Check out our top picks for Bars in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Gold Coast below
TOP PICKS OF SYDNEY'S UBER TRENDY BAR SCENE
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The Shore Club
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Review: Fresh, funky and almost maritime in design, this bar is one of the hottest bars to hit Sydney. For such a hit place, it oozes unpretentiousness, although being hit with awards a-plenty. A busy spot on the weekends.
Vibe: Fun and unpretentious
Location: 36-38 South Steyne Manly Beach, Sydney
Food: Simple food
Capacities: Huge
Functions: Numerous spaces which hold 20-50 guests
Unique Attributes: Open air bar on the top floor (aka rooftop sundeck)
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Bungalow 8 - The Loft  |
Review: Although a stunning venue with a stunning view, many people can find this bar very pretentious with bad drink service. A trendy bar in a great area with many rooms for functions. Attracts the beautiful people!
Vibe: Pretentious, classy, and central
Location: The Prominard, Kings St Wharf
Food: Everything you could need, plus many special events
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: Panoramic views of the harbour, great interior design
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Cruise
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Review: A much loved Sydney staple. More for tourists then locals though. The service is excellent and the owner only employs experienced staff. Drinks are expensive but service is great and the locals are tops. A very beautiful venue with an incredible view. It can get super busy with a long wait for the bar... as many people are cocktail hungry.
Vibe: Classy, sophisticated, touristy
Location: LV 1, 2 & 3 Overseas Passenger Terminal, West Circular Quay Sydney NSW 2000
Food: Everything you could need
Capacities: n/a
Functions: Can hold a number of events of all different sizes
Unique Attributes: Best view ever! A view looking straight over the water and at the Opera House
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Zeta Bar
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Review: A raved about cocktail bar in the heart of the city, attached to the Hilton Hotel. Trendy interiors with an ambient setting and rooftop terrace. A large, classy venue with a classy crowd. Be prepared to line up for ages if you are not trendy enough. Conservative for a trendy bar... but great for those who like things classy and smooth.
Vibe: Classy, sophisticated
Location: Hilton Sydney, Level 4, 448 Gorge St Sydney
Food: review n/a
Capacities: n/a
Functions: Can hold a number of events of all different sizes
Unique Attributes: CBD rooftop terrace
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Ivy
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Review: Incredible interior design, classy, hip and trendy. Definitely on the pretentious side with people practically selling their limbs to get up to the VIP pool bar. A diverse, large, and beautiful venue with a largely fashionable, classy crowd.
Vibe: Classy, sophisticated, status orientated, pretentious
Location: 33 George St, Sydney
Food: Everything you could need
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: So big, with so many areas, incredible interior design, roof top pool, great cocktails
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The Bowery
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Review: New York in the 1950s is how best to describe this Brisbane Gem. Brick walls and nicely suited bar staff make this a stylish bar for the worldly crowd.
Vibe: Cool, worldly and funky
Location: 676 Ann Street Brisbane, Qld 4006
Food: n/a
Capacities: n/a
Functions: Small private or open functions
Unique Attributes: Best cocktails in Brisbane. Cute bar staff
Website: http://www.thebowery.com.au/
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Bar Alto - Powerhouse
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| Review: Have a drink overlooking the Brisbane River in an open air bar, which is part of one of the funkiest venues in Brisbane. This bar can't help but make you proud to live in Brisbane.
Vibe: Summer fun, arty and open minded
Location: Level 1 Brisbane Powerhouse - on the river
Food: n/a
Capacities: n/a
Functions: All types, especially in the Powerhouse
Unique Attributes: On the water, connected to the Powerhouse arts venue
Website: www.baralto.com.au
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Cru Bar
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Review: Swarve, wine connoisseurs unite. A trendy bar, in an uber trendy part of town. Go to be seen and pick up a nice husband.
Vibe: Swarve, and classy
Location: James St, Fortitude valley
Food: Great
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: Trendy and excellent part of town Website: www.crubar.com
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Lychee Lounge
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Review: Seriously funky boutique bar in a very young, funky part of town. An interior design masterpiece with top cocktails. Order the Lychee Martini .... a house favourite.
Vibe: Funky, boutique-inspired
Location: 94 Boundary St, West End
Food: Simple, but great food selection
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: Great cocktails, and interior design. Website: http://www.lycheelounge.com.au/home.html
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Limes
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Review: New concept to Brisbane... the rooftop bar. It's about time we caught up with New York.
Vibe: Trendy, Unique
Location: 94 Boundary St, West End
Food: Simple, but great food selection
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: It's on a roof top people! The roof top is used as a cinema during the week
Website:http://www.limeshotel.com.au/rooftopbar/index.php?id=rooftopbar
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The Shadow Lounge
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Review: A central, oriental style bar which attracts an after work crowd. Beautiful views of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge.
Vibe: Corporate, touristy, beautiful
Location: 1 Eagle St, Brisbane CBD
Food: Great menu
Capacities: n/a
Functions: Great for roped off functions and has a small private function room
Unique Attributes: Killer view from bar and resturant
Website: http://www.jadebuddha.com.au/gallery/
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TOP PICKS OF MELBOURNE'S FUNKY BAR SCENE
The Collection
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Review: The place to head if you like to boogie and chow down sexy, fruity cocktails. With a projector beaming movies onto the wall and funky music filling the venue, it's a great place to have a light hearted night out.
Vibe: Chic, and bubbly
Location: 328 Bridge Road, Richmond
Food: Serves food
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: Fruity cocktails, fun vibe
Website:http://www.thecollectionbar.com.au/
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Gin Palace
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Review: Attracts the after work crowd who like a good drink. Great service and great drinks for those who like the finer things in life and are willing to go that extra mile to get what they want.
Vibe: After work, relaxed, sophisticated
Location: 190 Little Collins St, Melbourne 3000
Food: Great sandwiches
Capacities: n/a
Functions: Great for roped off functions and has a small private function room
Unique Attributes: Great cocktails, very sophisticated
Website: n/a
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Rooftop Bar
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Review: A place for simple pleasures, relaxed fun people and remembering what Australia is all about... good times with friends, not wanky bars. Great for fresh air. Great for views.
Vibe: Relaxed, funky, young
Location: Level 7, Curtin House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne
Food: Limited food available
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: It's a roof top people!
Website:www.rooftopcinema.com.au
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Robot
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Review: The place to come for a vast assortment of Japanese beers & Sake. Situated at the end of a laneway, and adorned with Japanese art, this place is always pumping and offers something different to the usual.
Vibe: Busseling, and unique
Location: 12 Bligh Place, Melbourne VIC 3000
Food: Japanese snacks
Capacities: n/a
Functions: On Sundays
Unique Attributes: A slice of Tokyo in Melbourne
Website: http://www.robotsushi.com/
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Croft Institute
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Review: Hidden up a series of laneways, set over three floors, this bustling bar has a laboratory style theme on the ground floor, a hospital themed waiting area on the middle level and a 1930s styled gymnasium on the top floor. The first floor also houses a vodka distillery. This bar was named to take a joke at the pseudo-scientific consumer institute, and to also highlight the street that the bar is located on.
Vibe: Funky, uni style
Location: 21-25 Croft Alley, Melbourne
Food: none
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: Such a cool, cool concept
Website: n/a
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Transport
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Review: A wonderfully central concept bar which has you ooo-ing and ahh-ing as soon as you get there. Very futuristic in style, attracting a corporate, sophisticated crowd who don't mind paying a bit for drinks. Can get very busy. Many tourists checking out the concept bar. Has the very trendy Transit Cocktail Bar on the top floor.
Vibe: Corporate, and futuristic
Location: Federation Square Corner Flinders St & Swanston Sts, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Food: Serves food
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n.a
Unique Attributes: Very futuristic in style, a unique experience
Website: http://www.transporthotel.com.au/
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TOP PICKS OF THE GOLD COAST'S PARTY TOWN BAR SCENE
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Temple
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Review: An Arizonian styled, large venue with views overlooking the Nerang River and waterfront houses. Regularly hosts special events and fashion shows and has even had fashion TV appearances at the venue. Has a special area with pool bar access for the VIPs.
Vibe: Vibe, party scene
Location: The Water at Tiki Village
Food: Serves food
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: Water front location and unique VIP area
Website: www.mytemple.com.au |
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Titanium
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Review: An exciting lounge bar and dining venue situated on the Nerang River. With a TAB/gaming room adjacent to the Sports Bar which also includes lounge seating, and over 30 plasma TVs located throughout the venue, you will never miss a moment of sporting action.
Vibe: Sporty crowd
Location:30-34 Ferny Avenue, SURFERS PARADISE QLD 4217
Food: Full restaurant
Capacities: n/a
Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: Water front location and classy interior, Sports Bar
Website: www.titaniumbar.com.au |
Central
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Review: A vibrant bar with a vibrant crowd and reasonable prices. Very stylish with many events.
Vibe: Fun and unpretentious
Capacities: n/a Functions: Ranges from small functions to events holding over 150 people
Unique Attributes: Reasonable prices and friendly service
Website:www.centrallounge.com.au/
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Bedroom Lounge Bar & Nightclub
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Review: As suggestive as it looks and sounds, the Bedroom Lounge Bar & Nightclub is for all those sexy lads and lasses who want to pick up. Great music and great DJs make this venue a great one to party the night away in.
Vibe: Seductive, and young
Location:26 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise 4217
Food: n/a
Capacities: n/a Functions: n/a
Unique Attributes: You can hire a bed!
Website: www.thebedroom.net.au |
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