SYDNEY Gay Bars & Clubs 2021

Our guide to gay bars in Sydney.

ARQ in Darlinghurst continues to be the big dance nightspot in town. The club on two-and-a-half levels has great lights, sound, and mix of both straight and gay party people. Special and theme nights include FOMO foam parties. ARQ Sydney is open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The Beauchamp Hotel & Velvet Cocktail Lounge in Darlinghurst offers spacious terrace bar, courtyard; canapes, platters and casual dining.

The Beresford Hotel remains a big gay attraction, especially upstairs on Sunday nights, with men/women mix, live music and theme events. Free summer movies, Mondays in the courtyard.

Chinese Laundry located below Slip Inn is a long running dance club, playing everything from House, Electro, Prog, Tech, Hip-Hop, D&B; and host occassionaly gay special events. Check local press and flyers.

The Colombian is a slick, modern gay pub and lounge on very gay corner in Oxford street, straight friendly too. On two levels, boasting the largest rotation of DJs in Sydney, lively dance crowd, drag diva emcees.

The Ivy describes itself as a glamorous urban oasis, ivy offers eight bars, including Sydneys only rooftop pool bar, 3 award winning restaurants and 4 unique meetings & events spaces. It is the home of famous gay summer pool parties, special events and irregular gay/lesbian-specific nights.

Kinselas on Bourke St was a funeral home in a previous life and plays host to Friday drag competitions, Wednesday Tranny Trivia nights has beautiful ornate art deco ceilings and attracts a mixed crowd from early evening.

The Oxford Hotel is a stunning location with four bars. The venue has been a gay destination for many years, but has become more mixed over the past few years. Gingers on the first floor is popular with LGBT visitors, especially on Monday nights With luxurious finishes, intimate booths, mezzanine level seating and a state of the art sound and lighting system; Gingers offers an alluring, contemporary and decadent experience. The Oxford is a proud supporter of the LGBT community; the club house of The Harbour City Bears, Sydney Leather Pride, and is the Official Sydney Mardi Gras Bar.

Palms On Oxford is a basement level piano and drag entertainment nightclub, attitude free, draws many locals for “retro” evenings. Palms is open 8pm-3am (Thursday through to Sunday).

Shift Club (91 Oxford St, Darlinghurst), guys of all kinds/ages video bar, drag cabaret Transisters shows, movie nights, karaoke, bingo, trivia games, “bun/bum boy” waiters serve pub menu food.

Slide is a nightclub, supper club, lounge, restaurant all-in-one and is open Tuesday through Sunday with cabaret shows. 10 years+ and still going strong. Slide remains one of the hippest gay venues, located in an art deco former bank building.

The Stonewall Hotel is a three-story entertainment complex, open daily from noon; top Sydney DJs and entertainers, big generally young crowds, weekend dancing and drag shows, Wednesday Male Box pickup night, karaoke, Thursday dancing boys on the bar. Great happy hours and always busy at weekends.

The Green Park hotel is not a gay bar but even early on a Saturday evening you’ll find the place heaving with the handsome boys of Darlinghurst sporting expensive shoes and imported denim. This is where hotel guests mingle with locals, gays, straights and curious!

Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action

Meriton Suites,   Pullman Sydney,   Hotel Stellar,   Rydges Sydney