Two new iconic bars

Posted on 5 July, 2018

Look out bar lovers – Canberra’s cocktail scene is rising to new heights.

You’ve probably already seen the panoramic glass rooftop bar that is the Canberra Rex’s Howling Moon.

With six months of refinement and soft operation under its belt, it is about to launch in an official and spectacular fashion. But wait, there’s more.

There’s not just one bar to experience. Another separate bar, directly beneath the jewel in the crown of the Howling Moon, awaits.

Swan & King promises late nights, a darker and more intimate feel, and a place to enjoy pre-or-post dinner drinks when the Rex opens its new restaurant in the first quarter of next year.

Swan & King still provides panoramic views of the city and with more room to play, including an open-air balcony, it will offer a greater selection for the budding connoisseur with more than 300 different drinks to challenge your palate.

Its menu will also focus on share platters and nibbles, leaving the bespoke cocktails and sunset drinks for those ascending the massive glass staircase to the Howling Moon.

It has more booths, a darker marble bar and gold features to illuminate after-dark socialising. Think a traditional dry martini to the fizzling pop of a champagne cocktail being consumed upstairs.

Swan & King and Howling Moon will both open with a bang at the end of the month, celebrating a rebirth of the Canberra Rex hotel following a multi-million makeover.

Opened in 1959, and once considered THE place for the growing capital’s VIP visitors, the Rex still holds an unparalleled footprint in the centre of the city on Northbourne Avenue – its sweeping views from north to south unmatched anywhere in the city. The massive investment and determination to get every part of the Rex experience right is part of a campaign to reclaim its heritage as Canberra’s premier hotel.

And for those curious among you, the Swan & King is named after Ludwig II of Bavaria – and is inspired by fairy tales, intrigue and delicious flavours. Countering The Howling Moon’s party atmosphere with an ambient space to unwind, Swan & King is the perfect place to pause.

Images: Supplied