Nestled in the heart of Newcastle’s CBD on King Street, in the former Bar Saints, Kitami, and Red Baron venue, sits Castle del Mar – Newcastle’s newest lounge bar.

Brought to you by passionate owners, Timothy Chapman and Peter Jennings, the duo, along with their families, have embarked on a journey to fill a niche they identified in the city’s nightlife scene.

“We both thought there was a bit of a gap in the market for the older crowd to have somewhere to party. All the cocktail bars in town are cool, but there’s not a whole lot of space to get up and dance,” Peter said.

From its grand opening on New Year’s Eve to its soft opening last week, Castle del Mar has quickly become the talk of the town with a sophisticated yet vibrant atmosphere to unwind and dance the night away.

“We wanted a space that has cocktails, a dancefloor, a good DJ, and a lounge bar experience.”

Timothy and Peter, childhood friends turned business partners, envisioned a space that merges the allure of cocktail lounges with the energy of a dancefloor.

Their inspiration? The lively lounge bars of Spain, particularly Café del Mar in Ibiza – which served as the namesake for this venue.

Walk through the double doors into a completely transformed space. The left side is lined with intimate booths and the walls feature floor-to-ceiling red velvet curtains. To the right is a semi-private elevated space complete with furry wall (it’s a Get Him To The Greek reference for those confused), a mural of Nobby’s Beach, and a jam-packed bar.

At the heart of Castle del Mar’s appeal is its meticulously crafted cocktails, curated by resident mixologist Elijah. From classic concoctions to innovative signatures like the increasingly popular Yellow Brick Road, each drink tells a story and is served with a side of nostalgia and creativity.

“We’re a cocktail lounge so of course we offer all of the classics, but we also have a variety of signatures. Elijah has created pretty much all of them from scratch. We have a complete page of signatures and there will be more released soon,” Peter’s daughter, Rosanna said.

But Castle del Mar isn’t just about the drinks; it’s about the experience. With a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, a typical late night out will have guests dancing the night away or for corporate events, they’ve got all the tech right at their fingertips.

“Most importantly to note – our DJs take requests!” Peter said.

In addition to its cocktail focus and vibrant atmosphere, Castle del Mar also offers a selection of charcuterie boards and bar snacks including a perfect jaffle recipe.

Currently open from Wednesday to Sunday from 4pm til late, Castle del Mar beckons those in search of a new experience to drop on in. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to unwind after a long day of work or somewhere to head for a late-night weekend boogie, Castle del Mar might just need to be on your hit list.