Souk up the vibe at new cocktail bar

A NEW cocktail bar has opened upstairs at The Mez Club in Byron Bay, filling a gap for people who want to have a drink after dinner but don’t want to go to a club.

The Mez Club co-owner Rob Doherty said the bar offered a casual yet sophisticated meeting spot that was drink-focused but also offered tapas/meze-style food.

“We wanted a place that would make our guests feel like they are on an overseas holiday,” he said.

“It’s a place for people to go when they don’t just want to go out to dinner and then go home, because that’s what we want.

“We love going out to dinner, but we don’t want to go to a bar or nightclub after.”

The Mez Club, which is inspired by Moroccan architecture and the Greek Islands, opened in 2016.

Doherty and his business partner Monica Pacheco took it over in 2018.

He said new bar has been in the planning for more than a year and was called The Souk after the marketplaces in places like Morocco.

“It’s a bustling social area where people meet and hang out,” he said.

“We think it fits perfectly in between the restaurants and more clubby-style bars that are currently on offer.”

“We think it’s just what Byron needs.

“Our cocktails are amazing — they are sophisticated yet delicious.

“They aren’t trying too hard.

“Our first and foremost goal is that guests would like to drink the same cocktail again.”