It’s not just views being served at Barton’s Leyla Bar – Chef Ben Willis is taking over the kitchen

Posted on 22 September, 2023

Leyla Bar has carved a name for itself as the place to go for classic cocktails and a stunning outlook – but with the news that DOMA Culinary Director Ben Willis is taking the helm, it won’t just views being served.

Instead, with a brand-new kitchen, under the direction of Ben (who doesn’t need an introduction – if you know, you know) Leyla, one of Canberra’s only rooftop bars, will now be serving hot and cold Spanish tapas-style food.

“I really like that way of eating. You can have a drink and you can call it dinner; you can sit here and have five or six plates, or you can have just one and a glass before moving to another restaurant,” he says.

“You don’t need to have a group of people to have a good time.”

Coming in to bring new life to the bar (which has seen great success since opening last year), Ben says the idea of the menu was to create something that would appeal to everyone – joining Leyla’s extensive cocktail and drinks menu and making it a must-visit for the warmer months ahead.

Designing the offerings to be approachable while paying homage to traditional Spanish cuisine, visitors will be able to delight in small snacks ranging from Stuffed Olives and Gildas to Croquettes, Empanadas, and Chicken and Lamb Brochettes.

“It’s very much snacky food, but the bigger items are things like Chorizito with Piperade—it’s very traditional, so you’re not going to see a lot of creativity come in. It’s about nailing what makes these dishes classic,” says Ben.

“It’s not a huge menu but it covers a lot of bases.”

Including dessert.

From classic churros served with chocolate sauce to Crema Catalana and Spanish cheeses served with accompaniments there will also be plenty for those with a sweet tooth.

And with the menu available from 3 pm, it’s bringing siesta and fiesta vibes to the breezy rooftop – dialling up the heat in Canberra’s bar scene just in time for what looks like is going to be a scorching summer.

“The new menu is spicy, it’s full flavoured…and bite-sized is really fun because you can dial the flavour up,” explains Ben.

“I’m looking forward to doing something different to what I’ve done at Louis and what I’ve previously done at Aubergine and having a bit of fun with it.”

Photography: Pew Pew Studio.