Marble Bar at Hilton Sydney is proud to celebrate its 130th anniversary, marking over a century of unwavering commitment to hospitality, exceptional service, and an undisputed home of live music in the heart of the city.

Since its establishment in 1893, Marble Bar has been a cherished watering hole and live music venue where patrons across the decades have headed for a drink after work, or as the bar of choice to celebrate life's special moments. From its early days as an ‘attractive meeting place for sportsmen’ to its current place as a stalwart of a Friday night out, Marble Bar has played an integral role in the history and culture of the city.

To celebrate this milestone, Hilton Sydney commissioned Sydney based writer, Leta Keens, to comb the archives of the NSW State Library to discover the untold stories of the space. She found a souvenir brochure, published when the bar opened in September 1893, proclaiming Marble Bar was ‘the handsomest marble hall in Australia, worthy of London or Paris’, while in the 1930s, one writer claimed that ‘nowhere in the world is there a saloon which equals the artistic beauty and architectural magnificence of the famous Marble Bar’.

Marble Bar occupies a unique place in Sydney’s nightlife, with its intimate vibe crossed with a club-type atmosphere. The exuberant Victorian surroundings and rich history has also made the space a focus of the music world with the likes of Liza Minelli, Cold Chisel, The Veronicas and Adam Lambert all visiting the space.

To commemorate this significant milestone, Marble Bar hosted a guest list of over 100 including winners of a competition who shared their fondest memories of nights out at Marble Bar on Instagram.

Guests can also take a walk down memory lane with Swan Lager from Swan River in Perth Western Australia, the first beer to ever be poured on tap at Marble Bar in 1893, available until the end of the year.

Additionally, a refreshed cocktail menu will also see Marble Bar’s take on classic martinis with a twist and an Old Fashioned with something a little unexpected, combined with a new dimension of drinks for patrons to enjoy. The Lychee Ensemble – Marble Bar’s most ordered cocktail – will remain unchanged on the menu.

To guide the evolution of the Marble Bar experience for the next 130 years to come, Hilton Sydney partnered with creative consultants Proof & Co to creative a new modern cocktail offering with engaging drinking rituals, refreshed uniforms, equipment and the like as well as defining the overarching concept of the venue itself. This will be respectfully informed by its people, heritage and history over the 130 years.

Proof Creative, Senior Bar Consultant, Charlie Ainsbury understands the importance of honouring such a historic venue, saying, “Marble Bar is dear to the hearts of many Sydney-siders as well as a heritage gem. As such, we are honoured to play a part in re-establishing it as an iconic drinking destination of Australia; an exceptional contribution to the world’s great hotel bars.”

James Heggie, Food and Beverage Operations Manager at Hilton Sydney expressed their excitement about this historic celebration, saying, "We are immensely proud to be custodians of such an iconic venue that has served our community for 130 years, and this milestone is a testament to the enduring relationships we've built with our patrons. We invite both our cherished regulars and new friends to join us in celebrating this milestone and to be a part of the exciting future that lies ahead."

Hayden Hughes, General Manager of Hilton Sydney also revealed, “Marble Bar’s enduring legacy has all of the hallmarks of becoming one of the world’s most iconic hotel bars. Celebrating this remarkable 130-year milestone is testament to a venue that I am sure we will again return to celebrate for decade’s worth of anniversaries to come.”

As Marble Bar embarks on its 130th year, Hilton Sydney remains committed to providing exceptional service, fostering community connections, and creating unforgettable experiences for all who walk through its doors.

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