Directory

Harbourlife

Sydney is the capital of nightclubbing in Australia. In recent years, Sydney has developed a great number of bars and clubs. If you decide to go out in the evening and to spend all night out, Sydney offers a huge variety of choices.

If you are interested in dancing, the top destination for nightclubbing in Sydney is the biggest and most popular mixed nightclub, 'Home'. It is located in a building in Darling Harbour, and you can always find long queues at its entrance. However, Home may soon lose its title to the new megaplex from Justin Hemmes' Merivale Group called 'Ivy'. Featuring 19 bars, a massive indoor/outdoor multilevel club, outdoor swimming pool, New York Steakhouse, Teppanyaki Restaurant, and British Alehouse, the Merivale group's latest creation looks set to reign.

The epicenter of clubbing in Sydney however is Kings Cross. Jam packed with late night clubs and restaurants, the Cross includes the glamorous Hugo's Lounge, Lady Lux, Sapphire Suite, Candy's Apartment, Le Panic, Bayswater Brassiere, Moulin Rouge, Tatlers, Iguana Bar, Melt, Empire, Favela, The Cross, The Bourbon, Trademark, and many more.

Another interesting area is King Street Wharf and Darling Harbour. The home of 'Home', this area also includes the Cargo Bar, which is a bar/lounge on the waterfront that offers funky house music. Also on the waterfront near Cargo are Bungalow 8 and the Loft.

If you are ready for real entertainment with big crazy crowds and lively club music, Sydney nightclubbing gives you this experience. Gay/mixed nightclubs are found mainly along Oxford Street in Darlinghurst or in Newtown. The most outstanding and impressive of Sydney's well-known drag shows are at Arq, The Stonewall Hotel, and The Midnight Shift. Arq is the best place, where you can dance with your shirt off and hands in the air all night long.

If you are a fan of live music and dancing is not the most important part of nightclubbing, you should visit the 'Basement'. There you will find jazz, soul music, and global acts. The Basement also regularly features cover bands for groups as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Crowded House, Fleetwood Mac, and more. Acts are on just about every night including Mondays.

The Hopetown Hotel is a traditional inner-city rock location that offers good live music in interpretation of local singers. The Cat and Fiddle Hotel is a seasoned home to folk, pop, and a bit of bush music.

The most fashionable trend for the bar scene is boutique cocktail meetings. Such places are quickly filled by the town's nice-looking people. A good place is Moog Bar, a top-trendy transformation of a terrace in the Victorian style into a single room boutique hotel often used by touring bands. Moog also has an expansive cocktail list.

You can also visit Will and Toby's restaurant on Oxford Street. It has a lot of energy - if you can get inside, because there are always crowds.

Nightclubbing in Sydney is also famous for its special entertainment programs organized during the holiday period. Christmas and New Year's celebrations represent the pinnacle of nightclubbing entertainment in this city. At these parties, you will find the best DJs of the world. New Year's Eve is huge and New Year's Day even bigger - with massive outdoor parties such as Mobile Home, Field Day, Ivy, and Bondi Icebergs. Regularly throughout the year promoters such as the Merivale Group and Fuzzy put on huge parties at fantastic locations, including Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbour, and the Domain.

The dancing clubs, restaurants, bars, and cafes are full of tourists and locals. The best way to ensure a spot is to book tickets well in advance of the holidays.