The best dancefloors in Sydney

This funky late-night haunt on Sydney’s Pink Mile brings the thumping vibe of Ibiza’s clubbing scene to a lush retro cocktail lounge – with top notch DJs and club acts, and carefully curated cocktails to boot. In 2024, it made headlines as the first Aussie haunt to crack Nightlife International's Top 100 list. The state-of-the-art sound system consists of no less than 33 speakers littered throughout the venue, including the bathrooms. While sound is the main pull that the venue has on blast, the lighting system is also something to rave about – they have lights imported from Amsterdam that are the only ones of their kind in Australia. Plus a rotating stage (hence the name).

One of our favourite places for a boogie in Sydney is Sussudio, an intimate neon-red disco club in Potts Point. The music is always on point, there’s a decent amount of bar staff so it doesn’t take forever to get a drink, and it's cosy enough to feel like a really fun house party. Plus, it’s open until 3.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.

This subterranean William Street club has a long legacy of day and night parties to rival any of its Continental counterparts. The Berlin-inspired den knows how to curate a vibe (and a line-up), the fact that this is the venue that Fred Again.. chose for one of his pop-up Sydney show speaks volumes. The later you head here, the better. 

The Abercrombie is a massive party palace in Chippendale, home to a ground-floor club space, public bar and beer garden. There’s also a rooftop bar perfect for smashing happy hour Margs. But when you feel like a boogie, the nightclub is where it’s at. And now, Freda’s has taken over the music line-up at The Abercrombie, curating a fun roster of vibing DJs.

Next door to the Abercrombie, you'll find the lastest iteration of the Sydney dance music institution that is Freda's. While Bar Freda's is primarily focused on food and drinks, the intimate space hosts some of the best parties in town on Friday and Saturday nights.

With an eclectic program of live performances every night of the week, you never know what to expect when stepping into this subterranean space, but we’re willing to bet it will be a pleasure. Order one of the fun and fruity cocktails, and slip into a booth, then join the dancefloor (in whatever form it takes) whenever you’re ready – it’s open until 4am every night, so you’ve got plenty of time.

Sydney’s much loved mid-sized live music venue doubles up as an awesome after-party when gigs conclude. The Gallery bar is usually free, while ticketed events go off in the main bar.

The basement at Erskineville's LGBTQIA+ haven has got enough sweat and grind about it to make it feel like it deserves to be underground. And the best part is the music. It’s loud, and proud and so early '00s awful that it’s intoxicating. The basement also hosts regular parties from some of Sydney’s best queer collectives. Between underground affairs, you can have a sip and a bop while drag queens and other fab performers twirl in the ground floor bar.

Bar Freda’s – an evolution of Chippendale’s OG party bar Freda's, as well as Darlinghurst’s go-to Cafe Freda’s – is now open in Chippendale. Expect high-energy dance hits, backed up by groovy interiors and excellent eats and drinks. Bar Freda’s has taken over a two-level heritage terrace connected to The Abercrombie, in the former home of Lil Sis, with co-founders David Abram and Carla Uriarte aiming to create a cool space that brings people together over a shared love of good times. DJs will be playing every Friday and Saturday night, from 8pm 'till late.

With one of the city’s best sound system, this small, underground club below the Civic Hotel attracts great international headliners for all night techno, deep house and electro parties. It's sweaty and grungey in all the best ways.

This hot spot on the 'Pink Mile' of Oxford Street promises pumping tunes and seven nights of drag performances every week, with lines often sprawling down the street. Upstairs on Friday and Saturday nights in the former Midnight Shift club, dance parties Fame Fridays and Déjà Vu kick off after drag and dine experience Premiere packs up. 

This grand, Victorian-style bar is best known for its stately decor, but its the commitment to supporting live music that gets us across the line. Head here for a good R&B-soundtracked boogie, and retreat to a booth with an excellent cocktail when you need a break.

Harry’s snack game is strong – and what better way to work off fried chicken wings than with a post-dinner dance? The lounge upstairs goes off with DJs from 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, and it's within an easy walk from Sydney's coolest street if you want to explore.

Located in Cockle Bay, this large three-storey nightclub with Harbour views attracts locals and tourists alike for mainstream house music and occassional local live music. For a big kick-on party, Morning Glory starts from 5am every Sunday. 

They cut a mean dancefloor at the monster pub at the Newtown crossroads. Every Wednesday, the Marly's ground floor jumps with local DJs. Come Friday and Saturday nights, all three levels get their groove on: in the basement, local tastemakers curate an electric line up of DJs in rave cave Tokyo Sing Song, and upstairs at Cuckoo you can get weird with regular live music.

This no-frills dive bar is one of the most beloved clubs on the main gay drag of Oxford Street. People tend to head here for daggy, tipple-heavy nights that – more often than not – end up stretching into the wee hours.

Looking for a dancefloor out west? This Parramatta pub's nightclub space has you covered every weekend evening. Kicking off with RnB and hip hop for Albion Fridays, then, Vibe Saturdays packs DJs, percussion and big beats.

You gotta get up to get down at this huge King Street stalwart. Up on the first floor you’ll find a bar and music venue called Waywards. Live music is back to full throttle with dancing at live shows in Waywards on Fridays and Saturdays (or improv comedy on Monday nights, if that's more your pace). 

Surry Hills' Japanese booze and snack palace can pack a mean d-floor (in addition to a mean karaoke booth). Get litty every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night with DJs, dancing and well-earned dumpling breaks. 

The ability to squash so many Sydney scenes inside a modest space is one of the Gladdy's most impressive attributes. Their weekly events line-up is a fun mix of drawing classes, rowdy trivia and even rowdier dance parties. Head here on a Friday or Saturday night for a fuss-free, beer-fuelled boogie.

While Oxford Street has changed a lot in recent years, this subterranean tropical club’s sunken dancefloor still gets pumping. RnB and hip hop will be blasting every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. 

The dancefloor on Level One kicks off at the tail end of the week at this Taylor Square stalwart. In the basement of the popular gay bar you'll also find a boutique bar and club known as Oxford Undergound – it regularly hosts some of Sydney's best underground DJs.

At this hundred year old pub in Double Bay, the dancefloors get jumping every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night in the Beer Garden, Canopy Bar and Rooftop with a roster of local DJs getting your feet moving. 

This six-storey building in the heart of the Cross is home to two club floors. Friday and Saturdays once again see DJs and dancefloors lighting up under the soft red glow of the famous Coca-Cola sign.