Escape the Last Nights of Winter at East Village Hotel

Although a whisper of spring is already in the air, the cold season will still be nipping at our heels for a little while longer. A special spot located on a Darlinghurst rooftop is helping to lure us out of hibernation, and to relish the last of the frosty evenings.

Head to the East Village Hotel, and take the stairs all the way to the top. A fabulous canopy of over 4,000 twinkling fairy lights will greet you with the city skyline sprawled below. Scattered amongst the terrace are tables suited for groups or couples. After you have been seated, snuggle under one of the provided motif printed blankets and inch your chair a little closer to one of the heaters.

Taking a cue from Europe's winter markets, the venue has replicated a Northern Hemisphere vibe with a limited-time menu on offer. Start with piping sweet cider ($10), delicious Gluhwein aka mulled wine ($8) or the warm cocktail ($16) may tempt you, although the egg in the toddy was a little too prominent for my taste.

The Winter Escape menu features three dishes ideal for sharing. First was the German Kransky style curry sausage that was perfectly charred with smokey tones, and accompanied with cold potato salad that had a lovely bite ($15). Next up was my favourite, a wooden serving board of honey glazed ham with pools of the sticky golden glaze collecting underneath, a pile of toasted sourdough, and house made fruit chutney ($19). To complete the trio was beef bourguignon cooked in red wine. The crunch of the lardons, and crusty croutons was pleasing to the palate. The actual meat seemed a little dry due to the lean cut but was well seasoned and flavoursome ($22).

Rounding off the menu for dessert we ordered the doughnuts. Crisp on the outside, not greasy and paired with pomegranate adorned chantilly cream. I had to wrestle my partner to ensure I got my fair share.

Don’t fret if you are of the veg persuasion, there are also plenty of meat-free options available on the regular menu which is still available upstairs. Lastly keep in mind that the roof-top closes around 9.45pm, so make sure you head up there early to allow time to savour the view and delicacies.

Ideal for a date, or round up the crew for dinner and festive drinks. This is one winter warmer you don’t want to miss out on before the season is finished.