Parties and Bars

Gay Venues in Sydney

Dance Parties

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Poster - Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

Parade - Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was not really much of a party in its initial beginnings in 1978 and 79 as the first march ended in the arrest of 53 people. But today The Mardi Gras attracts over half a million people world wide with huge media coverage and is one of the biggest celebrations in Australia; it has also been named by Planet Out as the best gay event in the world.

It is a celebration of Gay pride and a chance for people from all walks of life locally and globally to come together and celebrate every person's right in the community to feel safe and respected without judgement.

The parade has over 100 floats with marching boys and girls and the famous dykes on Bikes who kick start the parade as well as local businesses, parents and friends of gay and lesbians, the transgender community and well let's just say one mighty colourful fruit salad of absolute fun!

The parade can be viewed from the street or any of the many bars along oxford and Flinders Street but one of the best seats you can buy is at The Bobbie Goldsmith Stand, you can find out more details on the Mardi Gras website.

MARDI GRAS AFTER PARTY

Dance Party - Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

Well if you want one of the biggest parties thrown in Sydney the after party for the Mardi Gras Parade is definitely not to be missed. Thousands come to party at Moore Park with local and international DJ's and live performances, some of these over the years have included Boy George, Kylie Minogue, Thelma Houston, Chaka Khan and the Village People. This party goes till dawn and there are many recovery parties you can stumble to after that!

HARBOUR PARTY (late February Early March)

The harbour party is usually held on the Sunday preceding the Mardi Gras Parade and Party and is located outdoors overlooking Sydney Harbour at Lady Macquarie's Chair - Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens. You can enjoy local and international DJ’s while taking in some of the best views that Sydney has to offer, watching the sun go down over the silhouetted Sydney Opera, Sydney Harbour Bridge and beautiful harbour city skyline.

FAG TAG

They arrange parties every few months in both Sydney and Melbourne and usually in a different location with different DJs. From The Sydney Opera Bar to club venues in and around Sydney Fag Tag is a friendly and fun night for anyone.

SLEAZE BALL

If Sleaze ball and Mardi Gras are to be compared then Mardi Gras is the good girl and Sleaze Ball is definitely lives up to its name as the very very naughty boy! Sleaze Ball is held annually in October, with DJ's and great performances this is one hell of a party! Once again the event is followed up with many recovery parties.

TOY BOX

Toy Box is an annual recovery Party held the day after The Mardi Gras Party and god knows some need a recovery from the Mardi Gras. Held on Sydney Harbour at the famous Luna Park the party is not only a great day it also one of Sydney's most colourful fundraising events for the Sydney Westmead Children's Hospital. Event organisers encourage people to bring a toy along to donate to the hospital, the event has seen hundreds of toys being donated to kids who need a bit of cheering up.

Club Kooky

CLUB KOOKY

Club Kooky is an institution in the alternative Gay scene in Sydney. With DJ's Gemma and Seymour Butz and a variety of special guests performances, Club Kooky is a breath of fresh air for anyone who likes there music left of centre. Club Kooky nights happen at various venues over Sydney.

DIVA AWARDS

The annual DIVA Awards night held in August and is the one night of the year where Sydney’s Drag Entertainers and Performers are recognised and celebrated for there artistic achievements. It is a colourful and thoroughly entertaining night where you can see some of Sydney’s best Drag King and Queen performers strut there stuff giving good old Dianna Ross a run for her money!

The annual DIVA Awards night held in August and is the one night of the year where Sydney's Drag Entertainers and Performers are recognised and celebrated for there artistic achievements. It is a colourful and thoroughly entertaining night where you can see some of Sydney's best Drag King and Queen performers strut there stuff giving good old Dianna Ross a run for her money!

Gay Bars / Nightclubs / Drag Shows

Darlinghurst Area

Stonewall - 175 Oxford St Darlinghurst

Stonewall is the club/ bar that continues to party till the sun comes up, so if your looking for a place to have fun till the wee hours, you have found your pot of gold coins at the end of the gay rainbow.

The club is split into three levels with third floor for cocktails, floor two for dancing and the ground level bar for drag shows, the music is always on, and loud! Between the drag queens and gay boys sweating it out on the dance floor your definitely in for a damn good time!! Stonewall is the club/ bar that continues to party till the sun comes up open till 6AM 7 days a week.

ARQ - 16 Flinders Street, Taylor Square Darlinghurst

If Noah had have been gay this would have been the discothèque he built to help every little gay boy and girl in the land learn how to party in style! ……..No the club doesn't float! but when you have few hundred people grinding on a dance floor you certainly feel the earth move in biblical proportions!

Between Talent Shows, Drag Spectaculars and some of the finest DJ's in Sydney, ARQ has something a little special for everyone. If your in need to feel like your getting the VIP treatment you can relax in the lounge areas on the mezzanine level or you can dance till dawn on the ground level where the music never seems to stop.

Midnight Shift - 85 Oxford Street Darlinghurst

Midnight Shift is an institution in the gay male club scene and popular with men from all over the globe. Midnight Shift has a video Bar, Drag Shows, Dj’s and a variety of special events each month.

The Taxi Club - 40-42 Flinders Street Darlinghurst

The Taxi Club also known as The Grosvenor Hotel is only 100m from Oxford Street. The Taxi Club offers a variety of entertainment from Karaoke nights to Memorama Trivia. There is a restaurant Bar, Main Bar and dance floor Bar all offering ‘club prices’ on drinks which means they are some of the cheapest prices in central Sydney. It has been a popular venue for all the gay, lesbian and transgender community for many years and welcomes everyone through it’s doors.

Slide Bar - 41 Oxford Street Darlinghurst

The Slide Bar restaurant and cabaret club offers a variety of wonderful local and international cabaret performances, from Gypsy Bands, circus acts and vocalists there is something for everyone to enjoy. There is a restaurant serving French cuisine and dinner show packages are available. Slide also hosts special monthly events and late in the evening dj’s turn this cabaret bar into a dance floor.

Phoenix Bar (Exchange Hotel) - 34 Oxford street Darlinghurst

Phoenix is an alternative dance venue, for those who want there music left field, (that means NO Cher or Kylie), then Phoenix is the place you are looking for. Phoenix also have live international and local bands as well as a host of DJ’s that give this place a great edge and something different form what most of the clubs on Oxford Street offer.

Colombian Hotel - 117 Oxford Street Darlinghurst

An open and airy bar right on Oxford street that operates every day and night of the week. Generally patronised by a mixed crowd but a younger crowd takes over at night time. The bar recent conversion of an historic building with the public bar on the ground floor and cocktail lounge upstairs - usually only open on weekends.

The Beresford - 354 Bourke Street Surry Hills NSW

Probably the newest addition to the Inner-City Darlinghurst Metro sexual scene - this recently revamped bar pub and restaurant has had a lot of money spent on it to attract the "right" crowd.

A spacious outdoor courtyard is a welcome rarity in Sydney's inner city pub scene. Drinks are expensive ... but go with the décor and furnishings that are very up-market...

The Oxford Hotel - 134 Oxford Street Darlinghurst

Recently refurbished, the Oxford Bar has a loyal following of more mature gay men. Bears and those not addicted to the gym find the surrounds comfortable. Upstairs Gilligan's Cocktail lounge caters to a more diverse crowd.

Palms On Oxford - 124 Oxford Street Darlinghurst

Palms On Oxford is Late night venue - often a queue to get in after 1am - a fairly relaxed and not pretentious, crowd. Located in the basement catacomb just down Oxford Street's Taylor Square.

Deck Bar - 191 Oxford Street

Newtown Area

The Bank Hotel - 324 King Street Newtown (next door to Newtown Station)

The Bank Hotel has just undergone a 2 million dollar facelift and my god the surgery was a complete success, this place has gone from bomb site to Bombshell!

What seems to be a small bar from the front, labyrinths into three levels. On the lower ground level you will find the delicious Banks Thai which is one of the finest Thai restaurants in Sydney, they also serve a bar menu which is available from all levels of the hotel. Ground Level has two bars and an outdoor seating area and level two feels like you have walked into a vogue fashion shoot. Black Velvet vintage lounges with a Dance Floor and DJ booth you feel like your worth the 2 million it cost to build and not like the 20 bucks you've got in your pocket!

The Newtown Hotel - Now Closed - 174 King Street Newtown

If you like something a little different and not pretentious, (any attitude is left well and truly at the door), then The Newtown Hotel is the place for you. The Newtown is about a 15 minute cab ride from Oxford street or 10 minute train or bus ride from the Sydney CBD. The Newtown Hotel is the oldest gay pub in Sydney and has been running successfully for the last 25 years. It is known for it's very friendly down to earth atmosphere and hosts an eclectic mix of Drag shows (Friday, Saturday nights, Video DJ (Sunday night), Girls Night (Wednesdays), Pool Tables and Thursday Film Nights with DJ's Seymour butts and Gemma from the infamous Club Kooky. There is a lounge bar upstairs where you can relax and downstairs the main bar area has a dance floor, pool room and With lounge chairs adorning the ground level it almost feels like you haven't left home.

Soni's (and upstairs Madame Fling Flongs) - 169 King Street Newtown

Soni's is a gorgeous little restaurant/lounge located in the heart of Newtown. The service is friendly and the food combines European and Mediterranean flavours. However the big secret is the wine bar at the top of the terrace stairs called Madame Fling Flongs. Upon entering you feel like you are stepping back in time, (not the 80's thank god!) , a mix match of old Victorian velvet sofas and dim lamp light gives this place the seductive and comfortable feel that keeps people coming back for more. Friday night's they have a D.J playing a mix of old soul and funk and every second Thursday it's ladies lounge.

The Imperial Hotel - 35 Erskineville road, Erskineville

The Imperial Hotel is a short walk to King Street Newtown and a 15 minute cab ride from Oxford street or you can catch a train to either Erskineville or Newtown and then a short stroll to the hotel. The Imperial Hotel is best known around the world as the bar used in the famous movie Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. It lives up to it's reputation with some of the best drag shows in Sydney from three adored and award winning entertainers Miss Farren Heit, Wyness Mongrel-Bitch and the infamous Mitzi Macintosh, Thursday to Saturday (9pm till late). Tuesdays is Bingay (adults Bingo), hosted by the Mitzi will leave you laughing all night and all money made on the night goes to the AIDS council of NSW. Bookings are essential. You can sit back in the Priscilla Lounge and drink some of the coolest cocktails in town! or play pool in the public bar area from 3pm till late every day.

The Sly Fox Hotel - 199 Enmore Road Enmore

The Sly Fox Hotel is a five minute walk from Newtown Station. The Sly Fox is popular spot for the girls with this hotel offering a girls night on Wednesdays. The main bar turns into a dance floor with a host of local DJ’s as well as Drag King performances. There are also nights offering live entertainment as well as the popular Karaoke Friday with Will.

The Clarence Hotel - Corner Parramatta Road and Crystal Streets Petersham

The Clarence Hotel incorporating MANACLE is an inner city suburb and about a five to ten minute taxi ride from Newtown. The Clarence is a new and exciting club/bar for the Gay community and is a fully Gay owned and operated venue. The Clarence is host to many fine DJ’s and event nights such as Manacle and Outbar and a popular place for anyone who wants to have a good time.

VENUE OWNERS: If you own a gay or gay friendly venue in Sydney
and would like to be considered for inclusion on these pages,
please contact us

Home > Things To Do >