- The return of Sydney’s night-time economy is tracking nicely as discourse around the city’s many infrastructural changes continues.
- Several new venues have opened in Sydney, some of which take a different approach to nightlife.
- Cabaret and coffee-fuelled raves have now arrived in spots like Kings Cross and Sydney CBD.
The highly touted return of Sydney’s night-time economy is tracking nicely as discourse around the city’s many infrastructural changes continues.
Last week, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner hosted an industry forum called NEON Forum with many night-life experts from around the world flying in to discuss the future of night-time economies and how we can better shape, define and encourage them in a post-pandemic world.
Plenty of discussions were had around transport (conclusion: transport is expensive but necessary), the importance of safety to encourage people to go out, and the ever-changing discourse around alcohol. Do we drink like we used to? Not really.
But none of these talks would mean much without a quick look at what’s happening around the night-time economy, and which venues are helping pull us towards becoming a truly 24-hour city in a similar style of New York, London and Tokyo.
It’s always worth highlighting the new dancefloors, bars and clubs that have opened with late-night trading hours on the cards. This month we got two big ones with Joji and Andrew Beecher’s Pelicano (2.0), but we’ve been fairly steady with new openings throughout the year.
One thing’s for sure. With all these new venues popping up, it’s going to be a fun summer in Sydney (despite the potential weather).
READ MORE: 50 of Sydney’s best nightclubs and bars
New late-night spots in Sydney
1. Joji
We’ll start with the most delicious of the five. Joji is a new Japanese-flavoured rooftop bar on the corner of George and King Streets. Esca Group (AALIA, Nour) carved out a nicely sized space above the Cartier watch boutique for this one, dressing it with smart acoustic design, a breezy wraparound balcony and sharply defined spaces including a lounge area behind the DJ booth.
AALIA’s super dependable Paul Farag has taken care of the food, which takes a playful approach to Japanese comfort classics like a sticky Japanese curry bun and a scallop and bug sando. Best of all, some food is served right up until 1:30am. With a prime CBD location, a rotating roster of top DJs and late trading hours, Joji is unquestionably – and unsurprisingly – the talk of the town right now.
Address: Level 5, 388 George Street, Sydney
Contact: (02) 8353 9788
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (4am – 2am); Wednesday – Friday (12pm – 2am); Saturday – Sunday (4pm – 2am)
2. Song of Eve
Stylish and of-the-moment, Song of Eve is that eyebrow-raising hidden cocktail bar and nightclub Sydney has needed for years. The lavish interior looks like it was ripped straight from Buenos Aires, and the parties don’t do much to disavow that notion. Head along on a weekend and you can expect a spicy, non-stop party with a scene-to-be-seen crowd and an extensive drinks list.
The location is very much part of the appeal. You’ll find Song of Eve (the door has the letters S.O.E) on Bridge Lane, mixed in along with some of Merivale’s top spreads including Mr Wong and Palmer & Co. These nondescript laneways are turning into a bit of a high-end hospitality precinct for Sydney, so having a resident nightclub is a good look as the city claws for a stronger night-time economy.
Address: 6 Bridge Ln, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: 0452 298 265
Opening Hours: Wednesday (6pm – 2am); Thursday – Sunday (8pm – 2am)
3. Arcade Bar & Club
The heritage listed former bank that sits on O’Connell Street, a stone’s throw from dining powerhouses like Bentley Restaurant & Bar and Rockpool, is one of Sydney’s most attractive spaces. Designed in the Egyptian art deco style by architect Bruce Dellit, the venue has taken many forms throughout the past few years.
Most recently it was a garish nightclub, The Carter, but now it’s shaped into a much more credible, dynamic nightlife option with Arcade Bar & Club. Speaking to the evolving idea of “clubbing,” it’s a conceptual, three-in-one venue with a gilded age cocktail bar on the ground floor and a 21st century nightclub on the third with enough scope to move through comedy, clubs, cabaret and all types of night-time fun.
Address: 16-18 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: 0439 410 433
Opening Hours: Tuesday (12pm – 10pm); Wednesday (12pm – 12am); Thursday – Friday (12pm – 4am); Saturday (7pm – 4am)
4. Pelicano
Andrew Beecher may be keeping busy with his fine dining triple crown of Armorica Grande Brasserie, Franca and Parlar, but the hotshot restaurateur dug back into the archives for his latest opening.
Taking over Flamingo Lounge in Bayswater Road, Beecher has brought back his celebrity-favourite Pelicano brand to give Sydney a new type of hybrid late-night venue. The open-air space is already one of the city’s best nightclub spots and now it’s been kissed by Beecher’s midas touch, splashing expensive art across the space and catering to a great range of social scenes. There’s a dining room, terrace, bar and a nightclub with an upscale Mediterranean menu handled by Parlar’s reliable Jose Saulog.
Hitting the dancefloor immediately after slurping down a plate of spaghetti alla vongole? Only a Pelicano, where the food is served up until 2am and the nightclub opens at 10pm.
Address: 33 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point NSW 2011
Contact: (02) 9127 6160
Opening Hours: Tuesday (4pm – 11pm); Wednesday – Thursday (5pm – 2am); Friday – Saturday (5pm – 3am); Sunday (5pm – 1am)
5. Mirage KX
Andrew Beecher isn’t the only big-name hospitality guru aching to be a part of a Kings Cross revival. After a misfire on Macleay Street with the recently shuttered Snack Kitchen, the man who opened Icebergs in Bondi has now tipped his toes into the glitzy, oft unexplored world of theatrical nightlife with Mirage KX.
The venue sits temporarily on the corner of Bayswater Road and bustling Ward Avenue, taking over a long-neglected building with a cosy, dimly lit nightlife space that hosts regular cabaret performances.
Much like The Emerald Room, Mirage KX speaks to a different kind of a night out. One that’s a bit more refined and cultured than your typical night out clubbing in Sydney, channelling the diversity of cities like New York and London.
Address: 36-38 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point NSW 2011
6. FBR. Cafe
Do you take your coffee with a side of rave culture?
That’s the approach at the new FBR. Cafe in Sydney CBD. You’ll find this glowing translucent cube in Chambers Arcade just off Pitt Street, a 15-seater cafe with a studiously scientific approach to coffee courtesy of founder Sebastian Cincotta. Think bunsen burners and inevitable robotic arms, coupled with a resident Game Boy and old-school TV sets with other classic games.
But something happens to this quirky, sci-fi-like cafe at night. Every second Saturday, the cube closes its daytime entrance and opens a new one just off Castlereagh Street. Around 40 people can go down and rave in the cube with mostly techno DJs transforming the coffee shop into a full-blown arcade rave.
Take that, New York.
Address: Shop 9/370 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2230
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