Vasco Surry Hills
421 Cleveland Road, Surry Hills, 2010
Vasco Newtown
2-4 O’Connell St, Newtown, 2042
@vasco.sydney
Images shot on location at Surry Hills by Christopher Pearce
Since 2012, the enduring VASCO bar has been a staple of Sydney’s dive scene. Whether or not you’re hitting up the unique Surry Hills spot or the brand new Newtown location, VASCO delivers an ideal mix of gritty appeal and refined edge, putting the best stability between unrefined cool and polished sophistication.
The unique Vasco opened again in 2012 in Surry Hills. When did you’re taking over?
I took over Vasco on the finish of 2018. It was thrilling to take the reins of an already established venue with such a wealthy legacy in the local people.
You’ve now expanded to a Newtown venue as properly. When did this occur?
I’d been planning for a while to develop into Newtown, and after the success of Vasco Surry Hills, we lastly opened our doorways in October 2023 for Vasco Newtown. Newtown is such a vigorous location; it felt like the right place to carry our organised chaos!
 
What’s your hospitality background?
My first entry into the trade was a small café I opened out in Western Sydney, however I rapidly realised I’m not a morning particular person, so it simply made sense to open a bar!
“We concentrate on offering our clients with the complete expertise. Wonderful meals, nice drinks, rock n roll bangers and a vibrant ambiance.”
The bars have a rock ‘n’ roll vibe with Italian meals – an incredible fusion! The place did this come from?
Vasco was named after Vasco Rossi, an iconic Italian rock star. Beforehand, the venue was famend solely for its outstanding gnocchi. Since then, I’ve expanded the menu to incorporate pizzas, pastas, and extra. Rock ‘n’ roll with Italian meals simply ticks all of the containers.
What’s your ethos with the venues (as in, what’s your purpose for the client expertise)?
We concentrate on offering our clients with the complete expertise. Wonderful meals, nice drinks, rock n roll bangers and a vibrant ambiance. Vasco is a venue the place you may go to get pleasure from a pleasant dinner or go slam down some pictures while chatting to the bartender. I intention to create an area that I might get pleasure from going to.
What are among the challenges of operating two venues?
The principle problem is discovering the time to change off and do issues I get pleasure from that don’t contain work. That mentioned, I wouldn’t have it some other approach.
What are a few of your favorite bars in Sydney?
Piccolo Bar, Outdated Mate’s Place, Ramblin’ Rascal, and lots of, many extra.
What are you consuming in the mean time?
You may’t beat a Negroni.
Plans for the long run? Is there a 3rd Vasco on the playing cards?
There are all the time new and thrilling concepts within the works, so I’m undoubtedly not ruling out the opportunity of a 3rd venue.
