Swallow Bar is the first small bar to open in the revamped and increasingly popular Maylands social precinct and a much welcome addition to the area. In a nutshell? Swallow rocks. Rather than fight the long, narrow space it fills the fit-out pays homage to the railway station opposite with it’s antique train seat booths inside (you need to be there early to snag one) and the age of the building itself with pressed tin inserts in the bar and art-deco light fittings on the walls and ceilings. Its warm, cosy, nostalgic and funky rolled into one.
There’s a great selection of wines by the glass, boutique beers, cider, spirits and cocktails but it’s the food that lifts Swallow out of the ordinary. On the night we visited the special was slow braised lamb shanks with white wine, honey & rosemary which were melt in the mouth and excellent value at $26.
The house made Chicken with XP Pate was smooth and silky, and the hot, crispy frites came with a nice, tart dijonnaise to give them a bit of oomph.
Swallow is a bar for grown-ups – if you’re looking for a place to party hard this isn’t it. If you want to be in cosy, slightly upmarket, funky surrounds with great food, drinks and hear yourself have a conversation then this is the place. Love, Love, Love Swallow!
