5 Bars Keeping Sydney Alive

Since Sydney became an evening ghost town, late-night venues have been disappearing faster than you can imagine. Some good old favourites and independent businesses have been keeping Sydney alive however. Sydney has the potential to be the cosmopolitan buzz of Australia. Until then, keep heading out to keep up the spirit. If you want to know where is THE place to party until the early hours right now, then read on.

1. Freda’s
Dave aka Smoky Labeef knows how to spin a sensual tune. He also knows how to put together a small bar. Metallic streamers adorn the stage, a lit up heart hovers over the dance floor, with a booth hosting some of Sydney’s finest DJs. The musical acts have seen the likes of Kirin J Callinan being weird and wonderful for everybody’s listening pleasure. Do you know your tequilas from their lime and salt counterpart? So does Freda’s, which offers traditional Tommys and Mezcal Collins done the right way. Share plates include truffle salame and grapes, manchego and dates and so much more. Eat, drink, dance and be merry. Go on you know you want to.

2. Cake Wines Cellar Door
Originating as a small winery in Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills, Cake Wines launched only three years ago. This might come as a surprise given the amount of events and parties you’ve probably enjoyed free flowing Cake Wines at over the last few years. Now they have a cellar door in the heart of Sydney’s newest food precinct (Chippendale), that offers a little something for everybody – think discussions like a forum on the future of food and drink, a lavish eatery with the right amount of inner city chic, a dance floor and stage for talented musicians. Young and old, winos and beer drinkers, Cake Wines Cellar Door has arrived.

3. Frankies
A late-night bar with more rock, punk and metal than you could shake a slice of pizza at. This venue is loud, a little raucous, and grungy in all the best possible ways. And keeping your partying for the weekend only is not an option here. Check out their self-professed “world famous house band” of a Monday, rock ’n’ roll karaoke Tuesdays, plus bands and djs on every other night of the week. If you’re out ~on the tune~ pizza comes at $6 a slice, or for larger groups the sit down dining area is good for catching up.

4. Slyfox
Dark lighting with red neon foxes, comfortable booths and a popcorn machine. This former gay bar recently revamped itself as an all inclusive late-night space. Weeknights you can expect cheap jugs and pizza, while the weekend brings to the stage some world-class house and electronic music. “Live at the Sly” on Thursdays are especially for showcasing independent music. And because the beer and fireball whiskeys are $5 before 7:30pm skip the pre-drinks and get on down!

5. Downtown @ The Commons
Located in 164 years of Darlinghurst history, Downtown at the Commons has won awards and seen some of Italy’s surliest bar staff take over in Sydney. But all you need to know is they know their way around a negroni, an old fashioned, and a Manhattan with aplomb. They also know how to ask you what flavours you desire, and bring out the perfect cocktail to match. And this is a skill in Sydney that some of our so-called mixologists are too busy lighting alcohol on flames to understand. And then there is the music. Blues and jazz nights from Thursday to Saturday provide the ultimate date night experience. Think stony walls, candlelight and live blues musicians on pianos and guitars.