the baxter inn

a short flight of fire stairs later and you're faced with something that looks like a cleaning cupboard - i was literally expecting to see a mop, a bucket and a little rat family..."i call the big one bighty". a bit creepy so far.... but instead of rancid cleaning products, you hold your breath, rein in your anticipation, open the cleaning cupboard door and before you emerges an ultra elegant, warm-hearted whisky wonderland. in an instant you're awash with excitement because once the door opens it's like you've stepped back in time to the prohibition era and you're sneaking drinks at the top echelon baby.

good luck finding the baxter inn; the new, keenly awaited cbd venture from the guys behind heart- and award-winning darlinghurst bar, shady pines saloon . if and when you do find the security guard that gives you some vague hope that you're in the right place, and once you get past the confusion of descending fire stairs into a basement; take a breath and push back that door. the wall of some whisky options at the baxter inn, clarence street, sydney you won't get the raucous liveliness of shady pines, but layout is very similar though substantially larger, with a long bar up one side lined with bar stools, a bit of standing space and then a fair number of round tables with chairs. the poison of choice at the baxter inn is most definitely whisky, and the gold lettered board featuring approximately 200 varieties of whisky is only two-thirds of what's available. that's right, they have 300 whiskies on offer. complimentary pretzels having just open

1st impressions. they're already operating with excellence in their first week. the whiskey menu is extensive, the decor is impressive, the service is great and the down-the-alley, around-the-corner, via-the-fire-escape entrace adds another element of intrigue.

i was truly impressed and will be heading back regularly. sydney needs more of these bars