How to top off an afternoon at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

What could be better than an afternoon at the Museum of Contemporary Art? Capping it of with a signature cocktail and panoramic views of the ever-iconic Sydney Harbour would do it. Paper Moose, who worked on last year’s sun soaked Gin Garden bar at the MCA as well as with Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Opera House, have collaborated again with the museum to bring Sydneysiders Cherry Blossom Bar; a unique pop-up on the ground floor terrace tailored specifically to complement the art series exhibition Tatsuo Miyajima: Connect with Everything. The bar is open from Friday 28 October, a week ahead of the exhibition which opens the following Thursday.

Everyone and their neighbour’s son seem to be on board this year and we couldn’t be more excited. Japanese saké, whisky and beers will sit alongside locally sourced Australian favourites for those unwilling to venture. For those who are, each month there will be a signature cocktail infused with classic Japanese flavours courtesy of QT Sydney’s resident mixologist, Jared Thibault; locals and winners of the Best International Bar and Best Australia & Pacific Bar at the 2015 Restaurant and Bar design Awards, Archie Rose Distilling Co have tailor made a gin to perfectly complement saké; and a bespoke menu – featuring the ultimate bento box – was devised by Culinary Edge to help you soak it all up.

“The cocktail list, menu and the bar design itself are a respectful pastiche of the very best of Japanese design and flavours. We’ve aimed to incorporate traditional elements with a contemporary twist,” says Sarah Barron, Events Manager for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

This isn’t the first exercise of the like by the MCA. And following the success of the café’s dedicated Korean menu launched to coincide with the New Romance: art and the posthuman exhibition earlier this year and last summer’s Gin Garden bar likewise complementing the Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career exhibition – it isn’t likely to be the last.

The Cherry Blossom Bar is open Friday 28 October 2016 until 5 March 2017, Thursday to Friday from 4pm until late, and Saturday to Sunday from midday.

Tatsuo Miyajima-inspired Cherry Blossom Bar
mca.com.au/series/cherry-blossom-bar

Words by Holly Cunneen

Photography by Stuart Garske