A European-Inspired Escape in Sydney’s Inner West

A renovation on the first floor of Five Dock RSL in June unveiled both an updated events space and La Casa, a brand-new balcony cocktail bar like nothing the Club has seen before. 

The former alfresco gaming room-turned-terrace area now boasts a bright and airy Mediterranean aesthetic complete with pastel tiles, cane chairs and patterned floors that complement the Italian and Sicilian share-plate menu and the colourful spritzes served at the already popular social hub. 

Five Dock RSL Chief Executive Officer David Conway said the new offering was targeted at the younger demographic looking for something a little bit different in the area.

“The feedback from people on the local Facebook groups over the last 18 months was largely them saying what they were looking for in local venues and what was missing in this area,” David said. 

Mr Conway said the general consensus was people were looking for a laid-back “shoes off, cocktails and share platters” type of venue where they could relax with good food and good friends. 

"Our target market was late twenties to 50-year-olds in this area, which has been untapped at our Club until now.” 

Mr Conway said being a traditionally Italian area a ‘La Dolce Vita’ vibe was a given. 

Not everyone was excited at the thought of a casual dining area with a more relaxed dress requirement at the Club — at least not at first. 

“One of our directors was a little bit worried about the dress requirements and the idea of the ‘kicking your shoes off’ style, so I told him maybe don't go up there,” David said. 

“It's not designed for the current board or the current members, this is about moving the Club forward.” 

The space holds 64 people seated on the terrace and offers a menu which differs from other parts of the Club that serve more traditional club food. From antipasto platters to anchovies, sliders, lamb skewers and even gelato, the menu was created by Antonio Sabia, an experienced catering operator in collaboration with a former local restaurateur, Carmel Ruggeri. 

The modernised section — which took six months to complete and utilised local trades — still manages to keep in touch with the Club’s history with a memorial flame featuring Lest We Forget on the terrace, as well as renaming the event space after the local veterans the Seabrook Brothers, and adding a QR code on the sign which takes guests to a tribute to the family. 

The renovations were in planning for 12 months prior to the build, with the Club collaborating with Mint FF&E for the design and My Marketing Department for the marketing from the design stage until now. 

“This was the first stage in the development of the Club. Ultimately, we're a three-floor building and we are going to have three different offerings over the three different floors.“ 

David said this was just one part of the master plan to overhaul the Club and entice a new generation of members and guests. In addition, the Club is currently offering complimentary memberships until the end of the year so that locals can come and see what it's like. 

“This was the first stage in the development of the Club. Ultimately, we're a three-floor building and we are going to have three different offerings over the three different floors. 

“We have the traditional Club on the ground, and then at the top floor we have our market of local 30-plus, and soon we will have something new coming to the basement level. 

“It's going to be very different — completely different markets.” 

La Casa is open from Thursday until Sunday and has live music on offer across the weekend.