Sydney: Bringing the outside in at the Botanist

The Botanist
17 Willoughby St, Kirribilli NSW 2061
(02) 9954 4057)

A semi underground basement with a pub feel that’s made for group socialising, The Botanist is a perfect lazy Sunday afternoon’s lunch.  Chilled yet buzzing, eccentric but simultaneously bizzare, the ambience can be somewhat confusing to those non-botanists like myself. To give you an idea, my balcony pants have died twice. Third time lucky hey.

You are welcomed in with an ambience of greenery – not just by the hanging pot plants and a hand painted mural forest on the wall, but framed preserved insects propped up and and what I am assuming is stuffed toy racoon (which screams taxidermy if you ask me) propped up on the mantelpiece shelf. Kind of kooky but really cool. The subterranean vibe aided by the dim lighting takes you away and makes you forget it sunny outside.

The menu caters to groups after an easy and cosy social session, with the “The Botanist Lunch” (at $32pp) a banquet meal that boasted a plant based share platter menu. Orange & chilli roasted Italian olives to open, and a roasted cauliflower, crisp curried chickpeas & currants salad follow. The grass fed scotch fillet with charred broccolini and smoked red chimichurri cooked medium to rare and was the final meat dish that closed the expedition.

Open Monday and Tuesday for dinner and Wednesday to Sunday for both lunch & dinner, the bustling ambience is fit for both the botanist extraordinaire or for those just after an indoor, yet outdoor experience.