Gay Clubbing Scene in Sydney

While there are lots of alternaitves across Sydney, (see out general bars guide here) nowhere is the partying more intense than along rowdy Oxford St in Darlinghurst.

ARQ (16 Flinders Street at Taylor Square) continues to rage. The nightclub comprises two-and-a-half levels that show off a major investment in lights, sound, and sight. It is popular with both straight and gay partygoers.

Taxi Club (40-42 Flinders St) is spread out over three floors and offers a restaurant bar, main bar and a disco bar. Pokies (gambling machines) are a big draw here and the clientele diverse, though predominantly transgendered.

Flinders Hotel (63 Flinders St) is open for business Tuesdays through Saturdays and popular for "The Bear's Den" every Friday with Harbour City Bears winding down on the dance floor to an impressive roster of local DJs. A restaurant on premises opens at 6pm.

Colombian (117 Oxford St) is a slick, modern gay pub and lounge bar that is decidedly straight friendly! Spread out over two levels, it offers the largest range of DJs in Sydney.

Stonewall (173-175 Oxford St), a three-story entertainment complex, opens daily at noon. Sydney's top DJs and entertainers draw hordes to this hot spot. Their underwear contests (usually on Thursdays) are jam-packed, and the venue includes a pokies room as well.

Midnight Shift (85 Oxford St) has been a gay must-do for over 26 years. The downstairs bar has pool tables as well as myriad slot machines; the upstairs offers dancing on weekends.

Oxford Hotel (134 Oxford St) comprises three distinct bars. At street level is the main Oxford Bar plus a Vegas-style Grecian lounge. Gilligans is tucked in the bowels of the hotel and offers a thumping world of light and sound. On the upper levels, a supper club and a "polo" lounge good for cocktailing are perched.

Palms On Oxford (124 Oxford St) is a basement level nightclub offering piano and drag entertainment. Attitude free, it draws many locals to a very "retro" evening.

Phoenix (34 Oxford St), a party bar and dance place, offers subterranean sexy tech music Saturday nights for what is monikered "Dirty" now celebrating two years of an alternative-club feel.

Slide (41 Oxford St; Slide.com.au) is a nightclub, a supper club, and a restaurant all in one. Open for dinner nightly Tuesday through Sunday, Slide is slick with events. Among the highlights are shows hosted by El Circo -- a combination of dining, wining, and cutting-edge circus-inspired entertainment, bringing in capacity crowds.

In the Newtown area, Imperial Hotel (35 Erskineville Rd), run by ARQ nightclub, has been famous for the Priscilla Show (yes this is where the bar scenes were filmed) for what seems like donkeys years. Currently undergoing thorough remodeling, this legendary venue is slated to reopen as this magazine rolls off the press.

A full-on entertainment venue, The Clarence Hotel (450 Parramatta Rd, Petersham) is closer to the funky Newtown in the Inner West area of Sydney. Offering great drag cabaret entertainment on Fridays, this is home to the relocated Manacle club with a strong leather/fetish flavor. A compelling modern Australian restaurant is tucked within.

Check out the Events and Parties Section which features special one off and monthly/annual parties not to be missed such as Fag Tag, The Harbour Party, Sydney Leather Pride and more.