Charlie Coates brings signature Sydney serves to Perth

West Australian bartender Charlie Coates is bringing his favourite Sydney serves across the country tomorrow night for a curated tasting showcasing the flavours of five of the city’s most acclaimed venues.

In 2023, Charlie left Maylands bar Volare behind when he and Sam Cocks made the move from Perth to Sydney to work at Matt Whiley’s zero waste cocktail bar, Re. He tells Bars & Cocktails it was an amazing experience that highlighted just how bold Sydney’s bar scene is.

Now, back on the west coast, Charlie is the Beverage Manager at South Perth bar and restaurant Nextdoor. Channelling inspiration from Sydney’s bar scene, Charlie’s Coast to Coast event promises a night of big-city flavours and east coast icons.

“Sydney has a large and extremely multicultural population so naturally attracts niche offerings, especially in cocktail bars. The Perth cocktail scene is still growing. That said, Perth values a great drink, so this event is about bringing some of Sydney’s unique energy to Nextdoor, and celebrating some of that city great cocktail offerings in a one night event here in South Perth,” he told Bars & Cocktails.

“Each drink I’ve chosen represents that desire to be unique, from sustainable ingredients like cracked rice in the Marlivale Farm from Re, to pushing the boundaries beyond taste and texture with the Africola from PS40. I’ve included a selection of cocktails that I love and believe capture this creative energy.”

Tomorrow night, Charlie’s six-cocktail tasting will showcase signature serves from The Waratah, Saint Peter, Re, PS40 and Icebergs, plus a bonus cocktail from Nextdoor. The five Sydney venues were chosen for the influence they had on Charlie’s bartending career, or his enjoyment of the city.

“Besides all being banging drinks, each bartender and venue has somehow impacted my journey within the industry – whether that’s through mentorship, inspiration, or just being a cool place to unwind on my day off. If you’re willing to listen, Sydney has plenty to teach,” Charlie added.

The event takes place at Nextdoor from 6pm tomorrow, with seats still available. For Charlie, it’s an opportunity to introduce local bartenders and industry peers to the trends, techniques and flavour profiles shaping cocktail culture in Sydney.

“I hope the event sparks inspiration, whether that’s through a different take on method, flavour, presentation, or just the way we frame what a cocktail can be. Perth has its own incredible bar scene, but it’s easy to get a little insular being so geographically isolated.

“Sometimes just trying something from a different place or experiencing how a different venue approaches a drink can really influence what we bring to our own work. It would be great if people left the night with some new ideas and fresh ways of thinking about their work, and the confidence to go out on a limb and try something unique,” Charlie explained.

While the first iteration of Coast to Coast is a one-night exclusive, there’s potential for the event to evolve into something more regular, says Charlie.

“There are so many fantastic cities both in Australia and internationally to showcase and learn from. The idea of bringing Melbourne or Adelaide across, or even introducing international offerings to Perth, really excites me. It would be great to enrich Perth’s cocktail scene by showcasing snapshots on what’s going on elsewhere in the world. If there’s genuine interest, there’s no reason why it couldn’t become an ongoing series,” he concluded.