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Absinthesalon, in trendy Surry Hills, is a unique and inimitable addition to Sydney's bar scene that - as the name suggests - specialises in the distribution of fine, European Absinthe.  Escape into this charming, artistic  French wonderland and delve into the range on offer.

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Reviews of Absinthesalon

  • claire7072
    claire7072  Newbie   1 review
    Great decor, great absinthe. Pity about the staff making you feel bad and silly for not knowing the complexities of Absinthe and the atmosphere of a club you're not really welcome into.

    2 months ago

  • Nancy_B
    Nancy_B   60 reviews
    We tried to go here ages ago but made the mistake of trying to book a table a few days before for a Saturday night. No chance! That was a while ago so it may not be so busy now but we did end up booking a table a few weeks ahead in the end just to make sure. A cab dropped us to a quiet little back street of Surry Hills and we had to ring a doorbell to be let in which was all quite novel. We were shown to our table and realised that the need for booking is mainly down to the fact there it is quite small and there arent many tables to start with. This adds to the experience though, it all feels quite exclusive. The room is very old world French in style with street lanterns and small round tables. The guy that waited on us was just lovely, very knowledgeable and very helpful in explaining to us first-time quality Absinthe drinkers which Absinthe we should try (this is not like the green stuff you down in bars in Prague apparently). The four of us each ordered a different flavour so that we could try each others. Each drink was about $17-20 but you only need a couple so it doesn't work out to be too expensive. The whole ritual of turning the tap and watching the Absinthe change colour as the water drips through the sugar cube is lovely. There is a sense of slowing down and really savouring the experience. The effect of the Absinthe is also nice and relaxing (so probably not the place to go if youre going to go out partying afterwards). It could come across as a bit pretentious but we really enjoyed it. Something a bit different. There was an older guy who worked there though that was a bit full on. Even though he wasnt serving us he kept coming over and monitoring how much water wed added and turning the tap off when he thought we needed it. It wasnt overly offensive just a little intrusive and a sense of being patronised slightly. Overall though it was very enjoyable.

    1 year ago

  • rubymu
    rubymu   2 reviews
    Not in fact an absinthe shop - they won't sell you bottles of absinthe from the premises, you need to go to the website for that. They are a little slow getting back to you via the website, but this is possibly because they arent open every day. However you can purchase all the other bits - fountains, glasses and spoons at the shop. But the attraction of the place is having an absinthe in the small bar at the rear of the shop.

    The decor is Hollywood-French - a little bit like a Disney set, but works quite well all the same, music and lighting are warm and appropriate. They do have other non-absinthe products on the menu some lovely non alcoholic drinks and some other liqueurs, but you come here for the absinthe experience, the fountain dripping water over the sugar to make the louche. They have a range of absinthe to choose from, French, Swiss and from white to blue to green - with prices up to $20 per glass.

    I've been a few times now, and I wasn't overly impressed with the service - a bit sloppy, forgot that I'd ordered something and walked right past us several times without attending to us (although they were very attentive to the other party in the bar). This bar is a little too full of it's own importance. There is a condescending manner from staff that fits perfectly with the trendy vibe of some places in Surry Hills but doesnt appeal to me at all. Its a novelty, but I cant see the scope for much repeat business.

    1 year ago

  •  Newbie   1 review
    Good place. Great atmosphere. Magician on the day was great entertainment.

    1 year ago

  • Jackie M
    Jackie M  Barfly   62 reviews
    This is actually an absinthe shop, but they have a bar at the back of the shop. If you are looking for "something a bit different" to do on a night out, this is it.

    You need to ring the doorbell to be allowed entry, and they recommend you book, as the bar isn't large. The decor is very French, with the round tables and weave chairs you see in every cafe in Paris. The only thing on the menu is absinthe - French, German, Swiss brands.

    The preparation of the drink is part of the fun. The absinthe is brought out in a glass, but then you take a slotted spoon, place a sugar lump on it, place it on top of the glass and then use a specially designed water fountain on the middle of the table to drop water over the sugar and in to the drink. This is called louching, causing the drink to become cloudy.

    The staff appreciate that typically this is the first time most patrons have tried absinthe and so are extremely helpful in guiding your choice of absinthe on the menu and explaining this process.

    It's great fun, but not a full-night event. We managed 2 rounds, and at 40-70% proof, that was probably enough for us.

    2 years ago

  • Wednesday:
    4:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Thursday:
    4:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Friday:
    4:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Saturday:
    4:00 PM-10:00 PM
  • Sunday:
    4:00 PM-10:00 PM

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Editorial Reviews

  • Absinthe Salon

    Ultimate Sydney

    Thursday, July 22, 2010

    Absinthe was the Cosmopolitan of its day. All the beautiful people and hip creative types liked to hang around and imbibe this potent, anise-flavoured spirit – and get freaky as a result of its 45-75 per cent alcohol content. These days, sipping absinthe is less about chasing the “green fairy” and more about doing something a little different. And what better place than the luxe, Paris-inspired Absinthesalon? Its range includes tipples from as far back as 1901 – and there’s a three-glass maximum, so you’ll get home in one piece.


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