Not many bars can lay claim to a historic location that once accommodated a boarding house, a bootmaker and an opium den like The Doss House.
The Doss House, a subterranean bar in The Rocks, Sydney occupies a 170-year-old sandstone building that is rich in history. Co-owned by Colm O’Neill and Eoin Daniels, the bar has a solid focus on whisky from all over the world along with classic cocktails. The duo are also responsible for the fit-out of the five interconnecting spaces that give more than a passing nod to the building’s vibrant past.
Step inside and you’ll find yourself at Unwin’s Stores, named after its builder, Frederic Wright Unwin. The intimate space features high tables and stools, an original fireplace and antique mirrors. The Dock Bar houses an enviable collection of whisky from around the world including rare collections along with Waterford Crystal glassware and decanters. The Bootmaker’s Workshop invites you to take a seat on Chesterfield sofa or antique leather armchairs in front of a roaring fireplace and a bookshelf with shoe mouldings while Ung Quoy’s Den, once an opium den beckons with its red velvet banquettes and artefacts including an opium pipe. The Sailor’s Garden, originally an enclosed space spreading over two levels has been opened into a welcoming courtyard.
The Doss House is home to a large collection of whiskies spanning the globe and it’s worth experiencing their whisky flights which range from world of whisky and limited edition to connoisseur flights, the latter featuring the likes of Nikka Taketsuru Fortune 80 Malt.
The cocktail list is comprised of well-crafted classics such as the Old Fashioned, Pisco Sour, Bees Knees and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club while signature cocktails include The Dusky Scotchman, a layered cocktail to sip on that balances smoke from Laphroaig 10 with sweet honeyed notes and the minty herbal freshness of Branca Mentha.
Once a month, The Doss House hosts whisky and cheese masterclasses in the former opium den and it’s an opportunity to taste and learn in relaxed surrounds and a fun environment.
The Doss House is the kind of bar that’s intimate, inviting and welcoming, the one you seek on a date night, when you want to catch up with friends or when you’re in the mood for sipping on a fine dram in a venue steeped in history. Each space offers a slightly different experience and once you’ve settled in with your choice of libation, the problem is that you never want to leave.
The Doss House
Address: 77/79 George St, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000
Website: www.thedosshouse.com.au
Photo by Cocktails & Bars – © Copyright: All rights reserved.
