Shady Pines Saloon – Darlinghurst
It might sound like a Texan brothel but the Shady Pines Saloon is not only the latest small bar to hit Sydney but also one of the best – especially when it comes to service and cocktails.
Hidden away on a small lane parallel to Oxford Street and with no sign outside, this boutique dive bar is nonetheless drawing good-sized crowds throughout the week. I suspect it’s partly because of the outlandish décor: there are animal heads leering out from the walls (including a frighteningly large cow’s head near the bathroom), Indian wooden statues and an overall wild west theme that actually manages to be atmospheric rather than tacky. As you’d expect in a wild west saloon, there’s a great long wooden bar counter with stools for you to perch on.
The bar staff take their cocktails seriously: fruit juices are freshly squeezed and the quality is great. Over my two visits here with the Amazonian Croatian, who combines beauty with an amazing capacity to drink her body weight in alcohol, we end up trying the whiskey sour, negroni, mint julep (which is the house cocktail), a gin martini, a daiquiri, as well as two cocktails that the bartender made up for us on the fly: a cucumber and gin number that was sublime as well as an aperitif-style drink made with grapefruit and apple juice, gin, Aperol and champagne that was a knockout.
As much as I like the mint julep (which is served in chilled metal cups), my favourite drinks here are the negroni, which is beautiful and has Punt Y Mes instead of sweet vermouth, as well as the stirred Beefeater gin martini with a lemon twist that was extremely smooth.
The bartender also made the Amazonian a Paloma that she didn’t like (it did taste too bitter) – but as soon as he realised this he promptly and professionally took it away and made her a Scorpion (a tiki-style cocktail made with cognac, rum, lemon and orange juice) that met her high alcoholic expectations.
In fact, the Amazonian Croation has now decreed Shady Pines Saloon as her favourite bar in Sydney and it’s certainly in my top three. Rather than just settling on being a relaxed casual bar, or a place that has great cocktails, Shady Pines actually combines both assets with knowledgeable staff and a cool, quiet (the country music is barely audible) vibe that makes me want to go back for even more – once my hangover passes.
Shady Pines Saloon, Shop 5, 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst
Now it’s your turn – how do you rate Shady Pines Saloon?
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Great place, good selection of single malts whiskeys and beer – bartenders really know their stuff! Thanks for this morning’s hangover ;-)
i love the atmosphere of this place … enjoy sitting at bar, dim lighting, decor , excellent bar tenders … all great … would really like to see other beer options, maybe budweiser ( being an american style bar ) … or miller, … sadly like more and more bars bottled beers are $9.00 each … makes it a place for maybe 1 or 2 beers , … beers are cheaper at Cafe Sydney …
Went to this bar on recommendation from a friend – loved it!!! Loved the western but not tacky stero-typical theme. Absolutely loved the soundtrack. The owner was working was very friendly and happy to have a chat. My friend loved the mint julips (maybe not so much the next morning_. Planned how we could steal the very cool mounted goats head off the wall, but couldn’t come up with a good way to conceal it. Had a great night and would go back to sydney just to go back to the Shady Pines!!! By the way I never write “reviews”, but we had such a good time at this bar I think it is fair to let every know.
I waited in the cold for a half hour while my friends were inside to get into a half empty bar. Not a good time. I’m from LA and it made me feel like I was back home. Won’t be going there again on a weekend. You can’t call yourself a saloon just because some guy wears a hat, you play a Creedence song and have a hick for a door man. Once I got in I enjoyed the smashed apple in vodka. It’s a great setup but a little loud. Dig the Indian.
Was a tad disappointed that I had to wait outside in a line. I was eventually let in when a group of people came out, however having a friend waiting for me inside for half an hour on her own, does not make this place an appealing bar to meet friends at. I would get there early or not bother at all.
I noticed when a group of three turned up and waited in the queue, two people came out so two of the group could go in – leaving the third person waiting on her own outside. Seriously guys, would one extra body make that much of a difference?! Don’t think you’ll be fined for having the capacity over by a hand full of people. Taking the rules far to literally.
I was actually just talking about the queue for Shady Pines with a friend the other day – he still loves the bar, but only goes in the middle of the week to avoid waiting outside. I have to admit, I tried to take a friend there last weekend but, seeing the line-up outside, we moved on to another bar instead.
Have been here a few times. The line is a problem but usually only takes minutes not hours.
It is not surprising that the cocktails here are good. The bartender Jeremy is the UK champion coctail maker. He worked in a large bar in the UK before returning to Aus. Checkout http://www.ukbg.co.uk/competition-results.html.
Nice setup, bar looks amazing. It’s a shame about the pretentiousness. Fake hipsters are out, places that keep it real are becoming the preference.
OH EM GEE! succch a siik joint! the bearz n shiit on the walls made me LOL i almost fell off ma chair!
oh and the owners girlfriends sister haz a bangin’ body
has to be the coolest bar in Oz – Melbourne eat your heart out!