By S Haslam
I love eating out at restaurants, but no matter how good the food is, for me it’s also about having fun – it’s a whole experience. Some experiences just send your mind that signal to switch off and have fun – whether you’re on holidays, or you just need to chill out. Sitting across from the beach, with a great range of cocktails on hand, listening to some live tunes with a range of tapas and some friends to talk to – to me this is how life should be lived.
This is the Kiki on Byron vibe. It’s a cocktail bar opposite Main Beach in Byron, and also a live music venue, with regular jazz nights, a cheese board and wine special for $60 on Saturday nights with a killer band, and acoustic sessions on Sundays with $6 Coronas, just for example.
I find just reading a cocktail list exciting, let alone trying them, so just to get you in the cocktail mood; how about the ‘MC/DC’: Dark rum, Brookies Macadamia and Wattleseed liqueur, lime, walnut bitters and macadamia orgeat (orgeat is a sweet syrup, normally almond-based, often used in Mai Tais and tiki drinks – if you like tiki style cocktails, they have eight different ones at Kiki’s). Or how about trying the ‘Some Like it Hot’: Ilegal Mezcal, Reposado tequila, lime, local Pyewackets Mango-Jalapeno Shrub, chilli agave and Dorrigo pepperleaf?
But of course, you don’t have to try something different, part of relaxing is just having what you’re comfortable with; like a martini, an Old Fashioned, or one of the fresh cocktails like the mojito, margaritas, or some of my favourites, like the Amaretto sour, or the negroni. Well, I have a lot of favourites, actually…
Of course, there is also a good list of reasonably-priced wines, Australian but also Austrian and French wines too, and many wines available by the glass, along with a selection of non-alcoholic drinks and beers too. I don’t drink a lot of beer, and I’ve never had a Sanctus, Pina Colada Smash beer, but I like going to a venue with something on the menu to tempt me out of my comfort zone – if I could just get past that cocktail list…
Like, for example, salsa dancing. It’s outside my comfort zone and I’ve never done it, but Kiki on Byron on Thursday nights is the place to try, if you’re curious. There’s a free Latin Dance Party at 7pm with a mini salsa class at 6pm ($20) for an hour beforehand just to give you some moves, or confidence, and all night Sangria jugs (maybe for a touch more confidence) along with wine, beer and fish taco specials.
There is a Mexican-style breakfast and lunch menu, (think Breakfast Burrito), and for dinner you can get some simple and delicious dishes like pizza, nachos and quesadillas.
The live music is ever-changing, but this week (in addition to Thursday night salsa night) Mark Chapman is playing at 7pm on Friday, the Moses Parker Jazz Trio is playing at 7pm on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning at 11am you can catch Milan Ackerman.
Kiki on Byron
Shop 1 & 2, 14 Bay St, Byron (opp. Surf Club)
kikionbyron.com
@kikionbyron
