Before it became Bar Hernandez, this little corner of Kings Cross was already part of Sydney history.

 

In 1972, Joaquin Hernandez Snr opened Café Hernandez, bringing with him a deep knowledge of coffee from his home in Spain. At a time when Sydney was still more of a tea-drinking town, Joaquin helped introduce a new kind of coffee culture — one built on freshly roasted beans, rich espresso and a warm, bohemian atmosphere.

 

For 50 years, Café Hernandez was a true Kings Cross institution. Open 24 hours a day for much of its life, it became a meeting place for locals, artists, taxi drivers, night owls and famous faces, including Frank Sinatra, Ginger Rogers, Guns N’ Roses, Kerry Packer and Paul Keating. With its ceiling-to-floor art, the sound and aroma of the roaster, and a loyal crowd of regulars, the café became one of Sydney’s most loved late-night landmarks.

 

Before the Hernandez family took over, the site had been home to a Polish deli from around 1950 to 1970 — another layer in the rich, European story of the building.

 

In 2022, after five decades in the Hernandez family, the site was sold to Dave and Amy Spanton. Having already revived the legendary Piccolo Bar in 2020, they saw an opportunity to breathe new life into another iconic Kings Cross venue while honouring everything that had come before. 

 

Working with designer Michael Delany, the space was carefully refreshed with a deep respect for its past. The aim was never to erase the history, but to build on it — meticulously crafting a venue that felt as though it had always been there, while giving it a new purpose for today.

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One such nod to the past is the famous painting that still tales centre stage. The Count-Duke of Olivares on horseback, is a reproduction by, Paquita Hernandez, wife of the late Joaquin Hernandez Snr. This fabulous reproduction of Diego Velazquez's original and has been hanging here in the venue since the 1980s. Paquita’s children, Keno and Francis, allowed the Spantons to keep the painting when they bought the venue.

 

In February 2023, the bar opened as Bar Hernandez, inspired by the old-school Spanish bars, Italian Aperitivo bars and French Brasseries. The concept brought together the deli history, with the Spanish history (vermouth & sherry) along with cocktails, snacks, pickles, conservas and hard-to-find bottles lining the shelves. It is the first and only bar in Australia to sell vermouth straight from the barrel.

 

Today, Bar Hernandez is a Euro-inspired neighbourhood bar, serving cocktails, vermouth, wine and snacks in a space filled with stories. It is a tribute to the past, a celebration of Kings Cross, and the next chapter for one of Sydney’s most iconic little venues.