The Long Goodbye, a noir little bar that has taken up residence in the terrace that once housed the Hazy Rose, reminds us happily of one of the area’s last vestiges of nightlife bohemia: Baron’s.
Up an old staircase on Roslyn St, Baron’s was a cosy room full of Chesterfields, peeling paint and classic tunes that closed in mid-2007. There wasn’t a taxidermy or mini golf gimmick in sight. Nor were there any menus. The Long Goodbye has adopted strikingly similar approaches to interior design, service and vibes. And it’s not at all pretentious. Sink into a cracked leather lounge and talk the friendly bartenders through your favourite flavours.
Sweet or citrus? Fresh, fragrant or filthy? We opt for the latter of each and are promptly delivered a punchy South Side and a very, very dirty Martini. Both are well balanced and boozy.
For slightly less traditional libations, ask for the bar’s namesake drink: The Long Goodbye. It’s similar to the South Side, with smoky Mezcal subbed in for the gin. Looking for something a little more unusual? There’re plenty of experimental house-made liqueurs, infusions and unexpected bitters on the back wall. There also isn’t a food menu, but the friendly staff are happy for you to bring up food from any of Stanley Street’s restaurants.
One bartender, with a full head of peroxide blonde hair – freshly dyed for the bar’s recent Buffy fan night – serves 80s and 90s film and TV trivia with his drinks. He tells us they’ve got other cult film and TV nights planned – we’re hoping his joke about a Die Hard night becomes a reality. Maybe crawling through the air vents before partying on a bar floor of broken glass is too much to expect, but we’d settle for a corporate Christmas party theme.
Good bartender banter, stiff cocktails and a moody but unpretentious setting. Say hello to the Long Goodbye soon.