Hidden bars appear to be the concept du jour as of late. The finest example – to which we recently awarded five stars, a first for a bar – is the very much private and very much bespoke J Boroski. But with the trend becoming increasingly prevalent, we can’t help but wonder how many hoops one must jump though to get a good drink nowadays.
Oris is located on the first floor of a residential building. And in case that doesn’t make you second-guess yourself, the full name of the establishment is Oris Private Club. Don’t be scared off by those words, though, because like how you’re a member of a private kitchen as soon as you make a reservation, it’s the same at Oris.
The interiors are dark with provocative artwork on the walls. We try a Southside ($120) and a Gingerbread Lovers ($110) and we’re floored by the quality. The Southside is a simple concoction of gin, muddled cucumber and mint. Cucumber is a volatile ingredient that can easily amplify the acerbic notes of strong alcohol, but this drink is purely refreshing. The latter offering is a liquidised version of gingerbread, made with homemade gingerbread and vanilla syrup to give it a nostalgic flavour. We congratulate our bartender, Sarah Rana, on her amazing mixology, only to learn that she is a disciple of none other than Gurung Suraj, of Stockton fame.
Oris feels like a literal hidden gem. There is talent behind the bar and the space is roomy and private. We don’t have much to complain about except the elitist exclusivity implied by the name. Then again, that’s exactly
why we feel special drinking here.