El Vista, a newly opened cocktail bar overlooking Sydney Harbour, has the feel of a time slip. Step inside and you are mentally rerouted to Acapulco in the 1960s, when the Mexican resort was a beacon for the global jet set.
El Vista: Sydney’s New Harbourfront Cocktail Bar
The cocktail bar is not trying to operate as a museum, nor as a faithful reconstruction of a world that no longer exists. Stefano Catino, co-founder of The Maybe Group — which, alongside Accor’s Table For, brought the project to life — put it plainly: “We didn’t want to recreate the past; we wanted to capture its spirit. In the 1960s, Acapulco was electric: glamour felt effortless, nights ran late, the energy was vibrant, and the atmosphere was full of rhythm and chances to connect. El Vista takes those qualities and distils them into Sydney Harbour through food, music and cocktails with a story — and a soul.”
A Drink List With Latin American Energy
Unsurprisingly, the menu looks firmly to Latin America. Margaritas and Daiquiris sit alongside twists on classics such as the Piña Colada, Paloma, Mojito and Cuba Libre. There are also original drinks that carry the same reference points — including an Espresso Martini made with vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and dulce de leche.
Mexican and South American Flavours, Built for Sharing
The food programme is led by chef Giovanni Pilu and follows the bar’s broader outlook, drawing from Mexico and South America. The menu includes fresh oysters, tortillas with guacamole, tacos, chorizo, chilli, avocado and more. The key detail is the format: dishes are designed for sharing, for lively, good-humoured tables that prefer to linger, letting the hours move at their own pace.
The Collaboration Expands: Bar Allora, El Vista — and Flaminia Next
“We’re thrilled to present our new venue. This is exactly the kind of collaboration we hoped would happen when we launched Table For,” said Ben Creek, who leads Table For. “We wanted to bring together visionary hospitality talents to create experiences executed to the highest standard — culturally relevant, and centred on hospitality.
Bar Allora set the pace; El Vista continued an adventure shaped by style, flavour and celebration; and with the upcoming opening of Flaminia, we’re only just getting started.” For the record, Flaminia is an Italian restaurant in Sydney led by Giovanni Pilu and Marilyn Annecchini.
Images courtesy of El Vista
