Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon

Catch a live cabaret at Claire’s Kitchen At Le Salon, where you’ll find French food and performances on most nights of the week. claireskitchen.com.au

Hollywood Hotel

A local watering hole with an old-world charm that befits the name. A rotation of live music, DJs and a reliably friendly crowd entertains most nights of the week. hollywoodhotelsydney.com.au

To have a meal at Gildas is to roam San Sebastian’s delicious old town, sampling the best pinxtos you can find while sipping liberally on a rare Verdejo. Firedoor chef Lennox Hastie created Gildas to commemorate his time in the Basque country of Spain, creating a dynamic menu of experimental tapas and pinxtos dishes so … Read more

Chin Chin

A riot for the senses, serving up Australian x Southeast Asian fare in a beautifully converted old tea warehouse. Choose your level of spice, and make sure to take lots of photos beneath the neon lighting. chinchinrestaurant.com.au

Pellegrino 2000

Pellegrino 2000 is a neighbourhood-style trattoria located on the corner of Campbell Street and Foster Street in the inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. Brown-leather banquettes and comfortable seating rest in a red-washed glow in the candelit dining room, while most regulars would prefer taking their pasta in the moody wine cellar below. And while Pellegrino … Read more

Soda Factory

Revel in nostalgia at Soda Factory, an old-school bar and diner where you can be richly entertained by live music acts and DJs, and dance your way into the wee small hours. sodafactory.com.au

Hotel Harry

Dance the night away at Hotel Harry, where DJs, music and live performances take over every week. It also hosts lively karaoke nights, if you’d prefer to make your own music. hotelharry.com.au

Piccolo Bar

A tiny neighbourhood aperitivo bar in an historic corner-store building. Pull up a chair outside, let the staff tell you their favourite cocktail, pair it with a snack and you’ve got a good thing going. piccolobarkingscross.com.au

Cho Cho San

Very good Japanese food in the heart of Potts Point. This sleek restaurant pairs fine-dining izakaya with refined cocktails and soft serves. chochosan.com.au

The Apollo

A Greek taverna but with an industrial-chic twist, this iconic Potts Point eatery serves modern dishes cooked over wood and charcoal, with locals regularly swarming here for their Friday lunches. theapollo.com.au