Since 2010, Shady Pines has been Sydney’s classic Nashville-style honkytonk. Its admirers come for the laid-back pace, friendly welcome, and an atmosphere built on vintage taxidermy, a salvaged antique back bar, and a deep and abiding affection for good rye, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams and the hard-living folks of the highway.

Shady Pines draws a lot of its inspiration from the dive bars of old, proud to serve peanuts in the shell and be home to live music every Thursday and Sunday. But here the small-batch whiskey is good, the guys behind the bar give a damn and the beer is always – always – cold.