Where to party in Sydney this weekend

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.

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.