The best retro dancefloors in Sydney

Just behind the delightfully daggy glamour of Darling Harbour is the neon-tinged, two-floor dance arena of the Retro. Here you are certainly safe from judgement, swaddled by super-sloshed hens parties and able to indulge in a spot of the nutbush, or exercise your interpretive moves to the chorus of Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’. The DJs churns through all the pop hits at warp speed. The crowd is all ages and ready for a good time.

How much: $20
Hot tip: Free entry if you arrive dressed to the week’s theme.

Every first Saturday of the month the highway hotel in Arncliffe comes alive with a packed party that boasts hits from the ’80s, ’90s and the euphoric electronic pop oeuvre of Greece. It’s as interactive as the final hours of a wedding reception with the throbbing Euro beats and high energy power pop required to charge your uninhibited dance batteries. Fist pump along to high octane Greek club hits and retro classics in the euphoric strobe lights.

How much: $20 before 10pm, $25 after
Hot tip: Get a vodka cranberry at arguably one of Sydney’s latest happy hours (9-10pm).

This Oxford Street haven is one of Sydney’s oldest gay clubs and, if you can get in, a paradise of pop bangers from the past and present. A dark rumpus room of swirling disco tunes colliding with Adele remixes, the dancefloor here is thumping to a soundtrack of top notch Priscilla anthems that don’t take a breath. Pry your shoes from the sticky carpet, wrap your chops around a cold tap beer and sashay away, but be mindful of Palms as a safe space relic and respect the queer communities who have been pounding the veneer dancefloor here for decades.

How much: Free
Hot tip: Security is very strict about closed-toe shoes.

Another monthly suburban gem, this packed disco night in Ashfield includes light-up dancefloor a la Saturday Night Fever with a song selection to match. Strut your stuff to Earth, Wind, and Fire while a hype man shouts encouragement from the stage. Dance battle someone to ‘Staying Alive’ and wave your arms in the air with hundreds of your new friends to Rufus and Chaka Khan’s ‘Ain’t Nobody’ while glitter and streamers rain down. 

How much: $25
Hot tip: Pre-drinks are for babies, fill up on pre-pierogi from the club's restaurant.