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A.B. Hotel
Another old favourite to have a multi-million dollar facelift, the former Ancient Briton is looking mighty fine these days - particularly the Pacific Penthouse with live fish swimming around inside the bar. Large portraits of Lenin adorn the wall and on Thursday nights you can catch a fabulous Bette Midler lookalike performing cabaret. That's Glebe for you.
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Academy Twin Cinema
The Academy Twin is a smaller cinema that's seen better days, but the choice of art-house and independent films certainly can't be faulted. Mondays are bargain days - adults and children alike can roll jaffas down the aisles for next to nix.
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Aquarium
Taking up the top floor of the historic Beach Palace (1887), a massive booze barn at the north end of the beach, Aquarium is the place to be on a Sunday afternoon - or, if you're a backpacker or under 26, any old time. The views from the large terrace are magnificent; best enjoyed over a chilled glass.
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ARQ
Downstairs is cool and loungey, with amoeba-shaped sofas and pool tables. Upstairs you'll find a state-of-the-art light and sound system, along with drag shows and good DJs. This large club has it all, and is a popular place to 'recover' on Sundays. Open Thursday to Sunday.
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Arthouse Hotel
The art-meets-alcohol theme carries throughout this sumptuous multistorey heritage site. Friday nights see live jazz in the Dome Lounge, while Saturdays always mean fun.
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Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
The ABO is a distinguished part of Australia's artistic landscape, playing baroque and classical music on instruments of those periods. Leading international guest artists appear frequently. Performances are held at City Recital Hall and various local churches.
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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 both the Sydney Opera House and the City Recital Hall. Cheaper tickets are often available for the under 30s.
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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.
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Bald Rock Hotel
This tucked-away workingman's pub (1876) has skungy carpet but lots of charm. There's free pool on Wednesdays, trivia on Thursdays, live rock and blues on Saturdays and live jazz on Sundays.
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Bambini Wine Room
Don't worry, they don't sell wine to bambinis - this is a very grown-up affair. This tiny darkwood-panelled room with a huge chandelier is the sort of place where you might expect to see Oscar Wilde holding court in a corner. There's an extensive wine list (including the rarely seen sparkling shiraz), superb table service, and free almonds and breadsticks.
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Bangarra Dance Theatre
Widely regarded as one of Australia's finest dance companies, Bangarra regularly performs in Sydney and around Australia. Artistic director and national treasure Stephen Page creates a fusion of contemporary and traditional influences, blending indigenous and western dance techniques.
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Bank Hotel
After a multi-million-dollar refit, the Bank is brighter and shinier than ever, with a new rooftop terrace and cocktail bar, back-end beer garden and beautiful bogs. It still attracts a queer mix of lesbians, students, sport fans, gay men and just about everyone else - although they're all a little more snazzily dressed than before. There's a long-running lesbian night on Wednesdays.
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Bar Cleveland
Very much a relaxed local pub despite its sexy Deco curves, this is great spot to watch the footy, shoot pool or relax with mates. The clientele ranges from the bohemian to the blokey, but it's still gay-friendly. Cocktail cravers should try the A$6.00 Wednesday night specials ( - ).
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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.
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Bar Me & El Rocco Jazz Cellar
Sydney's first jazz club, between 1955 and 1969 this was the city's premier bohemian haunt, hosting performances by Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan. Those heady days are long gone but live jazz is back on the agenda in the legendary rock-hewn basement. There's a free open mike night on Mondays.
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Basement
This subterranean jazz bar offers dinner-and-show tickets or standing-room tickets to live jazz, blues, cabaret and the occasional rock and pop gig. It's an intimate setting that sometimes attracts huge names. Prince played an impromptu set here in 2003.
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Bavarian Bier Café
The handle glasses hanging over the central bar twinkle like a chandelier whether you're wearing beer-goggles or not. This super-slick spot has Löwenbräu and Franziskaner on tap and an extensive beer menu, along with wine and food.
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Beach Road Hotel
Behold the sight of the beautiful, bronzed and boozed-up at play. This huge multilevel fortress of rough-edged fun hosts live music and some good local DJs. Wednesday and Sunday the place gets crowded, as do the banks of pool tables. There's a decent beer garden.
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Beauchamp Hotel
The design-police have transformed this cool corner pub into something very groovy indeed. On weekends it gets packed - and incredibly noisy - with a stylish mixed crowd. There's an attractive terrace upstairs but the highlight is the cave-meets-boudoir Velvet cocktail lounge in the basement (Friday and Saturday nights only). Order a Sex-On-The-Beach(um) for a handy clue to the pub's pronunciation.
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Belvoir St Theatre
In a quiet corner of Surry Hills, this intimate venue hosts the often experimental and consistently excellent Company B. Shows sometimes feature big stars, like Geoffrey Rush.
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Blu Horizon Bar
You'll need to dress up to get in (trainers strictly forbidden, no matter how cool or clean) but the views and slick decor justify the effort. Perched on the top of the Shangri La hotel tower, it's worth heading up here for one over-priced drink and a walk on the glitzy side of Sydney life.
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Bondi Open Air Cinema
The best Sydney can offer: outdoor summer cinema on a massive screen with surround-sound, beachy sunsets and swanky food and wine. Bookings essential.
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Bourbon
Flash to the max, this place attracts young, hip and upper-crust crowds that come to lounge in booths, sit back on sofas or overlook the park and bustling sidewalk. Hip music, mod lighting and swanky service are included, there's a cool nightclub upstairs, and late-night drinkers will love the hours. There is also another bar attached called The Cross.
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Candys Apartment
Candys is an unpretentious, grungy club, unique in its decision to let ugly people in the door. The music is reliably good and no one really bothers too much about anything other than having a few drinks, a dance and a good time - how refreshing! Occasional live acts spice up the mix.
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Capitol Theatre
Lavishly restored, this big theatre is home to big-name concerts (Sting, Natalie Merchant) and long-running musicals ( Chicago, the Musical ; The Lion King ). It's come a long way since the 1830s when there were cattle and haymarkets in the area where the theatre now stands.
