For her second installment of Little Travel Journal, Natasha Przedborski takes us through her favorite hot spots in Sydney, Australia.
You’ve made it! Welcome to the land down-under. Get ready…the first few days will be full of mayhem. Where do I go? Where can I meet all the hot surfer boys? What was the name of that amazing place that one rando told me about that one time?
To avoid that awkward almost NSOP feeling, here is a list of my favorite places!
Clubs
Chinese Laundry (111 Sussex St, Sydney)
Located near Darling Harbor, Chinese Laundry is lowkey the best club in Sydney. Go down a couple stairs which leads to an alleyway and enter the kingdom of Australian DJs. It consists of two main rave caves full of friendly faces and the absolute best music you will hear in Sydney.
Oxford Art Factory (38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst Sydney)
Pretty similar to Chinese Laundry, but more relaxed. It consists of one main room and some lesser-known artists, but has an amazing sound system.
Soda Factory (16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills)
Soda is a bit underrated in my opinion. It has a retro, American diner meets nightclub vibe. You will walk in hearing the best throwbacks from the 80s and 90s that you can jam to with your newly made friends. If the scene is not for you, it is within walking distance of Oxford Art.
Ivy (330, George Street, Sydney)
Although I do not recommend Ivy every night, it is a must see and most importantly, Thursdays are free. Ivy is what happens when LeBain meets 1 Oak. In the summer, Ivy throws a series of Sunday session pool parties definitely worth attending.
Bars
Bearded Tit (183 Regent St, Redfern)
A little hole in the wall with a caravan in the backyard you can just lounge in. They are proud of their unisex bathrooms that make them a landmark for the LGBTQ community in Sydney. It is full of cool wall art, comfy couches, and the all time best coasters you will ever see.
Baxter Inn (152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney)
This place is the closest thing you will find to a speakeasy in a non-prohibition ridden country. Pass through a garbage disposal filled alley to find a bouncer ready to let you inside this whiskey den. With its low lighting and walls full of the best whiskeys in the world, Baxter Inn will make you feel like a young Hemmingway.
Bulletin Place (10-14 Bulletin Pl, Sydney)
This speakeasy-type bar has some of the best cocktails in Sydney. Bulletin Place can hold up to about 20 people so you have to wait for a table, but, trust me, it’s worth the wait. The menu changes everyday according to the freshness of the fruit of the day, but basics can also be made to order (if you’re really craving that vodka-cran).
Glenmore Hotel (96 Cumberland St, The Rocks)
The drinks at the Glenmore are pretty standard, but once you make the trek up all those stairs and turn around, you have the opera house straight in your face. The view from this rooftop bar is probably the best one you can get for under $20. They pride themselves on carrying Budweiser and Blue Moon, but, seriously, order a jug of Pimm’s and enjoy the people watching.
In between all of these activities, don’t forget to stop for some grub at these yummiest, semi-affordable places.
First things first: Mary’s (6 Mary St, Newtown)
Mary’s is in Newtown, the Williamsburg of Sydney. It’s ideal for Sunday lunch or Friday night dinner, if you find a spot. It has, hands down, the best burger in Sydney and the closest thing you will get to Shake Shack. After you finish stuffing your face with delicious food, walk down King’s Street and make the most out of the overwhelming amount of thrift shops and adorable bookstores.
Runner up: The Knox Bar (21 Shepherd St, Chippendale)
A neighborhood favorite, Knox Bar will remind you of your grandmother’s basement, full of random bits and bobbles. The bartenders are sweethearts and create their own set of cocktails. If you are unsure about what drink to get you can leave your fate to chance and spin a wheel. They also make amazing bar food.
The Sydney Fish Market (Bank St & Pyrmont Bridge Road, Sydney)
Hop onto the light rail (tramway) from Central and head to the fish market. Warning: it does smell like fish. There you can choose whichever fish you want in whatever way you prefer: fried, grilled, sashimi or be creative! Bring your food outside, eat on the edge of the water and look at the beautiful Sydney skyline where colonizers first arrived.
And lastly there is The Nomad (16 Foster St, Surry Hills)
Save this place for when your parents come to visit or when you celebrate a special occasion. It is a bit on the pricier side. Nomad is a cute Mediterranean tapas restaurant in the heart of Surry Hills. Once you are done with dinner and want to get a more affordable drink, you’ll find a plethora of choices just down Crown Street.
**This is an opinion piece and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.**