Exchange Hotel
Editorial
No matter what trendy renovations brew within this classy colonial bulwark of Balmain, nothing will ever outwit the classically rendered masonry, the enormous balcony or the iron-laced furnishings that have made this famous 1880's hotel such an institution. And while this old hotel now patiently sits out the 21st century, its lifeblood remains young, vibrant and very thirsty. All four bars in the three-story upsurge are regularly pumping.
Stepping through the doorframe you could easily free-fall through a polish of gleaming timber and high ceilings before you settle amongst the jostle of barstools to order yourself a Bloody Mary - another thing it seems can't be touched. The Bloody Mary Club - almost as old as the hotel - serves up a well spicy lashing (with breakfast and a coffee) every Saturday and Sunday.
Upstairs the Safari bar has been given a bit of a glam-over, with the old multi-roomed medley of assorted hunting implements swept away for a sparer, timber-toned space, softened by settees plumped in every corner beneath the crisp designer chandeliers. The Zettal Lounge Restaurant is a plusher affair, with good food to match. The brasserie's menu is also good, with a range of seafood, steaks and pizza. The canapes are also worth a look at - Pacific oysters served with Bloody Mary jelly. The wine list doesn't disappoint either. By night the Exchange thrives with casual chic, funkadelic DJ's on the weekend to match, along with cocktail specials and a new Martini Club.
Geoff Stanton, January 2008
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