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New Adelaide city bar Baddog: revealing what’s behind those doors on Hyde St
IT opened with little fanfare three months ago, but blues-style bar Baddog is shaping out to be one of the quiet achievers of the small bar scene.
Locals in the know have been streaming in and out of Zac Markov’s bar on Hyde St (between Pirie and Flinders streets) since it opened on April 30.
It’s a mysterious looking place, with little signage apart from the “beware of the dog” stamp on the pavement.
Over the heavy wooden door is a lamp, which Markov switches on most days at 5pm to show the bar is open for business.
“I hate using the term hidden but you know, it’s not on the main stretch,” Markov explains.
“I couldn’t justify a big hoo-ha about this when the type of place is very low key … so going opposite to that would be weird.
“Random is the best way to describe this place in every sense, as far as volume, as far as people, as far as everything … it’s just a chilled, lazy little bar for people to sit, drink some booze and listen to music.”
Markov returned to Adelaide three years ago after spending 15 years working at clubs and cocktails bars in the UK.
He worked at Street and Hilton’s Collins Bar before deciding it was time to finally open a bar of his own.
He had considered moving to the eastern states, but saw how Adelaide’s small bar scene was booming and decided to stay.
Reminiscent of a smoky, old-school blues bar, Baddog’s interior is dark and minimalist with its brown leather booths, hanging light bulbs and battered piano by the door.
A massive assortment of Markov’s favourite drinks — including plenty of whisky and gin — line the shelves of the bar.
Put simply, Markov created a bar he would want to visit.
“Maybe I’ve watched too many movies … just the image of a couple of people sitting at the bar, a few people dotted around the room … I don’t know I like that bartender polishing glasses type of thing.”
Funnily enough, Baddog is on the same street as the venue Tuxedo Cat. It’s a happy coincidence.
“I promised a friend that the first bar I opened, I’d call it BadDog,” Markov says.
Baddog Bar is at 63 Hyde St, open each day from 5pm except Sunday, and Friday from 4pm.
Source: Adelaide Messenger, Sophie Perri, July 29th 2015
Originally published as: New Adelaide city bar Baddog: revealing what’s behind those doors on Hyde St
