To the max

I went to the launch of the most amazing place last night.

It’s called The Collective and it’s Sydney’s newest hospitality precinct — a 1800sqm dining and drinking destination in the heart of The Rocks.

You may remember it as The Argyle Stores, a heritage-listed former custom house and bond store that housed lots of little arts and crafts stores many moons ago.

Then it became a series of nightclubs and function rooms, hosting event including a massive ACP Magazines Christmas party that I attended when the magazine industry was still in its glory years.

Fast forward to 2025 and, alongside established favourites Saké and The Cut Bar & Grill, the precinct is introducing three new venues: The Dining Room, offering refined dining in the restored 1881 wool store with a 1000+ bin wine list; The Garden, an alfresco all-day spot serving everything from crab omelettes to cocktails under the stars; and Tailor Room, an intimate 24sqm cocktail bar with a drinks menu inspired by fabric.

I took my friend Claudia to experience it all during a preview event. And they had us at bottomless Ruinart Champagne and oysters.

But because we are getting on, what impressed us most were the huge, glorious grass trees in the courtyard, which must be very, very old and mind bogglingly expensive.

However, I reckon you’d be bedazzled by the magical place without the Champagne and oysters and grass trees. It is a spectacular space, filled with character and heritage and coolness.

The cocktails at Tailor Bar are inspired by fabrics because of historic connections, as it was once a tailor’s shop or a fabric storage room or something … I can’t quite remember and I don’t have the press release yet. Claudia had the Denim and I had the Corduroy. As you do.

But we decided we were Champagne girls and had the most fabulous time sipping and chatting together for a few hours.

Confessions and road trip plans were made and extensively discussed.

We agreed the years between 60 and 70 were to be lived to the max.

And then we tottered off into the night to catch our respective public transport methods home.

Have a fab weekend. Catch you next week.

Song of the day: Howard Jones “Things can only get better”