Where are the best places to party in Sydney?
A common question for visitors to our beautiful city. Depending on who you ask, you’ll get several vastly different answers. Some say Sydney no longer has world-class nightlife. But we disagree completely. Below, you’ll find over 50 of the best places to party in Sydney, whether that be a traditional nightclub with VIP bottle service, a bar with a funky dancefloor that pumps well into the night, or a floating dancefloor geared to soak up the magic of Sydney Harbour.
As a born-and-bred Sydneysider, I have seen the many changes that have hurt Sydney’s nightlife over the years. By way of introduction, I’m Chris Singh, a 37-year-old whose “clubbing days” landed around the late 2000s and early 2010s.
It was a much different scene back then. Parties like Purple Sneakers and fresh-faced venues like Oxford Art Factory took the limelight away from commercialised superclubs, giving Sydney’s nightlife scene a springy personality.
Things quickly went downhill once the controversial Sydney lockout laws were introduced, but it seems we’re finally back in a good place to once again square Sydney with some of the world’s best party cities like New York and Berlin.
What Are The Best Nightclubs in Sydney?
I’ve gathered the information below so you’ll have a handy directory the next time you want to have a big night out in Sydney. But if you’re just here for a quick top five, I’d say your best bets for a late-night dance in Sydney are:
- Chinese Laundry (open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays)
- The Abercrombie (open until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays)
- Club 77 (open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays)
- Carousel (open until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays)
- Home the Venue (open until “late” on Fridays and Saturdays)
Nightclubs
1. Home the Venue, Darling Harbour
Home the Venue (formerly known as Home Nightclub) is a masterclass in longevity. The Darling Harbour nightclub has been standing at its Cockle Bay Wharf location since 1998, fashioned as Australia’s largest super club with programming on par with some of the world’s best nightclubs.
The venue’s signature weekly event, Home Saturdays, is widely known as the best place to party on a Saturday night since it’s free entry before 10:30pm ($15 thereafter).
Home the Venue has a fairly relaxed dress code compared to some of the other clubs in Sydney. But you won’t be allowed in with hats, thongs, singlets or gym shorts. If you are wearing shorts, they need to come to the knee and have belt loops. Sports shoes are allowed but they must be clean and presentable.
Address: 101/1-5 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (9pm—late)
2. The Abercrombie, Chippendale
The Abercrombie used to be one of the hottest tickets in town every Friday night as hundreds would turn out for indie-styled house party Purple Sneakers (no longer around) and Sunday day-to-night rave S.A.S.H. (still around).
That all ended once Central Park’s expansion pushed the original owners out of the venue, with The Abercrombie once earmarked for redevelopment. Fortunately, the iconic brick facade on the corner of Abercrombie Street and Broadway wasn’t knocked down as many had originally feared.
Instead, it sat abandoned for years until new owners decided to give it a massive refurbishment, bringing back the dancefloor in a big way by working in numerous, state-of-the-art spaces.
If your visit to Sydney lands around December, take note that The Abercrombie hosts a non-stop Christmas rave that pumps non-stop for 36 hours.
Address: 100 Broadway, Chippendale NSW 2008
Contact: (02) 8823 0555
Opening Hours: Sunday—Thursday (10am—2am); Friday—Saturday (10am—5am)
3. Club 77, Darlinghurst
The notorious Club 77 has always been Sydney’s edgiest underground nightclub, with a subterranean dance floor that usually wraps up just before sunrise.
A modern refurbishment has turned the rave cave into a more approachable bar, but the owners have kept a sizezable dancefloor to cater for those flailing limbs.
Much like The Abercrombie, this dimly-lit club is open until 5am on weekends and is one of the only inner-city nightclubs open until 4am on Sundays.
Address: 77 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (9pm—5am); Sunday (9pm—4am)
4. Pleasure Club, Newtown
This hedonistic basement bar was opened in early 2024 by Odd Culture Group, which has become an integral part of Newtown with its namesake restaurant, plus a very trendy wine shop just a few doors down.
For its third Newtown venue, the reliable hospitality group has pitched Pleasure Club as a “psychedelic” rave experience that tracks until 4am on most nights, transforming a former adult video store into a heady blend of lights, loud music, stiff drinks and hotdogs.
Address: 6 Wilson St, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Sunday (4pm—4am)
5. The Argyle, The Rocks
Set in an iconic sandstone building, The Argyle juxtaposes rich heritage charm with a cutting-edge nightclub and one of Sydney’s most beautiful courtyards.
Since 2007, The Argyle has been one of our signature party spots and a household name around town with Friday nights the best time to go. Just be prepared to join a long queue and ensure you’ve got that classic smart casual dress code right.
Address: 18 Argyle St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Tuesday (5pm—11pm); Wednesday—Thursday (5pm—1am); Friday—Saturday (4pm—3am)
6. Two 3 One, Darlinghurst
Oxford Street’s Ruby Rabbit drew massive queues every weekend back when Sydney’s nightlife was in its pre-lockout prime.
It’s sat dormant for years, but new nightclub Two 3 One has breathed some new life into the spot, split as three distinct spaces with the topmost inspired by Berlin’s storied rave scene.
You’ll typically find the rougher textures of EDM music here, so techno and hardstyle fans get plenty of chew on each weekend until 5am.
Address: 231 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact: 0401 248 518
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (9pm—5am)
7. LABEL, Brookvale
Before LABEL opened as part of the Brookvale Arts District in 2021, the main draw for this Northern Beaches suburb was its small collection of breweries.
Now LABEL has become one of Sydney’s most creative nightclubs, with innovative programming complemented by a festival-grade sound system and an equal love of music, art and community.
Address: Level 1/642 Pittwater Rd, Brookvale NSW 2100
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (8pm—3pm)
8. Maali, Kings Cross
Candy’s Apartment was once the most notorious nightclub in Sydney, set along Bayswater Road when Kings Cross was dominated by Hugo’s and World Bar.
Now the underground spot has been reimagined as a Moroccon-flavoured nightclub called Maali with a bright orange interior that feels like you’re dancing underneath the burning Mediterranean sun, despite it being 3am in Sydney.
Address: 22 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point NSW 2011
Contact: 0434 633 378
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (8pm—3am)
9. Taylor’s Rooftop, Darlinghurst
Found on the third floor of the Republic Hotel, Taylor’s is one of the only rooftop bars in Sydney that turns into a dance party as the night goes on.
Technically, it’s more of a roofless open-air spot than a rooftop bar, but the finer details matter less once the tables are pushed aside and the makeshift dance floor starts buzzing about on Taylor’s Saturdays.
As Taylor’s Rooftop is above a pub, there’s not really any strict dress code as you’d get at traditional nightclubs.
Address: 69-73 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9252 6522
Opening Hours: Monday—Thursday (10am—12am); Friday (10am—2am); Saturday (11am—2am)
10. Carousel Bar & Ballroom, Darlinghurst
S.A.S.H., Sydney’s longest-running club night, linked up with the teams behind Slyfox Hotel and Stanley’s Bar to open Carousel Bar & Ballroom, a cabaret and 70s-inspired bar with several dancefloors pumping from Friday to Sunday.
The venue is one of the main drivers of Sydney’s reimagined nightlife, staying open until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 5am on Sundays with local DJs testing that state-of-the-art Funktion-One sound system.
One of the most notable things about Carousel is its layout. The designers moved the DJ decks from the back of the venue to the middle, inspired by the in-the-round performance style of the iconic party series, Boiler Room.
Address: 169 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (10pm—5am); Sunday (10pm—4am)
11. ivy, CBD
Justin Hemmes’ mega-venue, The ivy, is still highly regarded by both Sydney locals and tourists as the city’s best nightclub.
The main space is the place to be for the long-running ivy Thursdays with mostly house and techno pumping through a cutting-edge sound system.
The Palm Springs-style ivy Pool Club is the more famous of the two, however, backed by a breezy Italian restaurant and opening up into an often chaotic scene while people party both in and around the large pool.
Australia has surprisingly very few pool clubs compared to places like New York City and Los Angeles, but ivy Pool Club punches well above its weight, shouldering Sydney’s party scene most days of the week.
Just note that the dress code for ivy Pool Club is more resort chic than smart casual, and it’s the kind of place you’d want to be on the guestlist for, rather than try your luck at the last minute.
Address: 330 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9240 3000
Opening Hours: Tuesday—Sunday (12pm—late)
12. Chinese Laundry, CBD
Merivale reopened Chinese Laundry in early 2024, locking in a key part of Sydney’s nightlife that was missing for many years.
The underground nightclub, located below Slip Inn (where the current Dutch King and Queen met during the 2020 Olympic Games) is the type of rave cave you’d typically find in Berlin or Bushwick.
Many consider it the best underground nightclub in Sydney, moving away from stuffy super clubs and VIP bottle service to something simple: good electronic music, cutting-edge visuals, and top-billing DJs every weekend.
Address: 1 Slip St, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (9pm—4am)
13. Civic Underground, CBD
Much like Chinese Laundry and ARQ, Civic Underground is considered an important fixture of Sydney’s nightlife.
It’s also one of the most central, being a stone’s throw from Town Hall Station in Sydney CBD. Buried beneath the Civic Hotel, the underground club is known to host plenty of tours across many genres, although DJs almost always take front and centre when it comes to programming.
It’s also open until 4am every night of the week, making it one of the only clubs in Sydney to stay open everyday.
Address: 388 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8080 7015
Opening Hours: Monday—Sunday (10am—4am)
14. Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
When Oxford Art Factory opened in 2007, it quickly became the most hyped event space in Sydney.
This was at a time when most clubbers in Sydney were packed into either The Abercrombie, Chinese Laundry or the nearby dive complex of Q Bar and Phoenix Bar.
Now it’s considered one of Sydney’s most iconic dancefloors on any day of the week, with most being ticketed events and concerts from international and local acts.
Address: 38/46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9332 3711
Opening Hours: Monday—Thursday (6pm—3am); Friday—Sunday (7pm—4:30am)
15. Soda Factory, Surry Hills
Soda Factory opened in 2013, just one year before the Sydney lockout laws were introduced.
This was at a time when Oxford Art Factory became the centre of Sydney’s nightlife and institutions like Q Bar, Candy’s Apartment and The Abercrombie were falling out of fashion.
Hidden behind a fake vintage Coca-Cola machine, the bar’s popularity rested heavily on a short and sweet menu of $1 loaded hotdogs and quickly became known as another mid-level venue for touring concerts.
Once the dancefloor was expanded a few years later, Soda Factory became one of Sydney’s premiere spots for late-night dancing, while those cheap-as-chips hotdogs are still wildly popular for those 1am hunger pangs.
Address: 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9064 5808
Opening Hours: Tuesday (5pm—2am); Wednesday (5pm—12am); Thursday—Saturday (5pm—4am)
16. The Cliff Dive, Darlinghurst
The Cliff Dive is one of the only nightclubs in Sydney that leans heavily on hip hop and its various sub genres, as well as on-trend styles like Afrobeats and Amapiano.
This makes it especially popular for people in their early-to-mid 20s so you’ll generally find a younger crowd hanging out down here until the early hours of the morning.
Given Oxford Street’s multitude of nearby nightclubs like ARQ and Carousel, The Cliff Dive is a good option if you’re stringing together a bit of a dancefloor-crawl for a night out in Sydney.
Address: 16/18 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (8pm—4am)
17. Space Nightclub, CBD
While Space Nightclub used to be one of the most popular clubs in Sydney for techno, trance, and hardstyle, it’s since become much broader in its style.
Sitting on the second level of Shark Hotel on Liverpool Street, it’s a great option on Friday nights for those want a boogie near the CBD.
But nowadays, the money-maker is Magic Men Saturdays, popular for Hen’s parties with topless male dancers from 6pm to 9pm.
Address: 127 Liverpool St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9267 6364
Opening Hours: Monday—Sunday (10am—3:30am)
18. Cargo Bar, Darling Harbour
As one of the big names of King Street Wharf, Cargo Bar is both a haven for post-work drinks and a party venue where the average age pushes more towards those in their late 30s and 40s.
Given that it’s near Macquarie Bank and Deloitte, you can expect a lot of corporate workers wanting to let loose after a big work week. The traditional “smart casual” dress code applies.
Address: 52-60 The Promenade, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8322 2005
Opening Hours: Monday—Wednesday (12pm—10pm); Thursday (12pm—11pm); Friday—Saturday (12pm—3am)
19. Flamingo Lounge, Kings Cross
Hugo’s was one of the most popular nightclubs in Kings Cross until it shut a few years ago, making way for the swanky Flamingo Club.
Those pre-batched cocktails and $5 pizzas have been replaced with VIP bottle service with an elevated sense of style, most valued for its narrow open-air main room.
The smaller club room to the left of the entrance is much more in line with what one would expect from a nightclub—a closed, sweaty area with a dancefloor and some of the best local DJs in Sydney all week long.
Address: Level 1/33 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point NSW 2011
Contact: 0452 514 707
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (8pm—3pm)
20. Hotel Harry, Surry Hills
Surry Hills’ popular Harpoon Harry Bar & Grill took a new lease on life in 2016 when it welcomed reliable chef Morgan McGlone and pitched a Central American theme that went down well with the suburb’s trendy crowd.
In the past few years, the pub has become better known for its high-energy second floor, where sweaty hipsters squash onto the carpeted dancefloor every Friday and Saturday night.
Given that it’s just down the road from Soda Factory and just off Oxford Street, locals usually pop into Hotel Harry either to start or end a night out.
Address: 40/44 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 8262 8800
Opening Hours: Monday—Sunday (10am—3am)
21. Alcatraz Sydney, Annandale
Alcatraz is more a Latin-flavoured restaurant on most nights of the week but the minimalistic industrial space transforms into El Pazo Lounge on a Saturday.
Head along and you’ll find a younger crowd packing into the small space, which switches out tables and empanadas for very little but cheap drinks, all-night dancing, and blinding strobe lights.
It’s one of the few commercial club nights in Sydney that feels like an underground rave. And thankfully, the dress code isn’t as strict as some of the older clubs in Sydney.
Address: 74/76 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Annandale NSW 2038
Contact: (02) 9519 8670
Opening Hours: Thursday (6pm—12pm); Friday—Saturday (6pm—1:30am)
22. Hollywood Hotel, Surry Hills
While Surry Hills is now a scene of expensive fit-outs and progressive hospitality concepts, the appetite for an unpretentious pub with a dingy little dancefloor for a late-night boogie isn’t going anywhere.
Originally opened by former Hollywood access and cabaret artist Dorris Goddard, the Hollywood Hotel has been standing since 1977.
Most recently, it was snapped up by the same team behind Paddington’s The Village Inn, who have romanticised the venue’s battle scares and won’t be doing away with that sticky-floored dancefloor anytime soon.
Address: 2 Foster St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Tuesday (4pm—10pm); Wednesday—Thursday (4pm—12am); Friday—Saturday (4pm—3am)
23. CULT, Kings Cross
CULT joins the likes of Flamingo Lounge and Maali in a great push to revitalise nightlife on Bayswater Road.
The winding strip was a focal point for Sydney’s nightlife in the 90s and 2000s, and this modestly sized club space carries the legacy well. Right now, it’s the only club in Sydney that’s open until 6am on Saturdays.
Address: 19-35 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point NSW 2011
Opening Hours: Thursday—Friday (9pm—4am); Saturday (9pm—6am)
24. Establishment, CBD
Establishment is cat-nip for suits and ties hankering to cut a rug after work. Its location near Martin Place means you’ll find plenty of banker-types crowding around the central bar, or enjoying high-end sushi upstairs at Sushi E.
There’s a small dancefloor towards the back that doesn’t really charge up until later in the night.
Address: 252 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9114 7310
Opening Hours: Monday—Friday (10am—3am); Saturday (12pm—3am)
25. Kandy Nightclub, CBD
Kandy Nightclub is the home of Sydney’s biggest Latin party on Saturday, which is the only night it’s open.
Located on Liverpool Street, it’s a top pick for tourists looking for somewhere to salsa in the CBD.
Address: 127 Liverpool St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: 0405 207 706
Opening Hours: Saturday (9pm—3am)
26. Mary’s Underground, Circular Quay
The team at Marys may be best known for their reliable cheeseburgers and rock’n’roll tunes, but this particular outpost (there are a few of them around Sydney) also comes with its own underground dancefloor.
Located just around the corner from the long-running event and party space Basement, the restaurant, bar and club hybrid offers the best of all three worlds, taking advantage of its location above the historic Basement Bar, which has been operating as a live music venue since 1972.
Given it’s also close to Circular Quay station, Mary’s Underground is a popular spot for tourists and doesn’t have any strict dress code to think about.
Address: 29 Reiby Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Tuesday—Wednesday (12pm—3pm, 5pm—10pm); Thursday (12pm—1am); Friday (5pm—2am); Saturday (4pm—1am)
LGBTQI+ Nightclubs
27. Birdcage, Newtown
Located above The Bank Hotel, Birdcage has taken the mantle of being a safe nighttime space for the LGBTQI+ community, particularly those who identify as lesbian and transgender.
Address: 324 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Wednesday (8pm—2am)
28. Stonewall Hotel, Darlinghurst
Named after the revolutionary Stonewall Riots of 1969, the Stonewall Hotel has been Sydney’s premier gay nightclub in 1997.
It’s been a safe space for the LGBTQI+ community ever since, positioned as an icon of the Rainbow District and an important part of Sydney’s world-famous Mardi Gras parade.
Not much has changed for the legendary nightclub, which is still open until 4:30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 175 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9360 1963
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Thursday (4pm—2am)
29. Arq Nightclub, Darlinghurst
Arq Nightclub opened in the Rainbow District just two years after Stonewall Hotel in 1999 and became Arq by Home in 2022, when it was bought by the same team behind Home the Venue.
It’s the home of Sydney’s most famous gay club night, Poof Doof, on Saturday night. This is when Arq is at its colourful best, flooding the dancefloor with strobe lights and lasers while some of Sydney’s best DJs carry the night into the morning.
Address: 16 Flinders St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (10pm—5am)
30. Universal Sydney, Darlinghurst
Universal Sydney is open until 5am on Fridays and Sundays, and 7am on Saturdays, making it the best choice if you want to go all night.
The legendary gay club has fast become one of the better-known LGBTQI+ spots in the Rainbow District, with colourful programming full of glitter, drag shows, and disco balls.
Address: 85-91 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 8080 7065
Opening Hours: Monday—Tuesday (5pm—2am); Wednesday—Thursday (5pm—3am); Friday (5pm—5am); Saturday (5pm—7am); Sunday (5pm—5am)
31. Palms on Oxford, Darlinghurst
Palms on Oxford is much more laid-back than your typical night out at Arq or Universal, although it’s always just as fun.
The tropical-themed bar doesn’t run for as long as its wilder companions, shutting at 3am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 124 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact: 0493 831 798
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Thursday (6:30pm—1am); Friday—Saturday (6:30pm—3am); Sunday (6:30pm—1am)
32. The Imperial Hotel, Erskineville
The Imperial Hotel is one of the inner west’s most beloved pubs, renowned for epic drag shows, trivia and bingo early in the night before everyone packs up and heads to the Basement to party the night away.
With Newtown within walking distance, you’ll find many people end their night here after drinking at popular spots like Bar Planet and Ante.
Address: 35 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville NSW 2043
Contact: (02) 8080 7060
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Thursday (4pm—12am); Friday (4pm—3am); Saturday (12pm—4am); Sunday (12pm—12am)
Bars & Pubs In Sydney
33. The Landsdowne, Chippendale
Opened in the 1930s, The Landsdowne is one of the inner-city’s most historic pubs, standing proudly on the corner of Broadway and City Road.
Impressively maintained for over a century, it’s welcomed numerous resident kitchens over the years but most who come here seem to want to do little but drink and dance.
As such, the most popular event here is the monthly Queer Dance hosted by long-time party crew Stereogamus.
The crowd is mostly students throughout the week, given The Landsdowne is within walking distance of both the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney. Although people travel from all over Sydney for Queer Dance, making it one of the city’s most popular LGBTQI+ party.
Address: 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale NSW 2008
Contact: (02) 7228 0021
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Thursday (12pm—12am); Friday—Saturday (12pm—3am)
34. Golden Sheaf, Double Bay
Eastern Suburb’s most stereotypical bunch come out to play at Golden Sheaf each week.
Considering almost all the nightclubs around Double Bay have folded, the notorious Golden Sheaf shoulders the ritzy suburb’s nightlife with swagger.
The Sheaf is much quieter most other days of the week, but head along on Wednesday night and you’re guaranteed to find the dancefloor heaving with higher-than-high heels and upturned collars.
Address: 429 New South Head Rd, Double Bay NSW 2026
Contact: (02) 9327 5877
Opening Hours: Monday—Wednesday (10am—1am); Thursday—Saturday (10am—2am); Sunday (10am—12am)
35. Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross
A multi-floor mecca of nightlife for over 100 years, the Kings Cross Hotel stands opposite the iconic Coca-Cola sign and is still as popular as ever.
The six-floor brick building is mostly seen as a welcoming after-work pub throughout the week, but weekends push people up to the top floor where you’ll find the dancefloor steaming all night.
Address: 429 New South Head Rd, Double Bay NSW 2026
Contact: (02) 9331 9900
Opening Hours: Monday—Friday (10am—3:30am); Saturday (10am—12am); Sunday (10am—3:30am)
36. Lucky Cat Bar & Lounge, Darlinghurst
It’s not just nightclubs driving the revival of Darlinghurst’s Rainbow District. Lucky Cat Bar & Lounge opened in June 2024 with ambitious hybrid plans for a dumpling bar by the day and a nightclub at night.
The pitch-perfect lighting and swanky lounge set up is the perfect spot for live funk, soul and jazz throughout the week, but those looking to kick things into high gear will want to enter past midnight.
The bar has scored a late-night licence, allowing them to open from Wednesday through Saturday until 5am.
Address: 77 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9070 0776
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Saturday (5pm—5am); Sunday (5pm—3am)
37. Goros, Surry Hills
There’s nothing quite like Goros in Surry Hills. Just a short walk from Central Station, this busy bar offers Japanese booze and snacks all night, coupled with free karaoke booths and neon arcade machines.
With regular 00s and ’90s nostalgia nights on the schedule, Goros also turn into a Shinjuku-style nightclub as the nights roll on.
Address: 84/86 Mary St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9212 0214
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Thursday (4pm—1am); Friday—Saturday (4pm—3am)
38. 3 Wise Monkeys, CBD
3 Wise Monkeys has always been an interesting beast. Set on the corner of George St and Liverpool St, the English-style pub was built in 1879 and remains one of Sydney’s best-known watering holes around the Town Hall area.
The multi-venue is a relaxed, unpretentious pub on the first floor, but head upstairs and you’ll find a sticky dancefloor that is wild any day of the week.
3 Wise Monkeys is a popular spot on weeknights, as opposed to weekends when the younger crowd ventures further afield to nearby Oxford Street.
Address: 555 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9283 5855
Opening Hours: Monday—Thursday (10am—4am); Friday (9am—4am); Saturday—Sunday (9am—6am)
39. Bar Planet, Enmore
Dirty martinis and a lot of dancing. In just a few short years, Bar Planet has become one of Sydney’s most valuable players in the race to push the city’s nightlife to the next level.
The psychedelic-themed bar keeps things kitschy with fun always the focus, fuelled by a list of studiously built classics.
And while that dirty martini (best paired with some Turkish pizza) is the signature serve, the menu always has something new and fun to try before you hit the makeshift dancefloor.
Address: 16 Enmore Rd, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Monday—Sunday (5pm—12am)
40. Marble Bar, CBD
Located beneath Hilton Sydney, Marble Bar is one of the most historic drinking holes in Sydney and feels like it’s been ripped out of a grand movie set.
Nowadays, it’s become a bar mostly known for late-night parties each week, favouring the bounce of hip hop and R&B over the harder textures of electronica. The 130-year-old bar is open 7 days a week, but Friday night is the best time to go.
Address: 488 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9266 2000
Opening Hours: Monday—Friday (4pm—12am); Friday—Saturday (4pm—1am); Sunday (4pm—10pm)
41. Coogee Pavilion, Coogee
Coogee Pavilion is one of the signature venues for hospitality juggernaut Merivale, located directly next to Coogee Beach.
One of Sydney’s premier fine-dining restaurants, Jordan Toft’s popular mimi’s, sits in the building, alongside other premium options like the Spanish-flavoured Una Mas and cocktail bar will’s.
But if you’re here to party, head on up to the rooftop when the balcony is at its best on those breezy summer evenings, fuelled by an extensive drinks list and some of Sydney’s best local DJs.
Address: 169 Dolphin St, Coogee NSW 2034
Contact: (02) 9114 7323
Opening Hours: Monday—Sunday (12pm—12am)
42. Bondi Beach Public Bar, Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach Public Bar is the closest thing Bondi Beach has to a traditional nightclub, set up with a tremendously powerful sound system pumping mostly house and disco on Fridays and Saturdays.
Many locals would head here after a day on the beach so be prepared to queue and make sure you keep the smart casual dress code in mind.
Address: 180 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Contact: (02) 9132 5777
Opening Hours: Monday—Sunday (10am—1am)
43. Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney
Greenwood Hotel is party central for North Sydney, having been around 1992. The pub, a former public school, springs to life on Thursday night with one of Sydney’s biggest parties.
You’ll typically find a younger crowd here, with the majority falling in the 18-23 year old range.
Address: 36 Blue St, North Sydney NSW 2060
Contact: (02) 9964 9477
Opening Hours: Monday—Tuesday (12pm—10pm); Wednesday (12pm—11pm); Thursday—Friday (12pm—12am); Saturday (10am—12am)
44. Hotel Steyne, Manly
The notorious Hotel Steyne in Manly has been given a swanky refurbishment in recent years. Nowadays, most locals and tourists would come for the relaxed upstairs gin bar.
But head here on a Friday and Saturday night and you’ll find the large open-air courtyard heaving with loud music, dancing, and good times.
Address: 75 The Corso, Manly NSW 2095
Contact: (02) 9977 4977
Opening Hours: Monday—Thursday (7pm—3am); Friday—Saturday (7am—6am); Sunday (7am—12am)
45. The Albion Hotel, Parramatta
With the closure of The Roxy, a pink-hued cinema-turned-nightclub, Parramatta has limited options when it comes to dancing all night.
The Albion Hotel would be your best bet on weekends, where the upstairs dancefloor is big enough to handle the demand on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 135 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Contact: (02) 8587 4600
Opening Hours: Monday (10am—12am); Tuesday—Friday (10am—4am); Saturday—Sunday (12pm—6am)
46. Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville
A bowling club mightn’t be at the top of your list if you’re looking for places to party in Sydney. But did you know that this legendary sporting venue also has a hidden rave cave?
You’ll need to pay close attention to the venue’s social media for any parties or gigs in the tiny, glittery space. The crowd differs based on the event, but you can generally expect a younger scene of mostly locals spilling craft beer all over the dancefloor.
Address: 91 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Contact: (02) 9557 1185
Opening Hours: Monday—Wednesday (11am—10pm); Thursday—Friday (11am—12am); Saturday (9am—12am); Sunday (9am—9pm)
marrickvillebowlingclub.com.au
47. Hotel Ravesis, Bondi Beach
While the world-famous Bondi Beach doesn’t have any typical nightclub offerings for tourists, there is still plenty of late-night drinking and dancing found opposite that iconic golden sand.
Head on over to the legendary Ravesis on a weekend and you’ll find the place teeming with a very mixed crowd.
Tourists tend to love this spot as it offers a great view of the beach so it’s a great idea to watch the sunset from the balcony and then party the night away inside.
Address: 118 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Contact: 02) 9365 4422
Opening Hours: Monday—Thursday (12pm—late); Friday—Saturday (12pm—1am); Sunday (12pm—12am)
Alternative Party Spots
48. The Emerald Room, Darlinghurst
The Emerald Room opened in early 2024, turning an old auto shop on Darlinghurst’s Victoria Street into a grand supper club with cabaret and late-night dancing.
It’s opening marks a key moment for Sydney’s cultural scene, bringing back that swinging style that Sydney has been missing for so long.
The atmospheric supper club thrives on Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics and cabaret, enhanced by an elevated dining menu that nods heavily to Australian flavours.
Address: 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Contact: 0410 663 523
Opening Hours: Wednesday—Saturday (6pm—12am)
49. Tokyo Sing Song, Newtown
Tokyo Sing Song took over the basement of Newtown’s Marlborough Hotel in 2014, designed to host both cabaret-style drag shows and raves; often at the same time.
The tiny space can only fit around 200 people so be prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as you head down to a different kind of rave.
Address: 145 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 9519 1222
Opening Hours: Friday—Saturday (9pm—3am)
50. Glass Island, Sydney Harbour
Glass Island is better thought of as a day party, but this three-level floating party boat chugs well into the evening on those balmy summer nights.
Events are always ticketed and thread throughout summer and spring. It being a seasonal club, you’ll need to pay attention to their social media channels to find out when the next party is.
51. The Island, Sydney Harbour
While this is a round-up of Sydney’s best nightlife venues, The Island earns its spot simply because it is the most unique place to have a boogie in Sydney.
You’re in the heart of Sydney Harbour on a floating barge, treated with a state-of-the-art sound system and fantastic summer programming with local and international DJs and artists.
Everyone from Rufus Du Sol to Martin Garrix has played sets for the floating day club, which is only open until 8pm in-season and typically runs between September and May.
Note that The Island Sydney has one of the most restrictive dress codes in Sydney. Smart, casual dress is required but you also can’t have any visible tattoos, no loose singlets, and no “paraphernalia” (eg, sashes and fancy dress). There are strictly no bucks parties allowed but hen’s parties are accepted as long as they are capped at 30 guests.
Why do people say Sydney has no nightlife?
Simple, the notorious lockout laws.
“Sydney is dead” has been said, written and telegraphed around the world so many times that some people still actually believe it. But parroting the doom and gloom that stung Sydney from 2014 to 2020 (realistically, 2023) is a matter of perspective.
Go to The Argyle, Chinese Laundry, the ivy or Club 77 on the weekend and you’ll find the same packed dancefloors you would have in the 2000s. The only difference is that drinks are more expensive, and almost everything is on their phones.
But the controversial Sydney lockout laws, introduced by then-premier Barry O’Farrell to curb alcohol-fuelled violence, are fortunately long behind us.
What was essentially a curfew on venue opening hours and drinking decimated Sydney’s buzzy nightlife over six years. It didn’t help that the laws were lifted just months before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, putting a major dent in the global economy and how we go about our day-to-day.
A double whammy stretched over ten years put Sydney’s lifestyle scene in a precarious situation, leading to accusations that one of the world’s most beautiful cities doesn’t have a nightlife.
Such a crude, surface-level judgement would have weight a few years ago, but the city’s massive growth spurt (mainly centred around the Metro and Light Rail projects) is promising.
And with that, we need to highlight Sydney’s best nightlife venues to help get the city back on track to becoming a world-class destination, on par with the likes of Tokyo, New York City and London.
Then you’ve got some worrying stats indicating the much-discussed “death of clubbing.” According to IBISWorld, the number of Australian nightclubs was cut from 482 to 355 in the past few years, meaning 127 party venues were lost.
There are several reasons for this, such as the organic move towards a “calmer” drinking culture, spurred by popular wine bars, the no-to-low alcohol movement, social media, and the ever-present wellness trend. Smartphones also played a major part in this, stripping away an essential part of the dancefloor experience and shortening attention spans across generations. And then we have the cost of living crisis.
Yet as present as these issues are. And as dire as it once seemed. Sydney’s beleaguered night-time economy is on an undeniable rebound, with both old and brand-new venues offering more choices for people looking for places to party in Sydney. As you can see above.
How to find the best parties in Sydney
Since the pandemic, underground parties and warehouse raves have become more commonplace around Sydney but it’s often really hard to find out about them, especially for tourists who aren’t already plugged into the scene. If this sounds more like your style, check out the Facebook page H.A.T.S. for all the latest one-off parties.
You’ll also want to jump on Resident Advisor, which is still one of the best ways to find out about exclusive parties, ticketed events and underground parties in all major cities around the world. You’ll also want to follow Instagram account Bondi Lines, which posts up-to-the-minute updates on nightclub queues each weekend.
Read More
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