Four Pillars opens new mega gin palace in Surry Hills

It seems nothing can get between Sydneysiders and a new hospitality venue opening. Four Pillars' new mega gin palace opens on Friday, June 12, with ticketed seats at its bar selling out faster than a Rolling Stones concert.

The Yasmine Ghoniem-designed space is a mix of eye-catching joinery, Oslo-born bar modules, black steel and Portuguese cork panels.

In a venue where staff even give the light fittings names, the monikers flow fast. There's the sleek street-level Gin Shop, which is already quietly trading, the Gin Lab, and Eileen's Bar, which takes its name from the copper German still – which punches out small batches of gin.

Eileen (the still) follows the tradition of the Four Pillars team to name its stills after their mums. In this case, it dips its lid to co-founder Matt Jones' mother.

Bar manager James Irvine takes the helm at Eileen's, a bar with a strong blue theme and a separate entrance. Behind its 11-metre bar, in a moody alley dubbed "Tinder Lane", beautifully finished timber tables are set for two.

Irvine's wishlist included a working station from Oslo-based bar design agency Behind Bars. Because Sydneysiders don't live on gin alone, you can snack on a jaffle with mortadella and mozzarella, a cured meat plate or steak and pepper party pies.

Open: Gin Shop and Gin Lab 10am-6pm daily; Eileen's Bar Wed-Sat 5pm-midnight. Bussell Brothers Building, 406-410 Crown Street, Surry Hills, fourpillarsgin.com

Eileen's Bar bookings: fourpillarsgin.com/drinks-lab/visit