Lower Crown Street in the centre of the city continues to build its reputation as Wollongong's small bar and easy dining epicentre with the opening of the latest venture.
On the site of the former Eastern European foodie hot spot Moomin is the uber-cool Ninth Cloud. It sits perfectly in the precinct that is home to Lower East Cafe, Lee and Me, Night Parrot, and a whole bunch of other restaurants and bars.
Manager Megan Talmage has teamed up with her partner, Jay Gupta, to create their second venue for people looking for a great day or night out.
The Horsley couple's hospitality adventure started nearly five years ago. With Covid still a big part of our lives, Jay's timing wasn't great when he opened J's on the Deck in 2021; a classic, coastal, dog-friendly cafe right in the heart of Shellharbour Village.
"Once we got through the pandemic, we were looking to venture out a bit more and take on something new and exciting," Megan said. "With Moomin closing, we jumped at the opportunity."
Jay who's "been in hospitality all my life" is excited. "It's so nice to be in such a prime location. It feels good," he said.
While it's early days (the official opening isn't happening until 16 August), Megan and Jay are quickly getting into their groove. Before we go there … every funky, new venue needs a catchy, easy-to-remember name.
You cold be forgiven for thinking the bar's name was inspired by the 2022 song Ninth Cloud, by multi-award-winning Oklahoma singer-songwriter Zach Bryan; but that's simply not the case.
"Jay was throwing around possible names and it kind of came out back to front. He said, 'Ninth Cloud' and then quickly said, 'No, I mean Cloud Nine'. Because that's what he was feeling about the venue. I said, 'I like the whole Ninth Cloud idea', and so here we are in Ninth Cloud," Megan said.
Megan and Jay invite us to discover the best of modern Australian cuisine with a thoughtfully crafted menu with an emphasis on shared plates. Think grilled baby octopus ($16), dips ($16), nachos ($24) and beef carpaccio ($24) to get things started. The menu of burgers, all served with chips, is extensive ($24) and there are tacos with all your favourite toppings ($20).
"Our dishes blend fresh local produce with global flavours, offering something for everyone, from casual lunches to indulgent dinners," Megan said.
Already proving popular are the two-hour Bottomless Sessions, featuring a generous flow of cocktails, wines and selected beverages, paired with share plates or set menus, perfect for weekend catch-ups.
With the popular Byron Bay coffee now available, breakfasts are now served from 7am, seven days a week.
Daily happy hours (4-7pm) combine drink specials, tasty bites and good vibes, just right for an after-work casual catch-up with workmates or friends.
"We've already had plenty of interest in booking private events with tailored packages in our intimate space," Megan said.
"Our aim is to grow and give 100 per cent to locals and tourists," Jay added.
While our latest lower Crown Street bar and diner may not have been deliberately named after Zach Bryan's catchy Ninth Cloud tune, just maybe, subconsciously, it is:
No heavens could top this moment now
I've searched and I've found to get to that ninth cloud
You must trek through some dark and troubled ground
So may we all just once or twice
Once in this life, just look around
Cause usually I'm a wreck
But the hard times were just a step
To get where I am on this ninth cloud
To book a table at Ninth Cloud or plan an event, reach out to bookings@theninthcloud.com.au or 0488 408 028