The Baxter Inn — Restaurant in Sydney

Was so excited to go here as was recommended by a fellow whisky enthusiast and several of his fellow club members who loved it years ago when they were in Sydney. Confirmed with a local friend who couldn’t make it that evening to be with us who said it is more a tourist , social media vibe now with a mix of whisky lovers and people there for fun and photos. The bar is very nice with some incredible bottles. Everything ranging from dream bottles, to great bottles, to regular pours. The place is dark to very dark. I saw most people using smartphones as flashlights to read whisky, cocktail/snacks menus at the tables.there is intimate, private and just poor lighting and , unfortunately, this was just poor lighting. The bar is very big and was well staffed but again not enough lighting to actually be able to see everything on shelves. The chalkboard list was easy to read but limited and was disappointing to not being able to see all those beautiful bottles lit up properly even you still need the whisky menu. Bartenders were friendly enough though some drinks were asked for twice and when asked about my likes was given some good to poor choices and some specifically not asked for which was strange and imo does not make for a great bartender. But, bartenders I did talk with were knowledgeable about the pours or at least the ones they talked about as none really wanted to have a conversation just give to be given an order so they can get back to chatting amongst themselves. The whiskies I had were good to great but all picked by me. Pricing was fair to a bit higher but between being the city and a “well known” bar acceptable. The cocktails were nothing special and disappointing. Expensive and little flavor of whiskey. This day and age that is unacceptable as such a great bar has so many options for unique, fun and great tasting cocktails as well as the good old reliable ones. Cocktails dull and one left half drunk as a whisky based one with no whisky in it , at least taste wise. The table area was very nice just dark so most of us enjoyed our drinks while occasionally going blind by those that needed 30 pictures of themselves in same position holding a drink or standing in certain spots in the room. So at times expect to see smartphone cameras lights being constantly used. Not great in a dark room when trying to enjoy drinks. Put on some lights and let the rest of us enjoy our time at the Inn instead of being barraged by photo shoots. I am fortunate that I am able to travel the world and seen some great bars and had some very memorable pours and the people I enjoy the pours with have always been what makes it an incredible time instead of just having a great pour. Here for another week and no interest in going back to what should be Sydney’s premier whisky bar. I will say the man at the door outside was very polite and as our group left there was a line of future Instagram stars waiting rudely...

I’ve been coming to this bar fairly often for the past three years. I always found it odd that the price of the same cocktail would vary depending on the bartender, but I never questioned it because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle. However, after what happened yesterday, I feel compelled to write this review.

There was one time when I ordered a French Connection twice in the same visit—one bartender charged me $24, while another charged me $30. I found it strange, but I let it go.

Last night, I ordered two Gimlets from a bartender with black hair and smoky makeup. She charged me $52 for 2. I was shocked because last year, when I came here with my coworkers, a Gimlet was $12 per glass. As a bartender myself, I remember thinking it was an incredibly cheap price. Even when my friends ordered it, they paid the same amount. After that visit, I came back a few more times and occasionally ordered the same drink. Once, I was charged $14—which was a difference, but a small enough one to overlook.

But last night, I was charged $26 per Gimlet. When I asked if that price was correct, explaining that I had always paid $12 or $14, the bartender insisted that a Gimlet contains two shots of alcohol and that cocktails are priced at $26. She also said that $12 or $14 was never the price here and that I must be confusing it with another bar. Even when I let it go and said it was fine, she continued mentioning other bars, implying that I was mistaken and that this bar had never charged such a low price. I don’t know how long she’s been working here, but in the three years I’ve been coming, I had never seen her before.

As a bartender, I know for a fact that a Gimlet—made with just gin, lime, and simple syrup—should not cost $26. I’ve visited many bars, and I have never seen a Gimlet priced this high. Even at Gimlet, one of Melbourne’s most well-known cocktail bars, their Gimlet is $22.

If they tell me the price is $26, as a customer, I have no choice but to accept it. However, a system where the same cocktail is priced differently depending on the bartender is completely...

My mate and I went on the 9th of December. We were there later in the evening, after midnight. It was quite busy for being late, but didn't have a long wait to get a drink.

My mate ordered a Bailey's on ice, which he was told they didn't have. So the bartender said he would make something similar. He came back with Brandy Alexander's. Except for the cream, they are not similar. But it's the thought that counts. The drink was not my cup of tea, but that is not the bartenders fault.

I ordered a coupon beers but told the bartender it was his choice on what beers he brings back. I can tell you that the bartender is not a beer drinker . Again, not the fault of the bartender.

I have no review of the food, as we did not have any nor do I even know if they serve food here.

On another note, while my mate and I waited in queue to get in, we let these two women ahead of us, as I believe one said it was her birthday. A few moments later, the birthday girl got in to a kerfuffle with the doorman as she felt the door man got a little handsy with her. While she and the doorman discussed the incident, The other woman and I started chatting for a fair bit and we seemed to hit it off. Then we (my mate and I) were pulled aside and led downstairs, by the manager I assume, and asked what we saw. It was really just an eager girl going in a bit early and an overzealous door man. By the time we were finished with the manager, the two girls had left.

Anyways, the woman I was chatting to seemed to be incredibly cool, incredibly beautiful and quite funny as well. In my stupidity, I never asked her for her number, as I was a bit distracted by her friends conversation, and maybe a bit mesmerized. Then when I thought to, it was a bit too late!

I am hoping that she, one of her friends, or an acquaintance that has heard this story from her, may read this and relay this back so I that I may get in...