Myffy Rigby Credit: Myffy Rigby
Myffy Rigby is the editor of Swill magazine, which celebrates global restaurant culture, and a former editor of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper’s Good Food Guide
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One of Sydney’s premier food journalists, Myffy Rigby is the editor of Swill magazine, which celebrates global restaurant culture, and a former editor of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper’s Good Food Guide. A long-time resident of Sydney’s Inner West, Myffy shares her tips for a memorable night out in the popular restaurant and bar hub of Newtown and neighbouring Enmore.
Ease into the eclectic Newtown vibe
Myffy recommends you start an evening out in Newtown with a drink at Continental Deli, a two-level delicatessen, bar and bistro all rolled into one chic venue on Australia Street, which meets central King Street near the suburb’s busy train station. “I love Continental Deli,” she says. “I love sitting on the footpath there, having a Gibson or a glass of sherry and planning the night out — that’s always a lot of fun. [Natural wine bar] Odd Culture is fun too, but Continental Deli is the clear runaway winner for the afternoon.”
If you’re meeting friends in Newtown and are the first to arrive, Myffy suggests heading to the Courthouse Hotel, just up the road from the Continental, for a solo drink. This pub is best known for its laidback beer garden but, says Myffy, “if I was waiting for people, I’d sit in the front bar by the window of the ‘Courty’ and massage a beer”. As you people-watch from your perch at the Courthouse, you’ll see that Newtown remains the favoured playground of students from nearby Sydney University as well as the suburb’s bohemian locals. “One of my favourite things about this area,” says Myffy, “is seeing how people express themselves with fashion. It’s so cool that people still have that ability to pull together the most outrageous outfits and wear them with confidence.”
Continental Deli Bar Bistro, Newtown Credit: Destination NSW
People enjoying food and drink at Continental Deli Bar Bistro, Newtown.
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Continental Deli Bar Bistro, Newtown Credit: Destination NSW
People enjoying food and drink at Continental Deli Bar Bistro, Newtown.
Embrace the energy on Enmore Road
If you’re in the mood for a second round of cocktails, Myffy recommends heading to Bar Planet, a martini bar a few minutes’ walk away on Enmore’s Enmore Road. “Bar Planet is like the perfect moveable feast and the service is super-friendly. It’s from the guys who did [renowned Sydney mezcal bar] Cantina OK!, so you know the service and the energy is going to be fantastic. The martinis are super-delicious, and they pour them from old-fashioned Spanish glass vessels, so it’s a bit of a show.”
Enmore Road is lined with tempting restaurants and small bars (as well as Enmore Theatre, a heritage-listed art deco concert hall), so you could happily spend the rest of the night hopping from one venue to the other. Myffy recommends a relative newcomer to Enmore Road for dinner, ‘tapas salon’ Bar Louise. “It’s excellent — it’s owned by the people who do the Continental. And no, I’m not on the payroll: I just love everything they do. Every time they open something, they put so much thought into it, and Bar Louise is no exception. It’s warm, it’s convivial, and they have a great wine list. You don’t have to order that much if you don’t want to, but I ordered the whole menu the other night and I was so happy I did. Their raw fish game is so good.”
For something more casual in between bars, Myffy recommends the Egyptian street food at Enmore’s Cairo Takeaway: “Their pita pockets are so delicious. You can order one and walk down Enmore Road, otherwise their streetside seating is so cool. It’s nice to sit there and watch the wildlife on a Friday night.” Or head back a few blocks to Newtown’s Westwood Pizza, housed in an old milk bar on Australia Street, opposite Continental Deli. “It’s totally no-frills from the outside,” says Myffy, but always incredibly busy. “The pizzas are super-charry and puffy, made in the traditional style but with more of a contemporary edge in terms of toppings. If you can nab one of the tables, you can get a nice bottle of wine from [Enmore Road wine store] P&V Merchants, get a couple of pizzas and pour your wine into cups — it’s really fun.”
P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants, Newtown Credit: Maclay Heriot
P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants are purveyors of natural wines, craft beers and unique, artisan spirits.
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P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants, Newtown Credit: Maclay Heriot
P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants are purveyors of natural wines, craft beers and unique, artisan spirits.
Launch into the late hours on King Street
And if you want a Newtown restaurant with a real wow factor to impress someone special? “Here’s where it gets tricky, because you’ve got [European bistro-style] Cafe Paci on one side of the road on King Street and [Japanese jazz bar-style] Ante on the other side. And there’s no way you can divide the two, unless you do entrée and sake at Ante and do main course and dessert at Cafe Paci. “Cafe Paci is one of my all-time favourite restaurants; it’s run by a chef called Pasi Petänen. It’s progressive Australian-Finnish cuisine, it’s very much its own thing … it’s so delicious.”
Choosing just one bar to kick on after dinner can prove tricky, too. Myffy recommends Earl’s Juke Joint on King Street (“it’s more of a good times, dimly lit date bar”), Jacoby’s Tiki Bar on Enmore Road (“always a big party, big tiki drinks, lots of excess, just fun, fun, fun”), or Fortunate Son, also on Enmore Road (“it’s more of a straight-up, laidback community bar”).
“They’re all fantastic for different reasons. They all have their own personalities, so you could even do a bit of a crawl between all three if you were feeling down for it.”
And if you wanted to burn off an indulgent dinner on the dancefloor? “The Bank Hotel [next to Newtown train station on King Street] puts on lots of club nights,” says Myffy, “but I’d head to Marrickville’s Factory Theatre if there was a cool gig on, or Red Rattler Theatre, also in Marrickville, where they often put on really cool dance nights.”
Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, Enmore Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying an exotic tiki cocktail made at Jacoby's Tiki Bar on Enmore Road, Enmore in Sydney's inner west.
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Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, Enmore Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying an exotic tiki cocktail made at Jacoby's Tiki Bar on Enmore Road, Enmore in Sydney's inner west.
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Oxford Street Fair, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Couple dancing at the Oxford Street Party, a part of Sydney World Pride, a 17-day celebration of queer Australian people and culture, with more than 300 events across the city including Sydney's famous Mardi Gras Parade.
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Dive Into Sydney's LGBTQIA+ Nightlife
Oxford Street Fair, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
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While Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife is loud and proud all year round, it’ll be truly buzzing when Mardi Gras 2025 celebrates Australia’s queer communities with fabulous events, parties and concerts from 14 February to 2 March 2025. Shimmy onto a packed dancefloor or gather your tribe in an intimate corner booth — there are plenty of LGBTQIA+ venues to enjoy across the city’s queer-friendly neighbourhoods.
Party all night in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills
Feel right at home at the Darlinghurst end of Oxford Street, Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ heartland and the setting of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Ease into the scene with a beer or a cocktail at The Colombian Hotel, a multi-level pub occupying a prime position on the corner of Oxford and Crown streets in Darlinghurst. Count your blessings if you can snag a stool at the venue’s long open window — you can settle in for an epic session of people-watching.
Lose track of time as you dance and dine across the four levels of the iconic Oxford Hotel, a couple of minutes’ walk up Oxford Street from the Colombian. Or step back in time a few doors down from the Oxford Hotel at Palms on Oxford, which draws an inclusive crowd for its classic disco and pop from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ’00s from Thursday to Sunday. And strike up random conversations with strangers in between drag shows at the busy Stonewall Hotel, across the road from The Oxford Hotel on Oxford Street.
Launch yourself into the local clubbing scene at Oxford Street’s Universal, a dual-level space with dancing downstairs and drag and performances upstairs, and Darlinghurst institution Arq, which has reopened its Arena dancefloor and Vortex performance space, just off Taylor Square on Flinders Street, following extensive renovations. Dance the night away amid confetti cannons, Australian pop royalty and Sydney’s biggest drag acts at POOF DOOF, an all-inclusive party that takes over the top two floors of Kinselas on Taylor Square each Saturday night.
Take a breather at The Beresford, arguably Sydney’s most upscale queer haunt that’s only a few minutes’ walk away from Taylor Square on leafy Bourke Street in Surry Hills. Refresh with a drink in the leafy courtyard during the popular Sunday afternoon DJ sessions, perhaps lingering to head upstairs to dance later in the evening.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQIA+ calendar.
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Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQIA+ calendar.
Universal Sydney, Darlinghurst Credit: Destination NSW
Artist performing for Fireball Fridays at Universal Sydney, Darlinghurst.
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Universal Sydney, Darlinghurst Credit: Destination NSW
Artist performing for Fireball Fridays at Universal Sydney, Darlinghurst.
Fire your imagination in Newtown and surrounds
Spread your wings and explore Sydney’s inner west, a ring of suburbs close to the city centre that are home to many of the city’s bohemian and LGBTQIA+ residents. Feel your senses come alive as you make your way down colourful King Street in Newtown and adjoining Enmore Road in Enmore, encountering small bars, cafés and venues that welcome queer and non-queer patrons in equal measure. Restore your energy levels with a refreshing drink at safe spaces for rainbow communities like Newtown Hotel, The Bank Hotel and the Marlborough Hotel, or ‘the Marly’, which hosts regular queer events.
Join a raucous basement party at the inner west’s quintessential LGBTQIA+ venue, The Imperial, a few minutes’ walk away from Newtown in Erskineville, catch a drag show over dinner at The Impy’s Priscillas restaurant, or head upstairs for pizza with a side dish of dirty Italian disco at Carlotta’s Rooftop bar.
Catch experimental theatre, a sweaty rave or a blistering punk gig at The Red Rattler, a queer-run non-profit venue established to amplify the voices of Sydney’s non-conforming artists and performers in Marrickville, a 10-minute drive from Newtown.
The Imperial Erskineville Credit: Destination NSW
Drag artists getting ready for Drag n' Dine at The Imperial Erskineville in Sydney's inner west.
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The Imperial Erskineville Credit: Destination NSW
Drag artists getting ready for Drag n' Dine at The Imperial Erskineville in Sydney's inner west.
Bank Hotel, Newtown Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Bank Hotel on King Street in Newtown
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Bank Hotel, Newtown Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Bank Hotel on King Street in Newtown
Connect with locals at events and parties
Celebrate inclusiveness at the biggest event on the LGBTQIA+ calendar, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, though you’ll also find plenty happening outside the regular Mardi Gras festival period in February and March.
Leather up and head along to an Extra Dirty dance party at a variety of venues across the city. Find like-minded lesbians at the sophisticated Lemons With A Twist get-togethers on the first Friday of the month at the Burdekin Hotel in Darlinghurst. And dip into the city’s bear culture at Bear Essentials, Harbour City Bears’ massive disco held each year during the Mardi Gras festival, or join the gay social group at inclusive gatherings each Friday night at the Oxford Hotel in Darlinghurst and on Sunday afternoons at the Town Hall Hotel in Newtown.
Connect with the Queer As Fvck crew, which hosts gigs by local independent rock bands along with DJs and drag artists, if you prefer guitars to glitter balls. Or lean more alternative with the House of Mince’s regular Club Mince events, which often feature edgy international DJs and rappers.
And look for the next pop-up event by Heaps Gay, which seeks out under-utilised indoor and outdoor spaces for 12-hour fiestas. Heaps Gay events are so friendly and inclusive that they’ve become popular with non-LGBTQIA+ patrons too.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQIA+ calendar.
#feelnewsydney
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQIA+ calendar.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQIA+ calendar.
#feelnewsydney
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQIA+ calendar.