After two and a half years of tacos, tequila and late-night karaoke in Paddington, El Primo Sanchez has found a new home on Crown Street, Surry Hills, officially reopening on Wednesday 15 October.
The venue now occupies the former Four Pillars Lab and Eileen’s Bar site, with the new Maybe Sammy Cocktails Studio operating on the ground floor below. It marks a fresh chapter for the Maybe Group bar: same soul, sharper edges.
Gone is the taqueria-style setup; in its place is a sleek, 100-capacity cocktail bar that balances polish with playfulness.
Venue Manager Eduardo Conde said: “This is still Sanchez at heart — bold, colourful, and full of life — but we’ve evolved it.
“The drinks are more focused, the room feels sexier, and it’s made for people who love a good time, but a more grown-up kind of good time.”
Conde leads a new cocktail list celebrating tequila and mezcal, with Margaritas in several forms, from the classic Primo Margarita to the Coconut and Tropical variations. Highballs include the Sanchez Paloma with mandarin and agave, and the Cuatro Spritz, a zesty mix of gin, kiwi and prosecco.
Returning favourites have been reimagined: the Horchata Colada, made with macadamia horchata mix, and the Gimlet al Maiz, a tortilla-infused twist on the classic gimlet.
In the kitchen, Head Chef Diego Sotelo has traded the taqueria menu for snack-style dishes designed to pair with drinks, including empanadas and tostadas, plus a few cheeky indulgences like chips in a bag topped with beef tartare and stracciatella, and the cheeseburger taco. A Snack Flight ($65 per person) offers a curated mix for groups.
The design retains Eileen’s Bar’s footprint but layers it with Sanchez’s vibrant personality: splashes of colour, softened lighting, and a disco-ready energy. A new DJ booth, illuminated dance floor, and four-person karaoke room round out the experience.
Downstairs, the Maybe Sammy Cocktails Studio makes its debut, the group’s first retail and workshop space, offering bottled cocktails, tasting sessions and classes.
Maybe Group Co-owner Stefano Catino: “Surry Hills feels like the right next step for Sanchez — it gives the bar a new kind of energy.
“The Maybe Sammy Cocktails Studio below adds another layer to the story — it’s a place where people can connect with our team and take a little of that experience home.”
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