Guidebook for San Francisco

Claire
Guidebook for San Francisco

Drinks & Nightlife

An essential venue to play for any band on the up, and I have seen countless gigs here. Some of my favourite shows over the years include #1 Dads, Courtney Barnett, and alt-j on one of their first visits to Australia. It’s a thriving venue and evidence that there is no shortage of passionate music fans in Sydney. The venue was inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory in New York during the ’60s. I always head over to the left-hand side of the room away from the main bar where there’s more space and another bar.
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Oxford Art Factory
46 Oxford St
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An essential venue to play for any band on the up, and I have seen countless gigs here. Some of my favourite shows over the years include #1 Dads, Courtney Barnett, and alt-j on one of their first visits to Australia. It’s a thriving venue and evidence that there is no shortage of passionate music fans in Sydney. The venue was inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory in New York during the ’60s. I always head over to the left-hand side of the room away from the main bar where there’s more space and another bar.
Secret shows and Prince tribute nights—Freda’s is just so much fun. It’s part cocktail bar, part live-music venue, part cultural space: A night out here is full of surprises. Go to meet your friend for a quiet drink, but don’t be surprised if you end up dancing on a table many hours later. Check out the late-night basement gallery downstairs. Called the Down / Under Space, it’s a rent-free, commission-free room available for use by young curators and emerging artists. It’s open the same hours as Freda’s, which means you can peruse new works well into the night.
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Freda's
107-109 Regent St
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Secret shows and Prince tribute nights—Freda’s is just so much fun. It’s part cocktail bar, part live-music venue, part cultural space: A night out here is full of surprises. Go to meet your friend for a quiet drink, but don’t be surprised if you end up dancing on a table many hours later. Check out the late-night basement gallery downstairs. Called the Down / Under Space, it’s a rent-free, commission-free room available for use by young curators and emerging artists. It’s open the same hours as Freda’s, which means you can peruse new works well into the night.
This teeny tiny venue is great for watching new bands—loud and extremely close. I’ve seen hotly tipped New Zealanders Fazerdaze and local up-and-comers Body Type there. One of the few remaining small live-music venues on Oxford Street, they’re still dedicated to giving acts the chance to break into the Sydney scene. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for the most-current details on upcoming performances as well as photos from recent shows.
The Brighton Hotel
77 Oxford St
This teeny tiny venue is great for watching new bands—loud and extremely close. I’ve seen hotly tipped New Zealanders Fazerdaze and local up-and-comers Body Type there. One of the few remaining small live-music venues on Oxford Street, they’re still dedicated to giving acts the chance to break into the Sydney scene. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for the most-current details on upcoming performances as well as photos from recent shows.
This underground club within the Civic Hotel in the center of the city is perfect for a big night out on the dance floor. Local/global label Future Classic regularly hosts parties here, and I saw the likes of Mansionair and Jagwar Ma play their very first shows here as well. Just around the corner is the CBD’s best Thai restaurant, Chat Thai. Fuel up on some delicious, authentic South-Asian street food and don’t forget dessert: My favourite dish is the dumplings filled with a paste of ground peanuts and palm sugar.
Pitt Street
Pitt Street
This underground club within the Civic Hotel in the center of the city is perfect for a big night out on the dance floor. Local/global label Future Classic regularly hosts parties here, and I saw the likes of Mansionair and Jagwar Ma play their very first shows here as well. Just around the corner is the CBD’s best Thai restaurant, Chat Thai. Fuel up on some delicious, authentic South-Asian street food and don’t forget dessert: My favourite dish is the dumplings filled with a paste of ground peanuts and palm sugar.

Entertainment & Activities

Located in the basement of the historic Paramount House in Surry Hills, this place is hard to find but easy to love. It often hosts live music on the tiny stage on Thursdays and Saturdays. Renowned for its A-grade cocktails, Golden Age regularly hosts a quality lineup of local music on the tiny stage on Thursdays and Saturdays. The best bit? It’s free. The stunning Art Deco Paramount building is also home to a 60-seat restored screening room, showing new releases and classic indie films, with an adjoining bar. Whatever you’re coming here for, arrive early to enjoy wine or a cocktail, good bar snacks, and amazing ice cream sundaes.
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Golden Age Cinema & Bar
80 Commonwealth St
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Located in the basement of the historic Paramount House in Surry Hills, this place is hard to find but easy to love. It often hosts live music on the tiny stage on Thursdays and Saturdays. Renowned for its A-grade cocktails, Golden Age regularly hosts a quality lineup of local music on the tiny stage on Thursdays and Saturdays. The best bit? It’s free. The stunning Art Deco Paramount building is also home to a 60-seat restored screening room, showing new releases and classic indie films, with an adjoining bar. Whatever you’re coming here for, arrive early to enjoy wine or a cocktail, good bar snacks, and amazing ice cream sundaes.
It’s not Sydney’s flashiest live-music venue, but it’s one of the most popular, and they regularly host some of my favourite local and international acts: Savages, Vince Staples, and Big Scary are some of my highlights. Try to grab a spot in front of the mixing desk for the best sightline and sound. In the basement you’ll find The Lair, an intimate version of its bigger sister upstairs. It only holds a few hundred people, which makes watching live music or comedy here a personal experience. The room is also decked out with retro video games, lounges, and plenty of dance floor.
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The Metro Theatre
624 George St
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It’s not Sydney’s flashiest live-music venue, but it’s one of the most popular, and they regularly host some of my favourite local and international acts: Savages, Vince Staples, and Big Scary are some of my highlights. Try to grab a spot in front of the mixing desk for the best sightline and sound. In the basement you’ll find The Lair, an intimate version of its bigger sister upstairs. It only holds a few hundred people, which makes watching live music or comedy here a personal experience. The room is also decked out with retro video games, lounges, and plenty of dance floor.

Arts & Culture

It’s hard to believe that contemporary music shows in this iconic venue were rare until a few years ago. The artists performing—no matter how established—are often in awe of the venue and the crowd feeds off that for a great vibe. Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Sufjan Stevens all played euphoric shows here, and Crowded House famously performed outdoors on the steps. I’d recommend arriving a couple of hours before your show to make the most of the spectacular harbour backdrop. Go for a drink at the popular Opera Bar, set right on the water, with jaw-dropping views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House itself. Daytime or nighttime—it wows around the clock.
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Sydney Opera House
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It’s hard to believe that contemporary music shows in this iconic venue were rare until a few years ago. The artists performing—no matter how established—are often in awe of the venue and the crowd feeds off that for a great vibe. Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Sufjan Stevens all played euphoric shows here, and Crowded House famously performed outdoors on the steps. I’d recommend arriving a couple of hours before your show to make the most of the spectacular harbour backdrop. Go for a drink at the popular Opera Bar, set right on the water, with jaw-dropping views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House itself. Daytime or nighttime—it wows around the clock.
Gigs at this heritage-listed building right in the middle of the city are a real treat. The building is stunning, with Gothic, Italian, and Art Deco flourishes. They also offer comfortable seating, great sound quality, and iconic artists like Patti Smith onstage—they have it all. For the best view, try to get a seat in the stalls downstairs. The State Theatre doesn’t just host live music, there’s a diverse annual program spanning everything from comedy and ballet to story evenings and musicals. It’s also one of the main venues for the Sydney International Film Festival.
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State Theatre
49 Market St
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Gigs at this heritage-listed building right in the middle of the city are a real treat. The building is stunning, with Gothic, Italian, and Art Deco flourishes. They also offer comfortable seating, great sound quality, and iconic artists like Patti Smith onstage—they have it all. For the best view, try to get a seat in the stalls downstairs. The State Theatre doesn’t just host live music, there’s a diverse annual program spanning everything from comedy and ballet to story evenings and musicals. It’s also one of the main venues for the Sydney International Film Festival.
In bustling Newtown, the slanted front section at this classic live-music venue guarantees good sightlines to whoever is onstage. I have let loose here to many great bands over the years, including Grimes, Kendrick Lamar, Arcade Fire, and many more. Newtown is home to so many great small bars that it’s difficult to pick just one to visit before or after a show. Check out Earl’s Juke Joint for New Orleans-inspired cocktails and decor, The Hideaway for great craft beers on tap, and The Midnight Special, which also hosts live music on a tiny stage.
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The Enmore Theatre
118-132 Enmore Rd
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In bustling Newtown, the slanted front section at this classic live-music venue guarantees good sightlines to whoever is onstage. I have let loose here to many great bands over the years, including Grimes, Kendrick Lamar, Arcade Fire, and many more. Newtown is home to so many great small bars that it’s difficult to pick just one to visit before or after a show. Check out Earl’s Juke Joint for New Orleans-inspired cocktails and decor, The Hideaway for great craft beers on tap, and The Midnight Special, which also hosts live music on a tiny stage.
A not-for-profit, artist-run warehouse space in the industrial neighbourhood of Marrickville, near Sydenham station. Head here for one-of-a-kind performances by underground artists from a range of genres. Red Bull hosts a concert series here—Sydney favourites Red Riders recently played a reunion show—and their bookings actively support queer artists as well. The name of the theatre is inspired by the old Red Rattler trains, plus the colour red has long associations with left politics, revolution, and anarchism, and the owners say the rattle refers to their mission of ‘shaking up’ the established cultural scene in Sydney.
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Red Rattler Theatre
6 Faversham St
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A not-for-profit, artist-run warehouse space in the industrial neighbourhood of Marrickville, near Sydenham station. Head here for one-of-a-kind performances by underground artists from a range of genres. Red Bull hosts a concert series here—Sydney favourites Red Riders recently played a reunion show—and their bookings actively support queer artists as well. The name of the theatre is inspired by the old Red Rattler trains, plus the colour red has long associations with left politics, revolution, and anarchism, and the owners say the rattle refers to their mission of ‘shaking up’ the established cultural scene in Sydney.