Little hard to find but mainly because we forgot about the hidden door, but overall cool spot with a relaxed divey speakeasy vibe. Bar staff were very friendly and helpful! read more

If you get lost coming here, that's okay. Keep calm and carry on. And honestly, find the bar. I ain't playing wit chu. I wish I had come here earlier while I lived in Sydney because it is such a classy joint. Not to mention a lil country, a lil rock & roll, and quite frankly... one of my favorite bars in Sydney. A good point of reference is the American Apparel on Oxford Street. It's in the lil alley right behind. There will be no sign, but there will be a security guard (and depending on the time of day: a line). I have had several drinks here and must have enjoyed myself a little too much bc I don't remember the names. But there is a great selection of cocktails and if you want something a lil different or a lil special, the cool bartenders can fix something up for ya! Yes, the peanuts are a nice touch. Not to mention the candles, the wooden decor, and the funkiness of it all. If you don't believe me, here's another reason why five stars is earned: a moose on the wall. Need I say more? read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Moose in the house! - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

We walked in just after the live music had finished but it still had a great atmosphere. They have yummy cocktails also and free peanuts!

Came here on a pub crawl and did not realise I was looking for a hidden bar! White door just down the ally. They have ginger beer! More places need to have it--it's delicious! I also saw Gose on the menu so that's exciting. Dark inside, and not just because they're underground. The walls and furniture are all dark in color, giving it an intimate feeling. I'm told they have music at night, if you're interested. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Heard a great story last night, both at and about Shady Pines (did that just *blow your mind*? Well buckle in hotshot, things are about to get a whole lot blowier.) So you know how they give you bowls and bowls of free double-barelled peanuts here? Well, back in the day (I was totes original Shady Pines, yo) you could just crunch those suckers up and chuck the husks on the floor. Yep. Just toss 'em away, like a homeless guy does to anything he picks out of a bin that has no value to him. Made you feel like a king to be all messy and not care like that. Anyway, so, every now and then someone with peanut allergies would come in and walk downstairs and there's be this invisible peanut fug in the air, like all the little particles from the shells and such just hanging there like tiny mines, and these pansy allergic types (with their wan skin and their poor circulation) would breathe this stuff in and hit the floor. Bam, anaphylactic shock. So the Pines boys, they had to stop the not-care throw-anywhere goodness and now we have to dispose of shells in little wicker baskets, which isn't nearly as fun. Damn allergic fun police ruining our good old-fashioned fun. That story is kinda apocryphal in that who knows if its true (and who can be bothered finding out things these days?), but what I do know is this: boy howdy, this bar is all aces. And their house beer is $5 cans of Coopers lager. True story. read more

Secret bar hidden down a alleyway behind Oxford Street, not sign posted just a blank white door. It has live bands and country music in this cowboy themed bar serving rum based cocktails, think dimly lit and noisy so good for a group or party vibe rather than date night. Very busy bar so be prepared for a bit of a wait. read more

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Shady Pines Saloon is one of these venues where you can sense a decorative purpose, a genuine effort to give the place an atmosphere that patrons will come and look for. The vibe is that of a saloon, possibly a Canadian saloon, or an American one, isolated in the Yosemite National Park. There is warmth and chatter, candle light and dancing shadows, a piano - of course - and a long wooden bar on which you'd expect the barman to poor a line of bourbon along its entire length and set it on fire for the last call. The choice of drinks, espacially beer, is interesting. Though the place, older brother to both the Baxter Inn on Clarence St and Restaurant Hubert on Bligh St, did not go for size and a crazy world-renown portfolio like its closest sibling, it has enough choice to make a beer affectionado like me occupy a seat for a few hours without running dry. Without being pricey, it still is a Surry Hills venue and as such beers range from $8 to $15 approximately - what you'd expect really. If I had to take someone for a long chat around beer, a bustling and rumbling crowd and enough possibilites to start any kind of night, that's where I'd go. So go. Now. NOW. Sorry got excited again. Seriously though, hurry up! read more

Shady Pines Saloon - The best table! - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Wow! This place is indeed very hard to find - literally a hole in a wall (Thanks to Ben for organizing an Unofficial Yelp Event here). I love the decorations inside too - very wild west americana style, and the variety of american craft beers they have in stock. Visiting this place is like being transported to Texas! And also love how they give you complimentary peanuts too (because responsible drinking means you should also eat something right??). Word also has it they have free wifi but I wasn't able to try it out. Which can be handy because there's little reception in this place. read more

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Stepping into this dark husky bar brings you back to a Western Film. This bar would be humbled by the presence of Johnny Cash and then loose him in the eyes of intrigued bohemian, and potentially androgynous ladies and gentlemen who only embellish the decor with a contemporary air. This is a bar where you don't have to cross your fingers that they'll have your favorite Scotch, Whisky or even a refreshingly delicious cloudy apple Vodka concoction, served in an iced tall glass, squiggly straw and all. On the other hand, if the drink you are chasing, from the far away lands of Amitola, where only the half man half stallion roam, is not on the menu, the more than capable bar tenders will go out of their way, bribing that native Indian in the corner, for the secret ingredient, down through to the back room which is actually a cave, to inspire your creative side. If you want beer, they have that too. Forgive them for the cracked peanut shells layering the floor, splintering to a dust under those leather boots that you no doubt got the memo for RE dress code. In this bar it's a necessity to befriend the interesting Oxford Street locals, the wide eyed ones, the big haired ones, the heshen sack skinny jeans ones, and of course the 20/20-vision rimmed glasses ones. Even though they may be juvenile to the ornaments that adorn the walls in a battle scene of historical patronage, they'll still make for an interesting night. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

I'm loving all things hipster (dont judge me!) So the endless hu-ha on this place just wont stop .... so after a long day brunching we trek over to the infamous Shady Pines Saloon. I just need to ask ... why do all the new pop-up bars, such a mission to find??!! I thought once that this was a novelty but when youve been boozing all day and need your next drink the last thing you need is to be trying to find a hole in the wall!!!!! So after taking the wrong turn, doing a u-turn, walking up then walking down (all in the same street I might add) FINALLY a white painted door in a narrow alley was the entrance to this dark goodness! A USA flag hanging high from the wall greeted us. God love America! It was quiet and there were WAY TO MANY beers on the menu ( a great thing) so we left it to the bartender to pick and choose all his favourites every round we got! If only I was in a state to remember what they were ...... ha! BUT what I do remember is that like its sister bar The Baxter Inn we were offered bottomless shelled peanuts. For me the highlight of this place was the vodka and fresh apple juice and when I say fresh, Im not talking that it was "so fresh out of the bottle" I mean they juice those apples right in front of you ..... mmmmmmm goodness! My final take it was A-OK but I think Im going to let this bandwagon ride on past me I will not be joining the congo dance for this one. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

If you've walked down a creepy and questionable alley way, then you've come to the right place. Three friends and I came in on Friday night at around 11 and there was about a 15 minute wait to get in (FYI - no cover). I had no idea it was a themed bar. I guess I didn't really put two and two together just by the name. Oops. Hey! I was on vacation so parts of my brain were shut off! Once you get in, it's like you're in the wild west (so it makes sense that the bouncer told us a lot of Americans come to this bar). It's almost like how you see it on TV. Batwing doors, moose heads (though I'm not really sure if that's from the west?) - the only things missing were cowboys and pistol duels. The setting was cool but the music wasn't really my taste. It was a tad too hillbilly-ish for me. It was also super loud in there! My ideal bar would be one where I can hear what my friends are saying, and we have a place to sit, instead of awkwardly loitering by the bar. (I know, I sound like I'm 80. But I guess that's what old age does to you!) I think my main gripe was the music. If it was better, I probably would have convinced my friends to stay. I might have even been willing to give my granny antics a rest for one night and STAND! read more

If Shady Pines were a dude, it would be a plaid shirt wearing, whiskey scented, bearded, banjo playing, zine creator or semi-professional beer brewer with an affinity for fixed gear bikes and rare cigars. And I would probably want to date him. Stepping down the staircase and into this saloon style cocktail bar is like a teleportation into the American "out west" in the 70s. In a land where you can rub elbows with a Cherokee Indian statue and a cow bust without moving an inch and feast on all the peanuts you never wanted, you can also trust that the mixologists here will concoct you something truly great. And if you're feeling cheap, you can also opt for a shot out of the stuffed skunk. Careful, it might seem like a good idea at the time, but the brown liquid inside is just a mixture of every kind of whiskey from the bottom of the bottles. Shady, Shady, INDEED. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

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This place is a hidden gem! The staff is simply all around great and friendly with excellent drink making skills, combined with an awesome juicer right there at the bar! The whiskey selection is amazing, so this is truly a place where you can take a date and they can get an amazing cocktail while you have a fine double of whiskey..... and both will be made properly. Plus live music....Sunday the 9th they had an amazing band play; and being a native Texan I Swear the steel guitarist was the best I've ever seen! Bottom line- I didn't like Sydney's night life until I found this place! read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Gotta bring home one of their T-Shirts! - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Behind a sketchy, hastily painted store front is a romanticized, Disney-like interpretation of an American saloon. The walls and ceiling are filled to the bring with taxidermy critters. Wood interiors. Very much like storybook California, Gold Rush backdrop says this native Californian. All that is missing is the cobbled streets outside. Aside from the cozy, Western feel what you really want is the Apple Whiskey during happy hour. Apple Whiskey is a freshly juiced apple with house whiskey. Crazy simple, two ingredients to get the evening started. Laid-back, no frills vibes with close friends. read more

I LOVE Shady Pines. A friend introduced me to this place a while back. This place is super unassuming and if you didn't know about it, you would just walk right past it without another look. The door literally has a piece of paper that says Shady Pines. The decor is pretty funky - country western with peanut shells on the floor. The drinks are great. Only downside is that they close around 1AM. read more

Welcome to the Wild Wild West! I think the best way to review Shady Pines is to describe one of my favourite recent visits. I'd been telling a venue-owner friend about this place for ages, how much fun it is, how it's always jumpin' no matter what time or day of the week you go there. I finally dragged him down on a Tuesday night. We approached the unmarked white door from the quiet dark alley Shady Pines is tucked away in. There was a bouncer standing at the entrance, two people smoking outside and no sign of any other life. The bouncer opened the doors for us and BAM! It was like walking into a prohibition-era honky-tonk juke joint- people were swing dancing in the middle of the room, awesome country jive was pumpin, and peanut shells were flying. This scene epitomises the magnificent Shady Pines, although I fear it's slipping away from the gorgeous hipsters and rockabillys that have always rocked out here and into the hands of the decidedly less cool types that frequent the Ivy and Establishment type of places. I am basing this solely on my last visit so I'm hoping that just happened to be an off night. The service here is always fantastic- the staff is made up 100% of hot, charming men and they've thankfully added a $6 Coopers clear to the beer list. Having beers around the $9 mark adds up over a night of rollicking country music! read more

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Came here for cocktail hour - 5 pm and not a soul in sight! The space is awesome. Found behind a white door in the alley behind American Apparel off Crown St. There's a small sign with the bar name but you wouldn't see it unless you were looking for it. Open the door and turn right to enter the bar, a dim space filled with Western Americana. Moose head on the wall, jukebox music, and I expect, if it was later in the night, peanut shells on the floor. Bartender was busy prepping and not too friendly, so lost a star on the service mark. A bearded bartender who came later was much friendlier and gave a smile. Specialty cocktail list is short but sweet, starting from $17 up to low $20s. Beers range in price and are nicely categorized by strength, represented in different horse icons, to go with the theme of the bar. I'd come back here again when the live band is on, but would probably stick to beers next time. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Cactus Jack cocktail - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

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One of this lass's favorite spots. Shady Pines has the character of Johnny Depp and the suave of George Clooney. It's the place to be for all the artistic, young, curious and fun people. It would not be so out of the norm to catch a local movie star or musician here. But nobody would bat an eye because this bar is all about being laisezz-faire. The term "hole in a wall" was coined by this place. Not really, but you know. You walk off Oxford Street and head down Crown Street, talk the first turn to your right and there it is, hidden behind an ambiguous white door. The bouncer is almost always a plain dressed fella, acting inconspicuous out the front. He will only reveal his identity if you are lucky enough to be asked for ID. I wasn't asked last time I was there so afterwards I went home and lathered myself in anti-aging cream, dammit I will be ID'd for years to come! Once you walk through that deceiving white door, you enter a land of wonder. It's like an old-school saloon from a 1930's cowboy film. Cow skin sprawled on the floor, various animal heads poking out from the walls and dim light chandeliers casting shadows over the satisfied patrons. You must try their freshly squashed apple juice and vodka, it's their signature drink and it's healthy too. Kill two birds with one stone. They also have an awesome range of beers, including Little Creatures, which is a treasure to find! Their cocktails are delicious and there is simply nothing bad I can say about this place. Ohh and to top it off, free peanuts all night! It's like I want to marry this bar. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

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Unless you knew it was there, you wouldn't even know it was there. It's a hideaway, an old fashioned saloon inspired, gun slinging-peanut crunching hideaway. And in true hideaway style it is hidden away. We wander down a small alley way half a block down from Oxford Street, concern starting to pop its small slavish head up from behind the wine we had with dinner. "Where are we going?" There's nothing down here, it's an empty alley. But soon we reach the destination and can hear the music coming from within. During the day, the only thing that gives this place away as anything other than just another empty space that is so nondescript there's not even a playful metaphor I can use to explain it, is a piece of A4 paper blue tacked to the inside of the glass which bears the licensing details of the Shady Pines Saloon. Inside the crowd is pumping, there are animal heads attached to the walls and the ground crunches as you step. Free peanuts are given out in small faux wooden bowls and the discarded shells take the place of rose petals that have been laid down upon our arrival. The tables are not tables at all, but rather barrels that are being used as tables and the character of the place is reminiscent to nothing I have ever seen before. A themed bar, so stylish and hip and interesting. Shady Pines you are an enigma. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Oh Shady Pines, you saucy, peanut-pushing, taxidermy-touting rogue... I've been to Wisconsin before and obviously so have you. Well played. While at first I was unsure how to best handle the international fascination with the all-American dive bar, I soon embraced the fact that somehow the most disgusting, dingy, dark-for-a-good-reason bars - in all their wood-paneled glory - were becoming hip (much to the chagrin of the salty regulars that frequented such establishments). Not just hip, but the hippest, in fact. (I'm looking at you Slim Jims... http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/slim-jims-liquor-store-london) So I'm sure it's with (relative) zest and glee from the aforementioned regulars that alternative establishments are now being built with the intention of looking, er, well-loved, while also introducing modern pleasantries such as craft cocktails, fancy-pants beers and indoor plumbing. Now the cool kids who grow beards and mustaches ironically don't have to impede on the red-blooded stash-masters and fear-the-beard types. It's a line that should be crossed less often, in my opinion. And Shady Pines is a slice from the same summer sausage. Luckily for us, they've riffled through (see what I did there?) what to carry over and what to improve upon. Bourbon and rye heavy? Yes. Crappy cocktails a la Popov? No. Tacky decor? Yes. The faint smell of urine and cabbage? No. It's much less lumberjacks and much more lumberjack-chic. And as a Northwest native, I wave my flannel flag in agreement. read more

So I was staring down frowning at google map trying to find the front door and struggled for a little while but success !! With a few people loitering outside the alleyway outside a white door I knew it had to be the place. Wandering down the steps, I was pleasantly surprised to see a nice sort of Western American country cowboy decorated place. It was warm and inviting so ordered a red wine to start off but with only two kind of pizzas on the food menu, it was going to be a struggle to stay longer. Thing to note for the future: huge bonus you can bring your own food though!! Will remember for next time. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

If you are looking for a relaxed bar where you can feel right at home in jeans, and kickback with a happy crowd that might just sing along to Neil Diamond, then this is the place for you. Shady Pines doesn't take itself too seriously, but the hard work happening behind the bar to whip up some great drinks is really impressive. As the pics show, dark hunting lodge with a jukebox is the theme. If sour is your thing, try the whiskey sour - it was a big hit with our group. read more

Love love love this place. You don't even need to enjoy country music to enjoy it though bonus if you do! Feels like you're in America somewhere. The staff are great and happy to have a chat to you while they make you a drink. It's just a happy place - everything from the decor to the candle lighting to the good drinks and bad music..., a few drinks in, you'll be wishing they would play the Nutbush so the whole bar can do the dance. read more

Outstanding joint, don't wanna sound too hipster (Ha so ironic when this place is saturated with them!) but I enjoyed it most when it first opened and wasn't advertised and as such I could get in without a wait! its just a testament to how fantastic this bar really is the queues on Saturday night unreal! SO go early ! get a table, dig in man, its awesome they feed you peanuts I'm not talking the covered in other peoples wee bowl of peanuts on the bar top here, monkey nuts ready for your cracking pleasures! What an absolute joy of drinking it is to have a huge bowl which is consistently topped up of peanuts for you to shell whilst you shoot the shit, wit yo homies playa! The bar staff are well skilled and I always enjoy a boilermaker here such a fantastic selection of Single Malts on my last visit I enjoyed a beautiful Islay Scotch Lagavulin matched with a Squires Porter the Jack of Spades. Nothing I like more then falling in love with a new beer. read more

Found myself here randomly last night and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. I like kitchy, themed, hole in the wall, off-the-beaten track type places, so this was right up my alley (see what I did there?). Country western hipster kitch, peanuts, Johnny Cash blaring out of the speakers and pretty rockabilly dames floating about... bliss. This place in New York would have almost certainly been pretentious as hell, but the staff here were so refreshingly friendly and chatty. So were the other patrons. The place was packed and they are real artisans of the cocktail - I can't wait to come back and try everything, twice! read more

Finally made it to the Baxter's sister (or brother) bar. Pretty funky surrounds, I must say, hiding behind that oh-so discreet front door, marked only byt he friendly doorman helping folks looking for the entrance. Eclectic is the word - a great fit out of wild west paraphernalia and memorabilia, worthy of a collectors eye. Half expected Wyatt Earp or Billy the Kid to slam through the doors at any second, or some other ornery varmint to swagger in and park up at the bar. The cocktails are as expected remarkable, all juices seemingly squeezed fresh, and service pretty prompt. Peanuts in the shells to nibble on - yum!! Recommended... read more

My favorite bar that I visited during my time in Sydney! It was recommended to my group of friends by a local, so we had high expectations. YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY CHECK THIS PLACE OUT. It's a little hard to find (off a side street) but fantastic atmosphere and even more fantastic drinks! I'd recommend ordering off the menu if you want a mixed drink that is a little cheaper (~7.50-8 dollars). If you go with a juice-based drink, they make the juice fresh in front of you! I was so surprised when the bartender grabbed an actual grapefruit for my grapefruit vodka. Also, free peanuts! Who doesn't love something free at a bar? For a bar with freshly squeezed juices and great atmosphere (not "shady" at all), be sure to check this place out. read more

Shady Pines on a Saturday night... what a ride. It didn't matter that the place closes at midnight, there was still a line twenty people long at 11pm. We joined the queue, because I had one night only in town and I was damned if I was going to give up on a drink to finish my night off at a classic Sydney small bar. It only took ten-fifteen minutes to get through the line and in the door, where we were met with loud country music. Hilarity. By 11pm on this Saturday night, people were shaking their tail feathers to some classics like The Gambler and Thank God I'm a Country Boy. Surrounded by every stuffed animal head you can think of, the music was MORE than appropriate. We fought our way through to the bar and I was surprised by how lovely the bartender was, particularly as he must have been near the end of his shift (or was that the reason he was so cheery?). Not only was he a total sweetheart, he also managed to deal well with my non-committal cocktail request. "I DON'T KNOW. I LIKE GIN! SHE DOESN'T! SHE LIKES FRUITY! BUT I NEED TWO DRINKS!" He killed two birds with one stone and made us two floradoras. LEGEND. He also, upon hearing it was my sister's birthday, grabbed her hand and kissed it. Smooth criminal. Despite the rowdy crowdy, we found a nook to sit and drink in while watching the crazies dance their pants off. Shady Pines had definitely brought the wild, wild west to Sydney. Some dude was sitting (at times standing) on the bar and pouring shots of Jack Daniels into peoples' open mouths. I was waiting for the Coyote Ugly girls to jump up on the bar and dance to Leann Rimes seminal bar-dancing ballad "Can't Fight the Moonlight" (oh man, I forgot Adam Garcia was in that... guess I've found something to re-watch tonight). Once the long version of American Pie was done playing, we were ready to leave, but not after cracking open some peanuts and crushing the shells on the floor under our boots. Yeehaw. read more

This is the kind of bar I would walk across the street to avoid if I was in the US (if it wasn't being ironic), but for some reason in Sydney it's a fun, quirky hipsterish place. There's no sign on the door and it's hidden away in an alley, but they serve free unshelled peanuts and they have a variety of American and British ales by the bottle. Their cocktails are a little on the watery side according to my missus. It's nice to see some cozier places opening up in Sydney in contrast to the mega pubs and hotels you see elsewhere in town. read more

There are good bars, there are great bars, and then there are bars like Shady Pines Saloon. Dark and a bit dingy, the staff there made me feel so welcome and 100% at home. It was my first time in Sydney and once I was there, I was 100% drawn in. Starting with cider and moving to cocktails, the team made the night more than I could have hoped for. Charming, funny and bloody good at what they do, they kept quality in their service throughout the entire night, it didn't matter how busy they were, each and every customer received the highest level of focus and engagement. Whether you're partying on or having a quiet drink, it's a must see in Sydney read more

Shady was, for quite a long time, my favourite bar in Sydney. Tucked away in a little alley, you wouldn't even know there is a bar there, but as soon as you manage to find it and walk through the doors, you'll feel like you've been transported to an old Western movie. The decor is awesome, the cocktails are amazing, the staff are super friendly - ditch the tables and sit at the bar with your friends to add to the "I'm in a movie" feel. While you're at it, make sure you crack open some peanuts, like the true cowboy that you are. read more

I am talking, walking down the fire escape to an underground bar, shady lights (couldnt resist that one!), and mounted stuffed animal heads on the wall.. And it reeks cool and hip like no other place.. The Shady Pines bartenders are as good as they get and know their craft really and you can taste difference right away. .. One of my cocktails had a popsicle in it and I was happy as a clam sipping the delicious orange and red concoction! The variety of beers on offer is really good with some very interesting and different choices.. Plus theres the free peanuts, and I am just going to say it, is what makes this place the best bar ever! read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Yeeeehawwww! Round it on up boys and girls and get yourselves on over here! Shady Pines is one of my favorite laneway bars in Sydney! There's nothing like the first time you descend the hidden staircase to the absolute Americana wonderland that is taxidermied buffalos, country western music, low ceilings and candlelit barrels for tables.... OH, and free roasted peanuts too ;) Trendy and timewarped, the staff are fun and friendly and will serve you up something real, real nice! My suggestion: Their signature drink is a true win! Try any spirit y'all, preferably whiskey, you are in the country now, ya hear?!, with fresh squeezed apple juice. At only $7.50, YES, $7.50, it's one of the most delicious and fresh drinks I've ever had! Really ... This is not your typical mixed drinks, folks! Amazing atmosphere. Free peanuts. Fun staff. Apple juice and whiskey... .... Why aren't you there yet? read more

Too much hype !! Over priced for what it is !! ..... late night service drops off and getting a drink at the bar is too much work .... so many places near by where you can chill. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Try and get a drink !!! Good luck with that !! - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Brilliant fun night in Shady Pines , lucky to have a live band on in there - who were great and the joint was jumpin'! Bar staff are awesome - work hard that's for sure. read more

This place is like no other in the city. I guess that's the point of most small bars, no? Shady Pines takes me back to my Uncle's hunting lodge in the USA. I'm not sure where hey got all the taxidermy but it adds a nice sense of ambiance. Great beer and whiskey list which always allows me to try something new. You can also get a pre-dinner nibble with the endless bowls of peanuts. Shady Pines has become a staple for me to take my American friends when they visit. I have the countless photos with the moose to prove it! Solid 5 stars. read more

Glad I found this place - great atmosphere. Off the radar but well worth it y'all. Picture yourself in a Texan Honkytonk with Hank Williams in the air (without the cigarette smoke). Two beers in and the room is filling up. read more

Shady Pines Saloon - Bars Near Me - Darlinghurst, NSW

Great bar but please watch your change here as the bar staff here feel its ok to take their own tips from you! Totally illegal practise of course. Still great bar but really spoilt my visit. read more

Love this place. One of my fave bars in Sydney. Hard to find the first time, down an alley with very little signage and - if you're too early - no queue to spot. Once in, though, it's a dark, slightly-western underground dive bar. The plethora of stuffed animals evoke Americana, as do the bowls of peanuts that get distributed about. There's a great range of bottled beverages, and a dizzying array of fantastic (if not cheap) cocktails available from the fun, chatty, moustachioed hipster bartenders. This place seems like it should be full of attitude, but I've never encountered it. All seem welcome. If you want to work your way through a host of well-made mixed drinks in a dark saloon corner go to Shady Pines. Just go early. read more

4.5 stars. We literally live a hop and skip away from this joint! Can see the entrance from my kitchen (but you have to look really hard because it's a hole in the wall. REALLY! A HOLE.) Unique, not a loud busy bar. They had a style and went for it. They had heaps of boubon and whiskey. It reminded me like I stepped off the streets of a ratty city alley and transported to an old school American saloon. It's not bright, no wannabes. Can't even really notice how many people are in there. I can tell it's not everybody's cup of tea. Came here with an older gentleman .... he wasn't too enamoured just because he's used to the glitz and glamour of a fancy, high end sexy bar. Why is this place so poppin' on a Monday night?? We have no clue! read more