The team behind the Harbord Hotel in Sydney’s harbourside suburb of Freshwater, the Ephocal Group, have revealed their new rooftop bar and live music space, Bombies, is now open.
In addition to the newly acquired Bermagui Beach Hotel, the group’s seven coastal and destination venues also include The Beach Hotel Merewether and the Scarborough Hotel near Wollongong. Each blends hospitality, dining, and accommodation.
Bombies is a 1970s-inspired rooftop bar and music venue, including an oceanfront bar overlooking Freshwater Beach. The team say Bombies will showcase Australia’s best homegrown and international music talent. Perched just metres from the break where Duke Kahanamoku introduced Australia to surfing in 1914, the space takes over what was once the hotel’s caretaker’s residence.
In Australian surf slang, “bombies” (from the Eora or Dharuk word bombora) refer to offshore reefs that create powerful, unpredictable waves – the kind surfers chase for the ultimate thrill.
“Bombies is more than just a bar – it’s a feeling,” says Glenn Piper, CEO of Epochal Hotels. “It’s like stepping into a friend’s beach house where the night unfolds effortlessly – live music, cold drinks and an electric energy that just clicks. Whether it’s post-surf beers, sunset sessions, or a late-night dance floor moment, Bombies is where the best nights just happen.”
The menu’s signature dishes include mortadella skewers with smoked mortadella, buffalo curd, green olives, mint, and pickled peppers; spiced prawn tacos; a crab sambo with pickled eschalots, avocado, and chives on thick-cut white bread; and the Bombies Sambo – an elevated club sandwich featuring chicken schnitzel, pancetta, avocado, egg, mayonnaise, gem leaves, and potato crisps.
The tropical-inspired drinks menu includes the Grey Goose Pico De Mango, the Bombora – a mix of Patrón Silver, triple sec, pineapple acid, and orange – and the zesty Piper Perch, crafted with Brookie’s Slow Gin, hibiscus, Peychaud’s bitters and lime.
The entertainment offer includes live-band karaoke, curated film screenings, comedy, and a lineup that champions both Australian and international live music.
Architects Alexander & Co crafted the 70s beach culture-influenced design, heroing artists, musicians, and tastemakers, with murals by Ash Holmes, Paul McNeil, and Tiarna Herczeg bringing the walls to life. Warm wood tones, deep browns, and terracotta are layered with eclectic fabrics, mid-century modern furniture, and bold geometric textures. Glass blockwork, mural-covered brick, and polished concrete floors capture a beach house party vibe.
Bombies is the next chapter in Harbord Hotel’s restoration. A new recording studio for local artists is set to open in late 2025, followed by the return of a boutique hotel for which no opening date is yet known.
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