The best nightlife in Sydney
Sydney is known for its beaches and natural beauty, but the city stays alive long after the sun goes down. Whether it’s a 2am pizza and rock n roll at Frankie’s, getting dressed up for a night at the Sydney Opera House, beer and beats at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel, or a hit of hedonism at the Pool Club, Sydney’s nightlife is as colourful and diverse as the city itself.
Below our expert shares a few recommendations, while here are our guides dedicated to Sydney's best hotels, restaurants, bars, beaches and shopping, plus what to see and do, what to see and do for free, and how to spend a weekend in the city.
Find nightlife by area
City Centre
Sydney Opera House
While it’s one of Sydney’s greatest treasures, it’s actually not enough to scale her stairs and sip on a glass of bubbles at Opera Bar. You need to get inside and hear those bells warning you that there’s five minutes to finish your drinks and take your seats before you settle in for a night of entertainment. From the smaller Studio to the grand Concert Hall, there is always a vast array of performances. Australia’s premier Opera company, Opera Australia, have performances year round; however, The Opera House is also a place for cabaret, theatre, rock and pop performances.
Contact: sydneyoperahouse.com
Prices: ££
Getting in: If attending the opera, the dress code ranges from cocktail to black tie
Restaurant Hubert
Half of Sydney is trying to get a table at Restaurant Hubert while the other half has cottoned on to the fact that you can still have une soirée fantastique next door at the bar. Head down the winding stairs and into the jazz-filled strains of this ode to Paris. Artist Allie Webb’s signature lithographs cluster with vintage posters and French antiques and staff are as quick to light you a new candle as they are deft at making a well-nigh perfect Martini. You can order off the slightly smaller menu in here too; the escargot in XO sauce are a piquant option.
Contact: restauranthubert.com
Prices: £££
Reservations: Recommended for lunch; walk ins only at dinner; reservations at dinner taken for groups of six or more
Pool Club
The Pool Club sits atop the Central Business District temple of hedonism known as The Ivy. A veritable megaplex of dancing, drinking and dining, it all comes to a head at the Pool Club, where LA rooftop glamour meets Positano-style surrounds. There are even palm trees. Strip down and jump in, or laze in the poolside cabanas enjoying the strains of the resident DJ. Wood-fired pizzas fuel the revellers, as do cocktails like the not-very-subtly named Pornstar Martini. But then again, there really isn’t anything subtle about Pool Club.
Contact: merivale.com.au
Prices: £££
Getting in: Expect long queues in summer, especially on Friday and Saturday nights
Caterpillar Club
This late night live music bar takes its cues from the golden age of supper clubs, when telephones were brought to your table and Count Basie was king. Think Musso and Frank but with a DJ and 1990s-inspired cocktails (Pina Coladas, Lychee Martinis and a dedicated tap behind the bar pouring Zombies). The bar has a closing time of 4am, and its sights set on bringing late nights back to Sydney’s central business district. The candlelit space has one of the longest bars in Sydney, behind which an impressive collection of over 10,000 vinyl records line the wall. An in house DJ makes good use of the collection and live music ranges from funk to soul and jazz. The best seat is in one of the red leather booths, or hidden up the back in the Bamboo Room – a Tiki-inspired bar-within-a-bar.
Contact: swillhouse.com/venues/the-caterpillar-club
Prices: ££
Reservations: Walk ins only
Inner City
Oxford Art Factory
This Oxford Street stalwart is one of the last bastions of the live music scene on a strip that used to be famous for them. Modelled on Andy Warhol’s Factory, music posters adorn the mostly sparse space; the emphasis here is on room for the punters to rock out. Lady Gaga played her first Sydney show here and many local Australian acts have been born on these stages. There is live music every Thursday to Saturday in the Art After Dark Space; the raised platform at the back of the bar is an ideal spot to enjoy a craft beer on tap if you don’t feel like dancing.
Contact: oxfordartfactory.com
Prices: ££
Shellhouse
The central business district’s mega-venue Shell House is a grand new development offering multiple lavish bars and dining areas. Snuggle into a plush booth at Menzies Bar & Bistro, splash out on caviar at the Dining Room and Terrace, or head up to the rooftop Sky Bar — one of the city’s best spots to enjoy a Margarita and panoramic views of the city skyline. The Clocktower Bar is perhaps the jewel in the Art Deco crown of Shell House —it’s built into the 400-tonne clock, complete with restored mechanisms.
Contact: shellhouse.com.au
Prices: £££
The Abercrombie
When this former darling of the Sydney indie scene reopened in 2022 it did so with a 36-hour long dance party. And that tells you most of what you need to know about this inner city hedonist’s temple. The ground-level dance floor is for those who like it loud (and sweaty); a rooftop cocktail lounge specialises in Italo disco; and those needing a breather can find one in the open air beer garden. There’s comfort food at Lil Sis is in the adjoining terrace building, and the kitchen stays open until 2am.
Contact: abercrombie.sydney
Prices: £
Getting in: Friday and Saturday nights are busy
Bondi Beach
Beach Road Hotel
Spread out over two floors, The ‘Beachie’ (as it’s affectionately called by locals) is enormous. A much-needed refurbishment has brought some greenery into the bistro, and a lick of blue paint has brought it out of the Nineties and into the new millennium. Downstairs has a laidback pub-like energy, and the courtyard is a favourite spot for sinking beers on a sunny afternoon. Upstairs is where the live music happens. From small bands to DJs, the dance floor fills up quickly. Wednesday night has live music with no cover charge. Get in early, make like the locals and order a Coopers Pale on tap.
Contact: beachroadhotel.com
Prices: £
How we choose
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.
