Dean & Nancy on 22 – A Spirited Sydney Skyline Affair
- May 12, 2025
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There’s a moment, just as you ascend the gleaming brass staircase and you know you’re stepping into something special.
At A by Adina Sydney there is a venue where the rules of an ordinary hotel bar are joyfully rewritten. What awaits is not just a drink and a view but a curated experience where glamour, theatre, and heartfelt hospitality come together in perfect harmony.
Created by the award-winning minds behind Maybe Sammy, Dean & Nancy radiates a polished playfulness that is hard to resist. On a recent visit, I arrived to find the space humming with energy. Every table filled, every glass raised in celebration. And yet, despite the full house, the room pulsed with a sense of harmony. There was a method to the madness, a rhythm to the movement. The commotion wasn’t chaos it was character. As the pianist played nostalgic tunes that danced over conversations, refined guests sipped creative cocktails and leaned into laughter with friends and colleagues. It felt like a scene from a timeless film, a little decadent, and wonderfully alive.
Guests, clearly well-versed in both taste and style, gathered with friends and colleagues in a space that felt both elevated and inclusive. It’s this duality that defines Dean & Nancy. One moment playful, the next poetic, much like the cocktail I ordered from their evocatively named World of Dreams menu.
The Lotus Old Fashioned is a drink that blurs the line between past and future. With poetic storytelling woven into the very essence of the glass, it evokes a place where time collapses. Think ancient temples, flickering lanterns, the eternal now. “Can you be in two places at once?” the menu muses. “History tells us you can.” And indeed with each sip, the lines between then and now disappear. It’s not just a cocktail; it’s a conversation between eras.
Every guest interaction here is considered and intuitive. The staff are exceptional and deeply engaged, effortlessly informed, and genuinely invested in delivering an exceptional guest experience. Whether you’re exploring the signature cocktails, diving into their top shelf selection, or indulging in the generous bar menu of snacks and shared plates, there’s always a well-timed suggestion or a warm check-in to remind that hospitality here is more than service.
But Dean & Nancy is not all show and no substance. The food here delivers in spades. Our evening began with the Octopus a dish that balanced texture and flavour with finesse. The char on the octopus was spot-on, lending a smoky depth that was offset beautifully by the bright acidity of the salsa verde and the warmth of paprika. The free-range chicken liver pâté was a nostalgic nod to my grandmother’s creamy pâtés. Rich, decadent, and packed with flavour. It spread like silk across the crusty sourdough, making for a deeply satisfying interlude.
The Wagyu steak with Dean & Nancy chimichurri arrived next, and it was everything a steak should – be nothing more, nothing less. Juicy, well-seasoned, and perfectly seared, it needed little else. The chimichurri added just the right amount of zing to round out each mouthful into a moment of quiet bliss. And to finish? A highball of Drambuie, served with a thoughtful selection of cheeses; an indulgent finale that encapsulated the night’s elegant rhythm.
As night settled over Sydney and the city lights began to twinkle around us, the feeling in the room was unmistakable. People weren’t just drinking they were celebrating. There was joy, connection, and a shared understanding that Dean & Nancy is a place where you lose track of time for all the right reasons.
For business travellers seeking to entertain in style, or simply unwind after a day of meetings, Dean & Nancy on 22 offers the perfect backdrop that is refined, atmospheric, and utterly unforgettable. It’s a venue that reminds us that a drink is never just a drink – it’s an invitation to dream, to connect, and to return.
