Entertainment in Australia
-
Lazy Susan's Comedy Den
Above the Brisbane hotel. Tuesday offers a mix of first-timers, seasoned amateurs and pros trying out new shtick ($5). Friday is for more grown-up stand-ups. Saturday is the Big Hoohaa – a team-based comedy wrassle.
reviewed
-
A
La Ruche
French for 'the hive', La Ruche is indeed a buzzing place, where a well-dressed crowd banters over nicely mixed cocktails and tasty bistro-style tapas plates. The main room channels Alice in Wonderland with wildly sculpted chandeliers and elegantly mismatched furniture, while there's a spacious (smoker's) courtyard in the back and a small, cosy retreat upstairs.
reviewed
-
Kooroora Hotel
Rocks hard and late during the ski season, and the popular Hoohah Kitchen serves good bistro meals.
reviewed
-
B
Juicy Rump
Not as bad as the name suggests, this is the late-night favourite if you want to have a dance to cheesy R'n'B or watch a big sporting event on the town's largest plasma screen. Also has a deck with a view to the ranges, lovely for sunset drinks.
reviewed
-
C
Jive
In a converted theatre, Jive caters to an off-beat crowd of student types who like their tunes funky, left-field and removed from the mainstream. A sunken dance floor; great views from the bar!
reviewed
-
Jazz Cellar
Look for the shoe shop, behind which you'll spot a car park. Then you'll find a red telephone booth: step through and down the stairs to find an older crowd of jazz freaks revelling in swing. It's always been BYO-only, but recently licensing problems were threatening its future.
reviewed
-
Jazz Adelaide
Finger-snappin' za-bah-dee-dah.
reviewed
-
D
IXL Long Bar
Prop yourself at the glowing bar at the Henry Jones Art Hotel and check out Hobart's fashionistas over cocktails. If there are no spare stools at the not-so-long bar, flop onto the leather couches in the lobby.
reviewed
-
HQ Complex
Adelaide's biggest club occupies the bad-old Heaven complex, filling five big rooms with shimmering sound and light. Night-time is the right time on Saturdays − the biggest (and trashiest) club night in town. Retro Wednesdays.
reviewed
-
E
HQ Complex
Primarily a dance venue, HQ is big and powered-up enough to entice eclectic touring acts like Gary Numan and Sparkadia.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
F
Hotel Cairns
This grand-dame hotel is a low-key alternative to Cairns' hurdy-gurdy party scene, with nightly piano and double-bass performances.
reviewed
-
G
Honeysuckle Hotel
The deck at this waterfront place, located in the trendy Honeysuckle precinct, is a perfect spot for a sundowner. A DJ takes centre stage on summer Sundays between 4pm and 9pm.
reviewed
-
H
Hoey Moey Pub
The massive inner beer 'garden' gives a good indication of how much this place kicks off in the summer. Pool comps, live music (Wednesday to Sunday) and terrifying karaoke sessions are the norm.
reviewed
-
I
His Majesty's Theatre
The WA Ballet (www.waballet.com.au) and WA Opera (www.waopera.asn.au) are based here.
reviewed
-
J
Hi-Fi
In 2009 Melbourne's popular rock venue opened an outpost in Brisbane's hipster-loving West End. The modern, minimalist space has unobstructed sight lines and a decent line-up of local and international talent (hosting the likes of the Bronx, Guttermouth, Concrete Blond and the Charlatans).
reviewed
-
K
Her Majesty's Theatre
Built in 1913 and seats over 1000 people; managed by the Adelaide Festival Centre.
reviewed
-
L
Heritage Hotel
This grand old pub with iron-lattice balconies has a stylish cocktail lounge with river views and outdoor tables. After-work drinks can linger on to dinner in the tavern (meals $7 to $21), where the extensive menu includes pizzas, burgers and lamb shank pie as well as the ubiquitous steak.
reviewed
-
M
Helvetica
Clever artsy types tap their toes to delicious alternative pop in this bar named after a typeface and specialising in whisky and cocktails. The entry is off Howard St: look for the chandelier in the lane behind Andaluz tapas bar.
reviewed
-
N
Greenhouse
In a city so in love with the great outdoors, it's surprising that nobody's opened a rooftop bar in the central city before now. Hip, eco- conscious Greenhouse is leading the way, mixing up a storm amidst the greenery above the award-winning restaurant.
reviewed
-
Grace Emily
West End alt-rock, country and acoustic.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
O
Grace Emily
Duking it out with the Exeter for 'Adelaide's Best Pub' bragging rights (it pains us to separate the two) the 'Gracie' has live music most nights, featuring up-and-coming Australian acts. Inside it's all kooky '50s-meets-voodoo decor, open fires and great beers. Cult cinema Tuesday nights; no pokies. Look for the UFO on the roof.
reviewed
-
P
Governor Hindmarsh Hotel
Ground Zero for live music in Adelaide, 'The Gov' hosts some legendary local and international acts. The odd Irish band fiddles around in the bar, while the main venue features rock, folk, jazz, blues, salsa, reggae and dance. A huge place with an inexplicably personal vibe.
reviewed
-
Q
Goldfields Arts Centre
Performing arts.
reviewed
-
R
Gilligan's
You're guaranteed a crowd at Cairns' biggest and busiest backpacker resort, with 400-odd backpackers staying here. But it's also popular with locals for its immense beer deck, live bands, DJs spinning house tunes, and cocktails in its upstairs lounge bar.
reviewed
-
S
Gerald's Bar
Wine by the glass is democratically selected at Gerald's and they spin some fine vintage vinyl from behind the curved wooden bar. The bar won Australian Gourmet Traveller's bar of the year in 2010. If you get hungry, there are delightful morsels (of the likes of terrine and pork belly) to sink your teeth into. From Carlton, continue up Rathdowne St into Carlton North.
reviewed