“The gentrification of the previously dirty old man pubs of Crown Street has been continuing for a while now. Dome Bar, upstairs at the Crown Hotel has raised the standard to another level. Somebody has put a LOT of effort into this place and it definitely deserves at least a quick visit.

The seriously impressive Baroque styling includes a feature wall with a beautiful oil painting repeated in mirror images, chandeliers and a black polished floor. A selection of red velvet, super-comfy low lounges, subtle lighting and a welcome absence of plasma sports screens make for a great setting for an early evening conversation. Dome would be an ideal place for a group to meet for a few drinks before dinner or moving on up to Oxford Street, or alternatively you could dig in for the evening and sample the tapas menu.

Aside from the refreshingly simple, decently priced, classic cocktail list and a half dozen of the usual amber suspects on tap, Dome offers a decent selection of imported beers and a fairly diverse choice of wines and champagnes. If you want to see the footy and avoid the $7 Schmiddy, you can always head downstairs and hang out with the locals.

The friendly staff advised that later in the evening, the previously nicely background Euro-disco would be cranked right up and the 20 and 30-somethings who like to get ‘very dressed up' would be lining up outside. When they reach the 250 person capacity, it would be a squeeze but no doubt a great scene. This corner has always been the best place to get a kebab and a cab in the inner city; now there's a better reason to head there.
Blake Williamson, January 2008”

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