites, kyoto chicken skewers with shoyu glaze and kewpie slaw, and potato scallops.
On our visit we tried the pork belly bites ($17) and potato scallops ($13) to start, which were both delicious.
The latter are done two ways, with chicken or vinegar salt, and are hand-sliced to exactly the right thickness to ensure they’ll cook to perfection in Finlay’s own beer-batter recipe in just five minutes.
Is your mouth watering yet?
We also sampled the prawn linguine with chilli, garlic, cherry tomatoes, spinach, lemon and pangrattato ($26), which had just the right amount of bite to it and lots of plump prawns.
Our verdict? The combination of warm service and well-priced and flavour-filled food is a winner.
Penny’s Hotel is located at 9-15 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point.
Drinks Digest celebrates Sydney Cocktails book launch