Everything from walking up to this corner to the final sip of your absinthe is a great experience. It's somewhat speakeasy-esque but easier to find. You can buy a bunch of Abinsthe related parafanelia here also if you were interested. I walked in, no reservations at around 6pm on a Friday night and was the first guest. a few minutes later a couple and another gentlement came in. My gf and I ordered two Abinsthes, and honestly we felt fine. No hallucinating or getting buzzed! The gentleman who served us was extremely knowledgeable and very proud to keep his establishment of the highest quality. We sure hope you bring this over to Hawaii! read more

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This is a fun place to go with friends, whether you love absinthe or have never tried it before. This was actually not my first time having absinthe, but honestly it's the first time I've probably enjoyed it. There are a few things to know on how to prepare your drink (water dripped over a sugar cube) and the staff working here makes sure that you're preparing your absinthe correctly. They have a 3 drink limit per person. It's recommend that you start with a more mild (low proof) absinthe and then work your way up. They range from 45-74 proof. I started with "Libertine Originale" and my second drink was the "Eichelberger Limitee" -- I never would have remembered those names but thank goodness they have the menu on their website. They have 24 absinthes listed on the menu. I guess it takes a few visits to the Absinthesalon to try them all. read more

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Went to the Absinthe salon on a work sponsored bonding outing, which is the only reason I would go as from memory I didn't like absinthe. My trip to the salon reconfirmed this dislike! Its quite a cool place though, with the feeling you are in a Parisian bar, not in the middle of Surry Hills. Your party sit around a table with a central device that drips water. You order absinthe and a small amount comes in a glass (I assume a shot) and then a sugar cube is placed over a small spoon like sieve and rests on the glass. The water is then dripped through the sugar into the absinthe. After all this you are supposed to drink it, but the liquorice aniseed flavour was too much for me. They will only serve you a limit of three drinks, as it's so strong. The drinks ranged from about $15, up to about $30, per glass. There wasn't anything else on the menu either, so you have to like absinthe. read more

Absinthe Salon - Bars Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

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I absolutely love the atmosphere of the place - it's a quiet, exclusive little Parisienne styled bar, tucked away in the middle of Surry Hills. My friends and I have walked by this place so many times (my best friend LOVES absinthe) so we decided this Friday would finally be the time to try it. Definitely book ahead, especially for a Friday or a Saturday because they follow a strict schedule so that they can fit as many people as possible. The place itself only hosts about 30 people at a time, so you can see why. The waiters can sense an absinthe virgin a mile away (he also assured me that no, green fairy is not real absinthe), so if you are one they explain each option and ask you if you're a fan of aniseed or wormwood before you make a choice. Alcohol percentages range from 45 - 74% (although my memory is pretty hazy), so they suggest you pick the weakest ones first. Once you've chosen your poison, then you turn on the little taps in front of you to drip cold, icy water onto a sugar cube and into the glass. Once the absinthe turns milky (called the louche) and the glass is filled half to two-thirds full, you can start to drink it. Understandably, absinthe is not to everyone's taste (I wasn't the biggest fan either), but I really enjoyed my first glass - Lemercier Absinthe - a lightly flavoured, watery, smooth, French absinthe that I recommend you try first before powering your way up to the heavier ones. read more

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Firstly, if you don't like licorice, or ansinthe, then DON'T GO! Don't go and give it a poor rating because you don't like the drink. That's on you. Now... As everybody else has said, this is an absolutely beautiful location...by that I mean inside it's beautiful, and exactly what I would think a "salon" should look like. It's a tiny little door/hole in the wall that opens up into a really really nice spot. The waiters and waitresses and the owners are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. It's really an experience. It's not like going to a bar, it's going to an absinthe drinking experience....that I went to 4 times in 2 weeks, so take that for what it's worth! I think over the course of all of my trips, I tried...the whole menu. Including their coffee (GET IT!!!!!!), their chocolates, and their brieoche (DO ITTTT!!!!!!!!!!). The whole setup is gorgeous with the water, the history, the people....just go. Go. Go. If you're going as a large group, I'd call to check availability (because it IS small inside). If you're just 1-3 people, you can probably just rock up and you'll be fine. I never went during peak times (late friday or saturday), so I'm sure it can get busy, so IDK about a reservation but calling ahead is never a bad idea. Also, they have a 3 drink maximum...and with the alcohol content in the drinks, that's very legit. read more

This is truly a boutique absinthe experience to be enjoyed by the whole family...members over 18 years old. Strictly because this is alcohol we're dealing with and alcohol not for the faint hearted. Erase all pre-assumptions that you've accumulated about absinthe in pop culture or otherwise. There's no corny Moulin Rouge-esque green fairy hallucinations to be had here, this place is the real deal (and legit). Before I go further, yes you should most definitely make a reservation, I don't think they're into walk-ins unless they have availability. I say this because the entrance is a nondescript door you'd miss if you weren't looking for it/knew it was already there. You ring the doorbell, they answer and ask whether you have a reservation. It's like entering someone's gothic house. After being led through the eerily interesting reception you're taken into the "drinking den" as I like to describe it. It's simply an appropriately dressed dining room equipped with tables, absinthe drinking devices on tables, chairs and bar readily available to serve you. The waiters are dressed like butlers and provide you with the absinthe menus. The menus are divided up into different strengths in alcohol. The waiters will explain the entire process to you, on how to choose your drinks, how to distill the drinks from the device on the table and when to drink it. Apparently you don't go full strength with these babies, you need to distill them with sugar with water droplets dripping slowly above the glass on a forked spoon. That's how it's done I guess. Very intriguing and unique experience. The waiters are very knowledgeable so if you're unsure what drink to choose you need only ask. It's not cheap but then drinking never is in Sydney. However you'll find this very worthwhile because of the experience alone. The first time I came here I went three rounds. On this occasion because I was with my baby bro I scaled it back a bit and did two rounds. Still it was funny to see my fellow drinkers stumbling out of here out of joy no doubt. read more

Absinthe Salon - Bars Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

This place was so much fun! You ring a door bell to get in. Once you're in, you feel like you're in a whole different world. The decor was cool and funky, exactly what you expect from an absinthe place. The drinks themselves are obviously strong, but still delicious. The whole experience was just so fun. With the water dripping onto the ice cube into your absinthe drink... Loved it! The service was fantastic too, as they gave great recommendations for drinks and the amount of water that should go in. I think their drinks ranged from $18-23. There is a 3 drink limit, so you know their drinks are strong! Tip: your drink will be ready from the sugar and water drip when the whole drink is blurry. This is a must visit place in Surry Hills! read more

Very cool spot - we even got a few absinthe converts out of the skeptics! Staff really know their stuff and the room is divine! I quite like starting with the Death in the Afternoon-style cocktail (absinthe in sparkling wine - definitely recommend with red absinthe for a more floral, yet still ultra-potent experience!) Love this style of this place - everything should visit at least once! read more

Me and my company visited for two consecutive afternoons(Thursday and Friday). We figured that we would arrive early since we had heard it tended to be crowded. Both times we showed up right after it opened and we were the only ones there. The service we received was impeccable. The guide/barkeeper was very nice and understanding since some of us wasn't really experienced with absinthe. He managed to match is with different absinthe from their large menu that was supposed to reflect our personal taste! He then went on to tell us about the different types of absinth as well as showing us how to prepare it properly. I really enjoyed the focus on the actual product. This is not a bar for you to come and get smashed at, you come here to experience and learn about this pretty controversial liqueur. Between the different stages of this afternoon session we made some small talk and he actually went on to write down 12 different bars he thought we should visit while in Sydney, all of which were quite grand! read more

Although I came away from Absinthe bar knowing that I do not in fact like Absinthe, you can't dispute that the vibe this place puts out is pretty mega. You've got to make a booking, so it's not a drop in sort of place. When you get there, ring the doorbell and someone will let you in- I felt like I was stepping into a scene from hocus pocus, but pass through the waiting area and you'll be in a lively little saloon. The owner and his staff are super knowledgable about Absinthe and obviously care a lot about making sure they educate visitors as well as entertain them. There's a 3 drink limit here- my suggestion would be for everyone at the table to get a different type so you can try as many as possible. Would be a really cool spot for a date (as long as your date is adventurous!) and worth a visit! read more

Absinthesalon is a cozy bar located in Surry Hills offering authentic French and Swiss absinthe with prices ranging from $13 to a little over $20. The bar is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 10pm. Their great tasting absinth and awesome service makes them one of Sydney's best small bars as judged by Timeout Sydney. I can't agree more! My visit to Absinthesalon was really a wonderful experience; their French Verte de Fougerolles absinthe made it very memorable (well, maybe not quite!). By the way, guests are rationed to a maximum of 3 glasses. The fourth glass is a sure knockout! If you're planning to check them out on a Friday or Saturday, be sure to notify them a week in advance. Coming with friends? Group reservations are welcome! They accommodate groups up to 12 people. Sweet. You can also drop by their gift shop and check out their potent drinks, glassware, absinthe spoons and accessories. Everything is just gorgeous. read more

Absinthe Salon - Photo courtesy of Absinthesalon (used with permission). - Bars Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

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Being from Las Vegas, we wanted an experience that we couldn't get here in the states. We found this place online and made plans to drop by. Absinthesalon made a first great impression by the atmosphere alone. The staff was friendly and welcoming as soon as they welcomed us in. The decor has a very steampunk feel without being overbearing and of course a giant absinthe mural. Considering I personally had been exposed to absinthe before, but had not tried many, the staff was very helpful in making suggestions for our first selections. After walking us through the process and enlightening us on different types, flavors, and qualities, we had our next two drinks based off their expertise. The real comfort was the staff's passion for absinthe. This is not like going to wine tastings where you can encounter your typical snob. These people are really just happy to show you something new. We enjoyed ourselves so much we came back two days later to celebrate our engagement. Although this was a Saturday, and a reservation may be necessary as it can get quite busy. We still got their dedicated step by step help and suggestions as if it were Thursday night again. We met the owner this night and he shares just as much passion for the concept of the bar and absinthe just as much as the rest of the staff. Taking into consideration that it was our day of engagement they of course took very well care of us. When we expressed the difficulty of finding such good absinthe in the states they were actually able to help us find a vendor that although was not local to us, would ship. All together, the experience was wonderful, and was a personal favorite for the both of us in Sydney. We plan on coming back to the city if just for this place. read more

Absinthe has always enjoyed the kind of underground reputation like an Italian godfather, classy yet dangerous ! It was banned in the country ( Switzerland ) it originated in for the longest time...Anyways so tucked away in a corner in Surry Hills, is this tiny little Saloon with wrought iron windows and door, you ring the bell and are ushered in. The look is a mix of gothic and 1920s influence and you know instantly that the place knows what they are doing. There's a limit of 3 drinks per person and that is good enough, I couldn't go beyond one to be honest ! They do it the right way here with a dripping tap apparatus in the middle of each table, glasses of absinthe are served with a perforated spoon with a sugar cube on top of it, you have to let the water drip until the cube dissolves and the absinthe gets cloudy .. Sounds heady already ;) so they have a huge range of absinthe to choose from and honestly my small brain can't remember those French sounding names.. I went by the recommendation of the staff and they were extremely helpful and knowledgable ... Go here for the experience and to chase the green fairies and who knows you might have your own Vincent Van Gogh moment ;) read more