The Flinders Hotel Review

Review by Kaya Strehler

Flinders has a larger selection of inhabitants than your Christmas stocking ever will. Walking in on a casual Thursday night in the early hours of the evening left this observation unknown as the premises was virtually deserted.

Due to the warm atmosphere (even without other occupants) and the promise from the security guards that the place will pick up, we hung around.

Slowly but surely the place started to fill. The bar it situated right as you walk in with standing and the occasional stool around an entire 360 degrees. This leads onto a dance floor/loitering area, which is also home to live music on Tuesday nights. Off this area is an open doorway to a relaxed sitting/chatting/hanging out/cozy corner room suitable for all the above-mentioned activities as well as killer view of the dance floor.

This is the location we initially found ourselves due to the comfortable couches and old-world interior complete with collection of elaborate sailboats in bottles and shiny tile selection. But as the people came and the music got louder we ventured out to the bar area.

Men and women, young and old, beauties and beasts, aged couples, young socialites, nerd outings, irrevocably drunk, sober sallies, trendy under-grounders and mainstream, Flinders had it all.

It may have been the aforementioned warm chilled out vibrant atmosphere, the awesome old school music (ie Little Richard) or the famous pickle shots, the place was pumping by midnight.

Drinks are nothing special; there's a standard selection of beer and cider on tap and bottle ($6-$9), your usual spirit mixers ($8-$9) and an array of cocktails ($15-$20) that earn you an unhappy glance from the bartender upon ordering, but nothing encompasses Flinders Hotel like a pickle shot.

A pickle shot is essentially that. For $9 you receive two shots, first a shot of whiskey followed by another of pickle juice with a baby gherkin sunk in the bottom. Yes. I understand in theory it spells 'taste bud trouble' but the result is remarkably savory.

The hours tick by and the people get friendlier. Everyone's in good spirits, having a laugh and a dance to whatever old school duke-box song crackles on next. If you're someone who enjoys dark, dank and comfortable places or places similar to the Shady Pines Saloon you will have found your haven.



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