Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

SYDNEY AFTER DARK 163
7pm until late. 83 Paramatta Rd., Anandale, near Anandale Hotel. & 02/9519 0055.
www.side-on.com.au. Cover charge: A$13 (US$8.45). Bus no. 438, 440, or 461.
ROCK
Metro A rock venue with space for 1,000, the Metro is the best place in Sydney
to see local and international acts. Tickets sell out quickly. 624 George St. & 02/9264
2666. Cover varies.
DANCE CLUBS
Clubs come and go, and change names and music, so check the latest by planning
ahead with a phone call. You can also check the “Metro” section in Sydney
Morning Herald on Friday; otherwise, you might find free giveaway newspapers
in some bars along Oxford Street that have info about the latest clubs.
Bourbon & Beefsteak Bar Right in the middle of Sydney’s red-light district,
this 24-hour restaurant and nightspot freaks out to dance music downstairs
nightly from 11pm to 5am. It’s popular with both young backpackers and the
25-to-35 crowd. 24 Darlinghurst Rd., Kings Cross. & 02/9358 1144.
Chinese Laundry A couple of dance floors, one with rock walls to enhance
the beat of the hip-hop, trance, and dance. What to wear? Dress like you want
to un-impress. Open Friday to Saturday from 11pm to 4am. Sussex St. (turn right
as you face the bridge from Cockle Bay across to Darling Harbour, and it’s a 2-min. walk, below
the Slip Inn bar). & 02/9299 4777. Cover A$12 (US$7.80) Fri; A$18 (US$12) Sat.
Home Cave-like in shape and feel with a balcony to look down upon the
throng, Home has a reputation for bad bouncers—like the time the Sydney
Morning Herald newspaper had a Christmas party there and even the influential
journalists were abused. Still it’s managed to survive—hope you can. Funk and
heavy drum-and-bass-style–music, good for the serious clubber. Cockle Bay Wharf,
Darling Harbour. & 02/9266 0600. Cover A$25 (US$16).
Mister Goodbar A young, trendy, local crowd inhabits Mister Goodbar’s two
good-size dance floors, where they can groove to a range of rap, funk, and hiphop
music Wednesday through Saturday. 11a Oxford St., Paddington. & 02/9360 6759.
Cover A$10 (US$6.50) Wed; A$5 (US$3.25) Thurs; A$10 (US$6.50) Fri; and A$15 (US$9.75) Sat.
Riche Nightclub This hot spot is popular with the local over-25 club set, as
well as with hotel guests wanting to shake their booties to “dance” music. Open
only Friday and Saturday. In the Sydney Hilton, 259 Pitt St. & 02/9266 2000. Cover A$11
(US$7.15) Fri; A$17 (US$11) Sat. Free for hotel guests.
Tantra “Upmarket nightclubbing for the likes of models and beautiful people
from the north shore (read: affluent) of Sydney,” is how the manager describes
this place. The interior is pseudo-Roman with lots of pillars. The club offers
hardcore club/dance music. Dress code is fashionable, with a shirt collar
required for men and no sneakers. “70s Boogie Wonderland” night Friday, commercial
house music Saturday, and “funky” house music Sunday. 169 Oxford St.,
Darlinghurst. & 02/9331 7729. Cover A$15 (US$9.75) Fri–Sat; A$5 (US$3.25) Sun.
GAY & LESBIAN CLUBS
Sydney has a huge gay community, so there’s a very happening scene. The center
of it all is Oxford Street, though Newtown has established itself as a major
gay hangout, too. For information on events concerning gays and lesbians, pick
up a copy of the Sydney Star Observer or Lesbians on the Loose available at arthouse
cinemas, cafes, and stores around Oxford Street.