Entertainment in New South Wales
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Australian Chamber Orchestra
Since 1975 the ACO has been making chamber music sexy and adventurous, especially under the tutelage of artistic director and lead violinist Richard Tognetti. Concerts are staged throughout the year at the Opera House and City Recital Hall.
reviewed
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Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
The ABO is a distinguished part of Australia’s artistic landscape, playing baroque and classical music on period-perfect instruments. Leading international guest artists appear frequently. Performances are usually held at the City Recital Hall.
reviewed
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Old Fitzroy Theatre
Is it a pub? A theatre? A bistro? Actually, it’s all three. Grassroots company the Tamarama Rock Surfers has premiered dozens of new Australian plays here.
reviewed
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Senate Bar
Beneath Sydney’s main post office is this cavernous bar, seemingly carved out of subterranean sandstone. Duck under the gloriously chunky archways and unwind with the business bods, sipping quality tap beers and munching takeaway tapas, pizza and sushi from the adjacent food court.
reviewed
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C
Fortune of War
This 1828 drinking den retains much of its original charm and, by the looks of things, some of the original punters, too. There's live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm and on weekend afternoons from 2pm.
reviewed
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D
Mille Vini
Claim a seat at the downstairs bar or on the pavement, choose a glass of wine from a huge list of tipples (the name means 1000 wines), order a plate of antipasto and settle back for an hour or two of Italian-style R&R.
reviewed
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E
Hemmesphere
Like a giant living room that serves cocktails, this exclusive lounge is a quiet, low-slung alternative to the frenetic energy of the other drinking dens in the Establishment complex. DJs lay down soulful funk and lounge, and on Friday nights there's live music. Reservations advised.
reviewed
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F
Zanzibar
Eastern opulence continues all the way to the roof at this late-night Newtown bar with a winged art deco facade. Catch the sunset from the rooftop, settle into a cushioned couch or shoot pool in the funky downstairs bar. Beaut bar food; $8 cocktails until 10pm.
reviewed
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Welcome Hotel
If you get lost in the backstreets of Rozelle, you might find yourself chowing down in the Welcome Hotel’s dining room or watching the rugby over a few pints of Guinness. Alternatively, make for the palm-shaded courtyard or commune with Winston, the resident foxhound ghost.
reviewed
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Sly Fox
This blue-collar pub hosts Sydney’s biggest weekly lesbian night on Wednesdays, when drag kings pack their crotches and hit the stage – gay men don’t have a monopoly on gender illusion in this town. Cheap cocktails ($6!) every night from 6pm to 9pm.
reviewed
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Opera Bar
On the harbour’s edge under the low-slung Opera House eaves, this sexy, curvilinear room grabs everyone from snap-happy tourists to business lunchers and tutors them in the ways of sophisticated boozing. DJ’s play jazz, soul and funk nightly; bridge views play 24/7.
reviewed
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Hotel Steyne
Boasting numerous bars over two levels, this landmark pub accommodates everyone from sporty bogans to clubby kids to families. The internal courtyard isn’t flash (people still smoke here!), but the rooftop bar more than makes up for it with wicked views over the beach. Live bands and DJs entertain.
reviewed
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Coogee Bay Hotel
This rambling, rowdy complex still packs in the backpackers for live music, open-mic nights, comedy and big-screen sports in the beaut beer garden, sports bar and Selina's nightclub. Sit on a stool in the window overlooking the beach and sip on a cold one.
reviewed
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Hero of Waterloo
Enter this rough-hewn sandstone pub to meet some locals, chat-up the Irish bar staff and grab an earful of the nightly music (piano, folk, jazz or Celtic). Downstairs is an original dungeon where drinkers would sleep off a heavy night before being shanghaied to the high seas.
reviewed
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Australian Hotel
Grab a pleasant outdoor table at this classic corner pub and order a Scharer's lager on draught - it's got a cult following in Sydney. Exotic gourmet pizzas (try the crocodile, emu and roo toppings) help fill the time between drinks. Good affordable rooms are also available.
reviewed
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Railway Friendly Bar
This indoor-outdoor pub, aka 'The Rails', draws everyone from grey pensioners and lobster-red British tourists to acid-soaked hippies and high-on-life earth mothers. Its cosy interior is the old railway station. The front beer garden, conducive to boozy afternoons, has live music every night. The pub grub is excellent, so too the St Arnou beer on tap.
reviewed
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Lord Dudley Hotel
Packed with poncy, scarf-wearing MG drivers and block-shouldered rugby union types, the Lord Dudley is as close to an English pub as Sydney gets. Dark woody walls and quality beers by the pint. ‘I say, Giles old bean… May I have another Pimm’s?’
reviewed
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Hotel Hollywood
An inner-city art deco gem, the Hollywood hasn’t buffed itself up to a superficial sheen. A mixed crowd of Surry Hillbillies gets down to serious beer business in the pub that time forgot.
reviewed
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Sandringham Hotel
Minimal (or no) cash will score you a live-music fix (everything from acoustic acts to goth metal) at the Sando, where, according to local band The Whitlams, God drops by.
reviewed
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Town Hall Hotel
The upstairs of this smart old bar has lots of little nooks and crannies and a wraparound balcony that's great for brunch or a late afternoon tipple. Friday and Saturday nights see DJs (with the odd live accompanist) pulling in the single-seeking-other punters downstairs.
reviewed
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Exchange Hotel
The wedge-shaped Exchange (1885) has been lavishly renovated (all charcoal and grey, pressed tin and chandeliers) and now houses an upmarket restaurant. Stake a place on the balcony for a sundowner. From the Balmain West ferry stop, head straight up Elliott St and continue on to Beattie St.
reviewed
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Victoria Room
Plush chesterfields, art-nouveau wallpaper, dark-wood panelling and bamboo screens – the Victoria Room is the spoilt love child of a 1920s Bombay gin palace and a Hong Kong opium den. Don your white linen suit and panama and order a Raspberry Debonair at the bar.
reviewed
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London
Among the designer boutique shops of William St, the London draws a fashionable crowd that heads upstairs to kick back in the intimate lounge area. Downstairs punters vie for a stool at one of the circular tables and watch – or try to ignore – sport on the big screen.
reviewed
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Paddington Inn
The Paddo seems to get a new look every few years, perhaps in keeping with its prime fashion-strip position. Eager locals elbow around the pool table and get stuck into $10 weekday lunches and $10 Sunday jugs.
reviewed
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Bar Europa
Basement vibe, subtle lighting, DJs spinning laid-back funk and three debonair rooms divided by sexy screens cement Europa's reputation as an intimate, clubby hideaway for inner-city professionals. Sip a 'Sydneysider Sour', sigh, and wonder what he/she is doing now.
reviewed