Centro 86
barA subterranean tequila temple in the CBD serving five types of margaritas and 100 hand-selected agave spirits until 2am nightly.
Happy Hour Deals
Happy Hour
$7 beers, $16 spicy margaritas
Best For
86-88 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD 2000
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The Vibe
The entrance: Look for the Centro 86 sign on Pitt Street, then head down Hoskings Place laneway to find a fire escape leading two flights down to this emerald-green underground cantina. The space: Clayton Ciolac spent 18 months designing this psychedelic Mexican fever dream, with David Humphries creating another mind-bending bar top to match his work at Bar Planet. Local stained-glass artists, ceramicists and visual artists have transformed the 110-seat basement into what the team calls an "old, fancy Mexican cantina on shrooms". The crowd: Green waistcoat-clad staff deliver signature low-key cocktail theatre, shaving ice to order from three manual machines. The crowd ranges from tequila newcomers to longtime fans, with the atmosphere building as the night progresses toward the 2am close.
What People Love
The margaritas: Five house varieties push perceptions of what a margarita can be, including the standout Verde topped with parsley. The team has served over one million margaritas across their venues and shows no signs of slowing down. The tequila collection: A 100-strong selection ranging from $13 to $180, including varieties the Mucho team has aged themselves and ultra-rare bottles sourced directly from Mexico. Australia's first commercial agave spirit from Bowen, Queensland, sits alongside spirits from around the world. The happy hour: Daily 4pm-6pm specials include $13 spicy margaritas and $7 tap beers. The popcorn: Complimentary bags arrive with a new secret spice mix, different from the team's other venues but equally addictive.
The Neighbourhood
The location: Hidden in the basement of 86-88 Pitt Street, Centro 86 occupies prime CBD real estate with a discreet entrance that rewards those who find it. The Hoskings Place laneway approach keeps the crowds manageable while being central to the city's after-work drinking circuit. The strip: This stretch of Pitt Street sits between the financial district and the entertainment precincts, making it perfectly positioned for both post-work drinks and late-night sessions. The hidden nature of the entrance creates a sense of discovery in an area typically dominated by more obvious venue choices. Getting there: The CBD location makes it accessible from all train lines via Town Hall or Wynyard stations, with the venue's 2am closing time catering to Sydney's limited late-night drinking options in the city centre.
Nearby in Sydney CBD
Ratings from Google