Entertainment in Australia
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A
Saint
Good-looking young things crowd the two levels of this cocktail and wine bar. Kittens are smitten with the Saint's nouveau-St Kilda fitout, which is sparsely furnished to optimise space. There are a number of little nooks to settle into and a large number of beverages to choose from. Visiting the Saint feels like crashing a wealthy friend-of-a-friend's home: it's comfy and kind of familiar.
reviewed
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B
Blue Diamond
This ‘social salon and cabaret’ is ostensibly a private club, but nonmembers do make it in, especially on Thursday and Sunday nights. It’s a dark, dramatic space but the main attraction is the view; it’s as good as it gets this side of the Rainbow Room. There’s live entertainment from 10.30pm Friday to Sunday, with live soul and funk acts taking the stage.
reviewed
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C
Harbour View Hotel
Built in the 1920s, the curvilicious Harbour View was the main boozer for the Harbour Bridge construction crew. These days it fulfils the same duties for the BridgeClimbers – wave to them from the 2nd-floor balcony as they traverse the lofty girders. The Tooth’s KB Lager listed on the tiles out the front is long gone, but there’s plenty of Heineken and Boag’s on tap.
reviewed
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D
Oxford Hotel
Over the course of 30 years and numerous facelifts the main bar at the Oxford has remained the locus of beer-swilling gay blokedom. On weekends the Bar Underground basement miniclub spins pop and indie. Upstairs, the Supper Club and Polo Lounge play host to an eclectic program of cabaret, DJs and private functions.
reviewed
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E
Arq
If Noah had to fill his Arq with groovy gay clubbers, he’d head here with a big net and some tranquillisers. This flash megaclub has a cocktail bar, a recovery room and two dance floors with hi-energy house, drag shows and a hyperactive smoke machine. Look out for the notorious Fomo foam party.
reviewed
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F
Rue Bebelons
For such a small space this bar's reputation is gigantic. It's been around a while (over 10 years), so in bar years it's considered ancient. But it's no relic. Affordable drinks, great coffee and an in-house vinyl collection never go stale. By day, grab yourself a slice of Brazilian bohemia and a salad roll to die for. By night, grab any space you can and contribute to the hubbub.
reviewed
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G
Bald Rock Hotel
Surrounded by brick walls and mechanics in Rozelle’s industrial hollows, this blue-collar pub (1876) has only just ripped out the scungy carpets and attempted to spruce itself up. The results (thankfully) are far from convincing – it’s still a pugilistic docklands boozer with heaps of charm. Trivia on Thursday; live bands on Saturday; acoustic stuff on Sunday.
reviewed
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H
Sydney Theatre Company
Established in 1978, the STC is Sydney theatre’s top dog and has been an important stepping stone in the careers of many famous Australian actors (including Mel Gibson, Judy Davis, Hugo Weaving, Toni Collette and Miranda Otto). Another alumni, Cate Blanchett, is due to finish her stint as co-artistic director in 2013.
Tours of the company's Wharf and Sydney theatres are held at 10.30am on the first and third Thursdays of the month ($10). Performances are also staged at the Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre.
reviewed
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I
Ryan’s Bar
On hot summer’s weeknights, Ryan’s outdoor courtyard is packed with after-workers and travellers, sipping not-so-subtly-named cocktails such as the Get Sum and the Golden Nuts. Sexy anticipation laces the air, put momentarily on hold as the punters scoff affordable bar food (pizza, pasta, salads and burgers; mains $10 to $16). A vibrant place to launch your evening.
reviewed
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J
Empress Hotel
The Empress continues to grace the Melbourne music scene with its presence. This quintessential Fitzroy pub was one of the first to book Silverchair. It stages a variety of genres from folk to unplugged rock every night of the week. Monday to Wednesday and Sunday are free, admission Thursday through Saturday costs under around A$10. The Empress also serves decent counter meals.
reviewed
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K
Yu
Debut the sassy new Eastern Suburbs you at Yu. Sydney’s best house DJs and vocal MCs spin hip hop, nu-skool, vocal and funky house in three rooms divided by sliding video screens. Do Over Sunday sessions give you the chance to relive the highlights of Friday and Saturday nights. Upstairs is Soho Bar, an art-deco space where visiting celebs repair to shoot pool.
reviewed
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Transport
This ultramodern, glass-walled pub occupies an enviable position for people- and river-watching. It’s big, brassy and busy. On Friday nights it’s shoulder to backbone with yuppies on the prowl. One floor up is fine-dining at Taxi and the 3rd floor is devoted to the decadent Transit Lounge, with gorgeous leather couches, intimate corners and a spectacular wine and spirits menu.
reviewed
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M
Tin Shed
Port Douglas' Combined Services Club is a locals' secret. This is a rare find: bargain dining on the waterfront, and even the drinks are cheap. Sign in, line up and grab a table on the river- or shore-fronting deck.
reviewed
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N
Gin Palace
If you love martinis, then this is your castle. With a drinks list to make your liver quiver, Gin Palace is the perfect place to grab a soft couch or secluded alcove, sip, and take it slow. Its seductive lighting, velvet drapes and cushioned nooks give it a top first-date rating. It's best on weeknights, when a conversation can be conducted without resorting to sign language.
reviewed
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O
Mojo's
Good old Mojo's is one of Freo's longstanding live-music pubs – a real stalwart. Local and national bands and DJs play at this small venue, and there's a sociable beer garden out the back.
reviewed
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P
Ramsgate Hotel
Located on Henley's bustling square, the Ramsgate has a lovely green wrought-iron exterior contrasting with the cream and pale beetroot stonework. The bar inside is a riot of polished wood and is just begging to be propped up by an elbow joined firmly to a hand gripping a Coopers. Sit outside and admire the jet skis buzzing around the water and do a spot of people-watching.
reviewed
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Q
Ffour
This stark all-nighter is also popular earlier with Friday after-work drinkers, when entry is free and drinks specials drown out the week that was. It’s your basic garden-variety club; each night brings a different crowd-pleasing flavour, from R&B through to Asian cocktail night to commercial house. Join gangs of girlfriends and student types on a big night out.
reviewed
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R
Atticus Finch
There’s a judicious wine list and back-in-fashion cider at this Brunswick haunt named for everyone’s favourite lawyer from literature. The space is smartly and simply done with a slight brooding quality (though perhaps we’re overidentifying with the novel). A nice alternative to the bigger pubs in these parts, it still sports the requisite beer garden.
reviewed
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S
Morocco's
Run by Koala Backpackers, Morocco's is Hervey Bay's only true nightclub. It is usually crowded with young, hard-drinking, looking to hook-up backpackers. There is a strict ID policy (no-one under 18), but once you get past the giant bouncers, you'll be inside a disco-like noise-proof dance hall with multicoloured lights and a giant flat screen TV playing MTV's latest hits.
reviewed
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Judgement Bar
Many Sydneysiders only know the grungy Judgement Bar as a blurry memory before being trundled into a taxi at the end of a big night. It's a shame, as it's actually a nice spot to sneak into during the day for a quiet, unpretentious bevvie and filling pub grub. The best that can be said for the main Courthouse Hotel bar downstairs is that it beats drinking on Taylor Square.
reviewed
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U
Sister Bella
The St Jerome’s crew colonised this dilapidated laneway warehouse and it’s definitely staked its claim as the older sibling. Still, the ramshackle is only knocked back by degrees and they keep the formula similar: cheap beer and wine, cheap food and kids running the place that know they’re cooler than you but won’t let that ruin the friendship.
reviewed
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V
Carlton Hotel
Once upon a time, you went to the Carlton because there was nowhere else to go. These days, you can still prop up the bar but you’ll be drinking a Peninsula pinot gris. OTT Melbourne rococo gets another workout here and never fails to raise a smile. Check the rooftop Palmz if you’re looking for some Miami-flavoured vice or just a great view.
reviewed
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W
Manacle
Descend into the hirsute, leather-clad gloom of Saturday night in the Inner West and pretend the sun will never come up. Manacle relocated from Taylor Sq a while back, but it’s still Sydney’s best leather night. Actually, it’s more about the cult of masculinity; there’s no strict dress code, but women and drags shouldn’t bother trying.
reviewed
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X
A.B. Hotel
An old fave with a $5-million facelift, the former Ancient Briton is looking good, particularly the Pacific Penthouse, with live fish swimming around inside the bar. Heavy drapes and portraits of Lenin adorn the walls and there’s a cute courtyard.
reviewed
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Y
Soho Bar & Lounge
The beautiful Art Deco Piccadilly Hotel is a dark, relaxed establishment whose smooth leather lounges have felt the weight of Keanu Reeves', Nicole Kidman's and Ewan McGregor's celebrity booties. It's rumoured to be where Kylie met Michael Hutchence. Soho is actually the upstairs cocktail bar (evening's only), but the ground floor Piccadilly Room is just as elegant.
reviewed