A Sydney landmark for all things gin, The Barber Shop combines grooming for men with juniper-flavoured good times for all, masterminded by the Harbour City’s leading gin guru.
For much of the late ’90s and most of the noughties, vodka seemed to be the spirit that ruled them all. Then a raft of small-batch distilleries like West Winds and Four Pillars came along and flipped the script, spurring something of a gin revolution in Australia that’s just kept on keeping on. And if there’s one Sydney bar that has played a more significant role than most in the modern renaissance of mother’s ruin, it has to be The Barber Shop.
Looking back, it’s safe to say cocktail guru Mikey Enright and business partner Julian Train were well ahead of the curve when they switched on the lights in the middle of 2013. Never before had the city had access to 90-odd gins from around the world under one roof – and certainly not in sophisticated, speakeasy-style digs hidden behind a sliding door at the back of an old-school barber shop.
In its first year, it was shortlisted as one of the best new international cocktail bars at the influential Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans, and the accolades have continued to pile up since. It’s proof that while trends may come and go, the allure of top-notch gin, and a schmick spot to enjoy it in, is forever.
In addition to the reverence for gin, The Barber Shop ticks other boxes that really resonate with bar-goers. There’s the secret entrance for one, which isn’t really a secret after all these years, but still manages to drum up a great deal of excitement for first-time visitors and out-of-towners nonetheless. Then there’s the décor, which handsomely nods to the days of yore thanks to British racing-green walls, subway tiles, Chesterfields, Edison bulbs and a bit of taxidermy. The vision is clear, and the rewards are obvious.
Given its central CBD locale and the fact it doubles as a business devoted to male grooming, you could be forgiven for making certain assumptions about the demographic here. Swing by on a busy night, however, and you’ll find folks from all walks here, united by nothing other than a desire to while away the hours at an Emerald City fixture that has stood the test of time, and with plenty of life in it yet.
