The Sydney Nightlife Guide

When I first came to the land down under back in 2012, I was more than surprised to see the city of Sydney shutting down by 6pm and not a soul in sight by 8pm. Having been brought up in Mumbai, which is also known as the city that never sleeps, it was so hard for me to adjust to Sydney. Everything winds down as soon as people finish their 9 to 5 jobs.

After a bit of investigation and “googling”, I soon found out about the hidden nightlife scene in Sydney which I must say, is whole lot of fun if you know where to go:

1. Opera Bar

At the iconic Sydney Opera House lies the Opera Bar, quietly nestled below the iconic structure with mesmerizing views of the harbor. To have an unforgettable experience with your loved ones, make sure to sip on some of their very refreshing cocktails with a great food menu to tantalize your taste buds while you relax andenjoy the cool sea winds and create that perfect memory in front of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you are lucky, you might even catch a live music gig. You can never go wrong with this place.

2. The Argyle

Situated at The Rocks, The Argyle gives a perfect picture of the pub and club culture of Sydney. As you enter the arch entrance of this great place, you will definitely feel like spending some time in the courtyard with some great food and music before heading to Level 1 — where the actual party is at. They have an amazing in house DJ that plays all kinds of music, straight from commercial pop hits to hardcore EDM and House. Don’t be surprised if you find some new people to befriend, because the place is full of friendly people who really want to have a good time!

3. Ivy Poolclub and Pacha

For most of the weeknights, the Ivy Poolclub is very famous for giving you a relaxing time while you sip on your cocktails and take a dip in the pool. With great facilities, music and an array of drinks to choose from, the Poolclub is graced by the elite -maybe for a sundown party on a Sunday or even a late Friday night celebration with friends and loved ones. Every Saturday night, Pacha takes over and gives its guests a sensory trip of great hits by famous DJs. Saturday nights is a great suggestion for the young, wild and free.

4. Darling Harbour

Another alternative for a great harbour-side location is Darling Harbour, where you can enjoy a nice quiet evening having dinner at Pancakes on the Rocks, Baia the Italian, Margaritaville or even have a fun time with a group of friends at Strike where you can bowl or book a karaoke room for a reasonable price. Not too far away is The Star Hotel, where you can gamble to your heart’s content at the famous Star Casino or dance the night away at Marquee, one of the classiest clubs of Sydney. If you want to have a night of some great live music and food, be sure to head down to The Hard Rock hotel.

5. King Cross and Oxford Street

For the youth of the 21stcentury, Kings Cross, is one of the busiest places on weekends with fun groups of 18–24 year olds looking to experience the young Australian nightlife. With clubs, pubs and trendy restaurants, this place is a true melting pot of travelers from all over the world. It is a good idea to visit this place in large groups as it could get a bit dangerous towards the wee hours of the night. Just a short bus ride away is Darlinghurst and Oxford street where the LGBT culture of Sydney comes alive. With a number of gay bars and pubs, one must make a visit to soak in the colorful scenes of these diverse areas. These areas definitely have a very strong, vibrant culture and is also home to significant institutions like the Victoria Barracks and the Australian Museum.

Originally published at blog.zopky.com on March 7, 2016.