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| The Mighty Sydney Night | ||||||
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Finding a pub in this bustling city where you can relax, share a drink with some locals and not feel a tad bit "too mature", isn't as easy as you think. by Leela Jesudason t's all well and good to sneak out of the obligatory after-dinner drinks when you are in Sydney, but it does make one feel a tad 'mature' when all the spots you hit feature clubbers who look young enough for you to wonder how their parents let them out wearing that.
Sydney is a city that teems with nightlife that has something for everyone, and we mean everyone. From salsa hotspots to gay bars, country and western hoe-downs, hip-hop, cabaret: you name it. But alas, for most travelers short on time to research the hundreds listed in the 101 what's on guides available in Sydney, finding a pub where you can share a drink with some locals and still feel like you haven't come through a time warp, isn't as easy as you think. To make your life a little easier, we have here five cool spots in Sydney that are easy to get to and simply a taste of local life that isn't just catered for tourists. Top on the list must surely be The Monkey Bar. This cozy bar with its wood and blue décor, is along Balmain's Darling Street-currently Sydney's hippest suburb, with its vast array of international cuisine, coffee bars and unique boutiques. The crowd here comes from far and wide, many thirsty for a drink after a hard day's work. On weekends, those that come for the outstanding food in the area, linger for after-dinner drinks. The music, thankfully, isn't so loud as to preclude conversation, so you can easily strike up a conversation with the guy next to you at the bar counter. Closer to town, you can easily make your way to Oxford Street, where you can bar-hop if the fancy strikes you. Start way at the top, though, at The Centennial Hotel. The unassuming hotel façade gives you the impression of a small bar, but if you actually walk right through the bar you'll find yourself at an impressively large restaurant, where we had some of the best pizzas in town and a staggering choice of wines. The clean lines of streamlined furniture with its warm hues and low lighting appeal, as light jazz music plays in the background.
When you are ready to taste more of the night, stroll down Oxford Street to The Fringe, about 15 minutes' walk down the road. Here, admittedly the crowd is a tad younger: we're talking mid to late twenties, but the girls sure do dress up-or down, depending on how you correlate up and down to the amount of fabric they use for their outfits. So, if eye candy makes that drink go down warm and soothing, then The Fringe is the place to be. With acid jazz, hip hop and the occasional current house and techno hit playing, you can either watch the grooving babes or the obligatory telly as the spirit moves you. In another area of town lies The Marlborough Hotel. Well, yes, people do smoke a lot here, but it's not named after the cigarette or the man. Currently undergoing some renovation, don't be put off by the façade which looks like a gutted building: the place is so happening, you could well spend your whole night there. This large bar breaks into smaller areas beyond the main area, so you can choose to settle in one of the smaller rooms if you want to have a quiet chat with a friend or make new ones. In the main room, a band strikes up every 45 minutes or so. Featuring excellent covers of current and past rock hits, the band keeps everyone groovin' and movin'. The night we were there, the crowd was pretty eclectic: sweet young things to chaps old enough to be there grand-daddies, to after-work types and sportsmen after their games. We also spotted a Boy George look-alike, so the scenery here is sure to keep you occupied. The room is well-lit, the décor stereotypical-with high bar stools and small tables. If you like and it's early enough, you can order some bar food, too. Alternatively, you can also check out one of New Town's numerous restaurants: all reasonably priced, cozy and filled with Sydneysiders who have ferreted out the best eats in the area. If despite all our hints and suggestions, you still prefer to stay within walking distance of your downtown hotel, then you can stroll down to The Wynyard Hotel, which is in the heart of the city itself. Unlike other obligatory hotel bars, this one is saturated with guys and gals who've had a hard day at work and are ready to swap stories with anyone who will listen. Crowded, and always bustling with life, although admittedly this is more evident on weekdays, this could well be the perfect spot to do a little networking. Sydney is a great city in which to let your hair down and have some fun. A number of pubs close at around midnight while others never seem to rest, depending on the kind of license they have. And it might interest you to know that it's against the law for a bartender to serve a drink to someone who is already somewhat drunk! So, as in all things, drink in moderation, and remember to leave a generous tip so that some kind bartender will be able to help you into a cab if the need arises! The Monkey Bar 255 Darling Street, Balmain Tel: 61-2-9810-1749 Centennial Hotel 88 Oxford Street Tel: 61-2-9362-3838 The Fringe Bar and Café 106 Oxford Street Tel: 61-2-9360-3554 Marlborough Hotel 145 King Street, Newtown Tel: 61-2-9519-1222 Wynyard Hotel 107 Clarence Street Tel: 61-2-9299-1330 | ||||||
