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Dirty Dozen Tour

Our Dirty Dozen Tour offers an exciting exploration of the hidden gems of York Street, Margaret Street, and Hunter Street. We'll take you to 3 secret bars, that even the locals don't know about. You'll sample delicacies and signature drinks, and get a unique taste of the culture and nightlife of this exciting area. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of exploration, fun, and discovery!

Mile High Tour 

Experience the beauty of the Sydney skyline from the highest rooftop bars in the CBD with the Mile High Tour. Our guided tour takes you to some of the best bars in the city, each perched atop a skyscraper and offering spectacular views of the cityscape. Enjoy an array of delicious signature cocktails from each bar as you soak in the beauty of Sydney. Join us for a truly unforgettable night on the Mile High Tour!

Pitt Street Tour 

Are you ready for an exciting night out on the town? Sydney Bar Tours takes you on a journey through the city’s hidden gems. We’re talking about tequila, margaritas, tacos, empanadas and corn ribs. We’ll even knock on a hidden underground door and finish the tour with a “dealers choice”. We'll take you to places you won't find anywhere else. It's the perfect way to explore the city with friends, family or even new acquaintances. So what are you waiting for? Come join us on an unforgettable night of adventure.

Want to organise your own custom tour? Contact us today!

🎆 Experience Vivid Sydney & Have Tons Of Fun On Our Limited Edition Vivid Lights Secret Bar Crawl! 🎆

Drink & Discover Secret Bar Crawl

Discover hidden bars on Sydney’s best bar tour, with 3 different routes. Meet people, hear stories, have fun and enjoy great drinks!

Small Bars & Street Art

Visit some of Sydney’s best small bars while discovering amazing street art with an expert. Explore either Newtown (Wed) or Redfern (Sat).

Vivid Lights Secret Bar Crawl

Visit 3 of Sydney’s best small bars while exploring the Vivid Lights artworks! Two different routes to see all the best lights installations.

Surry Hills – Crime & Cocktails

Discover the backstories of the “worst women of Sydney” on this tour of Surry Hills. This interactive tour makes a great team building activity!

Sydney by Night – Private Bar & Food Tour

Have the best night out in Sydney on this private tour, combining food, drinks and stories as you explore the town on a curated route.

Oxford Street Bar Crawl with a Drag Queen

Get ready for a fun night on Oxford Street, the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQ+ scene, hosted by fabulous drag queen extraordinaire, Kiama Blowhole.

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Drink and Discover Secret Bar Crawl

Drink and discover on Sydney’s best bar crawl! Perfect for solos, friends, and locals of all ages who want a fun and unique night out exploring Sydney’s best small bars.

Over four hours, your expert host will take you to three to four different bars including very well-hidden ones and some of Sydney’s top-rated bars. Your first drink (beer or wine) is included and some share food, then leave it up to you to choose how you want to enjoy the night.

On Tuesday nights, explore some of Sydney’s best bars around the CBD, focusing on the “Bermuda’s Triangle” of small bars around York, Clarence and Kent (YCK) streets. On Thursday nights, hit up Circular Quay and The Rocks, where a bunch of fantastic cocktail bars have opened up recently. And on Saturday nights, head to their favourite stomping grounds of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst, so you can party like the weekend it is!

After the bar crawl, you are provided with a map link to all the bars and places visited throughout the night, plus some extra spots to visit.

Accessibility

Allows a person's carer free entry into participating venues and events

Actively welcomes people with access needs.

Ask all visitors if there are any specific needs to be met

Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss

Caters for people who use a wheelchair.

Caters for people with allergies and intolerances.

Modify your cooking and cleaning practices to cater for people with food allergies or chemical intolerances (could include menus with meals free from: nuts, dairy, seafood, eggs, gluten etc)

Offer a range of contact methods for receiving complaints

Offer multiple options for booking - web, email, phone

Provide assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)

Train your staff in customer service for people with vision loss (training would incorporate way finding and communicating with people with vision loss)

Train your staff in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges

Train your staff in disability awareness

Use Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)

Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)

Secrets of Thaitown Food Tour

Street Art & Small Bars

Vivid Lights Secret Bar Crawl

Five Dock “Little Italy” Food Tour

Ultimate Sydney Walking Tour

Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet

Chinatown - Street Food and Stories

Ice Cream and Street Art Adventure

Newtown Chewtown - Food and Street Art

Local Sydney - Aussie Food, Culture and Coffee

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Discover Sydney's Nightlife Magic: Exclusive Sydney Bar Tours with Local Expert Matt

Tested & Recommended by Universal Traveller

ADDRESS & CONTACT

-33.8698439, 151.2082848

+61 402 425 569

Embark on a fun journey through the pulsating heart of Sydney’s nightlife with the unparalleled Sydney Bar Tours.

Crafted for enthusiastic locals and curious tourists, this tour is your golden ticket to the city’s illustrious bar scene, as seen through the eyes of a true Sydneysider.

Led by Matt, the vibrant founder and guide of Sydney Bar Tours, your adventure promises more than just a peek into the best spots in town—it’s a deep dive into the soul of Sydney’s nightlife.

Having explored every bar and sipped on an impressive array of drinks, Matt brings to the tour an expertise that’s both genuine and expansive.

As you navigate through the city’s bustling streets, Matt shares with you the finest bars and the stories that breathe life into these spaces.

His knowledge of Sydney’s culture, engaging conversations, and the thrill of discovering speakeasies and hidden gems make for an experience that’s as educational as it is exhilarating.

Sydney Bar Tours stands out as a beacon for those yearning to immerse themselves in the local bar culture.

Offering a blend of cultural insights, thrilling narratives, and an exceptional selection of drinks, it’s the perfect setting for a night out with friends, a unique exploration of the city, or simply a quest for outstanding cocktails.

My journey with Sydney Bar Tours was nothing short of remarkable. When we met Matt, it was clear that the night would be filled with laughter, discovery, and fantastic drinks.

Each bar unveiled a new layer of Sydney’s vibrant character, from the bustling to the covert, ensuring that the adventure was as diverse as it was memorable.

The highlight, a visit to a speakeasy, felt like stepping into a secret world I would have never found on my own.

The promise of Sydney Bar Tours to deliver an unforgettable adventure was wholeheartedly fulfilled. As someone who has now experienced the magic of Sydney’s nightlife through Matt’s eyes, I can confidently say this tour is a must-do.

Whether you’re a seasoned local or a traveler seeking to uncover the real Sydney, joining Sydney Bar Tours is an experience you’ll want to relive. I am already looking forward to my next adventure with them.

Protect your trip: With all our travel experience, we highly recommend you hit the road with travel insurance! SafetyWing offers flexible & reliable Digital Nomads Travel Medical Insurance at just a third of the price of similar competitor plans.

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Local Sauce Secret Bar Crawl: Circular Quay and The Rocks

Looking for a fun night out in Sydney? We recently send writer Joanne Karcz along to road test a local bar tour. Sydney has a few to choose from but we settled on Local’s Sauce’s tour of Circular Quay and The Rocks. Let’s see what she thought.

Jack, our guide for tonight’s Sydney Secret Bar Crawl, has a challenge. That is, to introduce me to Sydney bars that I don’t know. As a local who knows Sydney’s bar scene quite well, I’m hoping that this Local Sauce Secret Bar Tour will take me somewhere new.  

What type of people join a Local Sauce Bar Tour?

Our group of eleven have come together from across the world. I’m the only Sydney local. There’s a German, an Indian living in Austria, a Turkish woman, a Texan and a woman from the UK. Besides two young Korean women, and a couple from San Francisco, all are single, and hoping to meet people to hang out with while visiting Sydney. This Local Sauce Secret Bar Crawl is a great way for people to make new friends and get to know a bit about Sydney.

Local Sauce offers three different Sydney Bar Tours and tonight we’ll visit bars in Circular Quay and The Rocks. Tuesdays’ tour takes guests to bars in Sydney’s CBD and on Saturdays there’s a bar tour in Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. 

“Lots of guests do more than one bar tour,” says Justin Steele, who started Local Sauce Tours , adding that one in our group “is doing all three this week.” 

The bar crawl begins

Customs House is the perfect meeting place for a bar tour. For 150 years, people and goods arriving in Sydney passed through the doors of this imposing sandstone building. Like them, we too pass through Customs house, first stopping to inspect the underfloor scale model of Sydney’s CBD. Jack points out significant landmarks and our route tonight. 

En route to our first bar, we walk through Quay Quarter Lanes passing sculptures by Jonathan Jones. Jack explains how the bronze clumps of oysters embedded in a sandstone wall represent a food source for the original inhabitants of this area. 

A “dive bar,” our first stop has reserved a long table outside for us. Before sitting down, I look inside. The lighting is subdued and large panels of scribbled graffiti cover the walls. A large sign in lights reads “RATPISS.” Jack explains that it’s an anagram for “UPSTAIRS.” Not quite. The ‘U’ is missing!

When the drinks arrive, glasses clink to a chorus of “cheers.” Conversation flows as people relax. I sit next to the Korean girls. They are open and friendly, enjoying the company and practicing their English. 

I’ve hardly finished my G&T when a waiter arrives at our table laden with a tray of tumblers, their rims salted rims. These mini-margarita are a nice surprise. We drink up and move on. There are still three bars to visit. 

Does the bar crawl include sightseeing?

With ferries pulling in to Circular Quay, and trains rushing overhead, Jack hops up onto a raised circular platform. He’s standing in the centre of a map of the Quay. Pointing to a stream flowing from the city into the harbour, Jack explains that this fresh water stream was the reason for Sydney being settled here.  

We’re lucky. While we were enjoying fine cocktails, the expected rain shower came and went, leaving the road damp and gleaming in the streetlight. Old Sandstone buildings surround us. These early colonial buildings gave rise to the name “The Rocks.” As Jack explains, the buildings were saved by Jack Mundey. A trade unionist, he led a campaign in the 1970s to preserve the built environment of the area. 

As the sun sets on a pleasant Sydney evening, we walk to a bar described as “A Bar with a Purpose.” It donates half its profits to rewilding the Daintree, a rainforest in far north Queensland. “So, the more you drink, the more you give back,” quips Jack as he hands out the menus. Although the bar is known for its rum, I choose a Native Pine Cocktail. It has a few native ingredients, including quandong, but no rum!

Walking through a sparsely lit narrow passage we enter an area of seemingly higgledy-piggledy arranged sandstone-walled ‘rooms’, reminiscent of housing in The Rocks in the early days of settlement. A short wooden staircase leads us down into the underground Doss House. 

We walk through a number of intimate low-roofed sandstone-walled spaces to a back room. Settling into a booth, I notice a large picture on the wall. A group of Asian men are sitting around a table playing mahjong.

What’s that doing in a Sydney bar ? All becomes clear when Jack tells us that the Doss House was once home to an opium dealer. It was also a boarding house, a doctor’s surgery and a bootmaker’s premises in years gone by. 

Two of our group know their whiskey. They roll their glass around in their palms sniffing the aroma before sipping appreciatively. They’d like to order a second round, but Jack gives a three-minute warning. There’s one more bar to visit. 

On the way we stop to view the Sydney Harbour Bridge . In the darkness, twinkling lights outline the distinctive features of the iconic bridge.  Floodlights highlight the sandstone pylons against the darkness of the night.  

Our group of new friends settles in at the last bar, a gin distillery. A few order gin flights. With an early start in the morning, I leave them to it. Jack rose to the challenge tonight. He did introduce me to four new Sydney bars, and gave me a fun night out too. 

While a Local Sauce Sydney Bar Crawl goes ahead with just one booking, there are usually around eight guests. Venues may change slightly. 

“Sometimes with a smaller group, we’ll mix a ‘wildcard’ bar in there or a surprise mini-stop,” Justin says. He never knows how many are coming as people often “quite close to the event, sometimes even only an hour before!”  

In 2024, two new “Small Bars and Street Art” tours in Newtown , Chippendale and Redfern will join the Local Sauce Bar Tour stable. Guests will be able to discover a range of bars throughout inner-Sydney from Tuesday through to Saturday. 

Need to Know When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays Where: Secret bar tours operate in Circular Quay & the Rocks, Surry Hills & Darlinghurst and the CBD. Who: Anyone over 18 years, most guests are aged 20-40 but all are welcome. What: Your secret bar crawl experience includes one free drink and some snacks. There are no additional entry fees at any of the venues. Book directly via Local Sauce.

Joanne Karcz was a guest of Local Sauce Tours.

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Private Sydney Bar and Laneways Tour

• Private Melbourne Laneways Walking Tour

Uncover the Hidden Gems of Australia’s Most Iconic City with a Local Guide

Tour Information

Make the most of your Australian vacation and explore the captivating underbelly of Sydney’s nightlife with an insider guide! Peruse exclusive laneways and heritage listed buildings, accessing unique venues that showcase Australia’s distinct atmosphere. Enjoy expertly crafted cocktails from bustling bars overflowing with fresh seasonal produce and tantalising snack platters – all topped off by delicious oysters sourced locally for a truly unforgettable experience for your Sydney Australia vacation.

• Discover the hidden gems of Sydney’s nightlife with a private guide
• Experience exclusive access to heritage listed buildings and laneways
• Savour the fresh and locally sourced ingredients from cosy bars
• Sample an extensive selection of cocktails, whisky, beers and more
• Enjoy mouthwatering snacks and oysters in unique Australian settings
• Insider’s view of Sydney’s nightlife
• Heritage listed buildings and laneways
• Unique and exclusive venues
• Delicious cocktails with seasonal produce
• Locally sourced oysters 

Hotel Pick Up

George street, endeavour tap rooms, the rocks precinct, nurses walk, palmer and co., what is included in your tour.

This tour includes a private guide to take you around the city and explore some of Sydney’s unique heritage buildings, a premium Australian cheese platter and drinks at Bulletin Place and Palmer & Co., dumplings and drinks at Uncle Ming’s, and beer paddle tasting with artisanal snacks at Endeavour Tap Rooms.

How long will I have to explore each venue on this tour?

You will have approximately 1-2 hours to explore each venue on this Australian tour. Your private guide will start collecting you from your hotel at 6:30pm and return you by 10:30pm. During this time, you’ll be able to fully experience each venue and all their associated activities. Happy exploring!

Are any food or drinks provided during the tour?

Yes, food and drinks are included with the Australian luxury tour. You will be treated to a premium Australian cheese platter and drinks at Bulletin Place and Palmer & Co., dumplings and drinks at Uncle Ming’s, and beer paddle tasting with artisanal snacks at Endeavour Tap Rooms.

What time does the tour depart and return to my hotel?

This Sydney tour departs at 6:30pm and returns to your hotel by 10:30pm. Make sure you’re ready to go at 6:30pm so that you can make the most of the tour!

Is there a minimum age requirement for this tour?

The minimum age requirement is 18 years old.

Testimonials

Small Bar Walking Tour

Highlights & inclusions, select travellers & date, what you can expect.

Sydney's newest small bar tour will take you on an evening journey through the ever-evolving small bar and nightlife scene of Darlinghurst. Walk with us and discover many of the newest small bars that are continually popping up around the city of Sydney and its suburbs that you might have a bit of trouble finding on your own! You'll visit 3 unique small bars, spending approximately 45 minutes in each with enough time to enjoy the complimentary food platter or beverage on offer at each venue - and then perhaps have another!

Your friendly accompanying Sydney-sider will guide you through a fun, relaxed and sophisticated tour while also discovering where other bars, restaurants and social events are happening throughout the city. Along the way we'll point out numerous venues that will provide you with a combination of history, heritage and culture - perfect for locals, first-time visitors to Sydney and repeat visitors.

What you need to know

• 3 hour tour
• Entry into 3 bars with complimentary food or beverage on arrival
• Hotel transfers
• Take an evening journey through Sydney's emerging small bar scene
• Discover new small bars
• Heritage buildings and laneways
• Spend 45 minutes in each bar
• Sample house specialties
• Friendly, local guide
• Relaxed and sophisticated tour
• Tours depart on Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Glass Dome entrance to Wynyard Train Station at 6.00pm and returns at approximately 9.00pm
• Under 18’s cannot be guaranteed entry even when attending with a parent or guardian. Your guide may request Photo ID
• Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
• Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on the day of tour
• Mobile Vouchers are accepted! - If you are unable to print, vouchers can also be presented on your mobile device for this experience.
• For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher

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• Email us at [email protected]
• Help code: D2B-147F
• This experience is supplied by Kings Cross Walking Tours

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The 21 best hidden bars in Sydney

Keep your eyes peeled because some of Sydney's best bars are masters at Hide and Seek

Maybe it's signalled by a glimmer of light under a door. Perhaps a queue in an alley that makes you take pause to wonder what the fuss is all about. Or is it the sound of revelry drifting up a flight of stairs in the distance that lures you in?

Whatever it is, there's something about the pursuit of getting to a hidden bar – the build-up of anticipation or the knowledge that a drink is somewhere, out there, waiting for you – that we all just can't help but love.

Whether they're up high or down below, some of Sydney's very best bars are not all that easy to find. In fact, you've probably walked straight past a few without even knowing they existed. Time Out Sydney's critics, including Food and Drink Writer Avril Treasure , have searched for the best hidden bars – and here are the ones you'll have to hunt the hardest for. 

Prefer to be out in the open? The best rooftop bars in Sydney  might be your best bet, but there are a whole lot of waterfront bars  and ace beer gardens  worthy of your attention, too. 

An email you’ll actually love

Sydney's finest hidden bars

• 5 out of 5 stars
• Cocktail bars
• price 3 of 4

Sydney’s Eau de Vie 2.0 serves up classy signature cocktails in a dark, speakeasy-style setting with flashes of razzle dazzle. And while the address says George Street, you enter via Wynyard Lane. Eau de Vie isn’t just about the excellent, razzle-dazzle cocktails, or the glam secret setting, or the delicious snacks – it’s a whole multisensory experience. If you're looking for an out-of-the-ordinary night out, this is it. That's if you can find it, of course.

• price 2 of 4

The Marble Bar, underground the Hilton Sydney hotel , turned 130 in 2023. It’s hard to believe Sydney has any bars that are this old, right? Pubs , sure? But bars! T he lavish fit-out makes the place feel like a time capsule. It is, indeed, clad in marble, with elaborate pillars and archways throughout. The ceilings are designed with ornate plaster detail, coated in gold. The bars are made from polished mahogany. And a collection of French realist-style paintings by Julian Ashton, commissioned in the late 1800s for a record-breaking sum, line the walls in gilded frames. The space is divine, and we say you can’t really call yourself a true Sydneysider until you’ve at least stopped by for a cocktail.  But our favourite part of Marble Bar is that it’s long been a champion for live music . They feature live bands on their raised stage five nights a week (Monday to Friday) and have a DJ on Saturday nights.

Found in a dark and moody basement on Clarence Street, Old Loves is a  hidden Caribbean-inspired rum bar by the team behind  legendary Sydney bar  Old Mate’s Place . Come for the  320-strong rum list and  seasonal Daiquiris made from market-fresh fruit, like the highly smashable Mango, Pandan and Coconut Daiquiri.

The Baxter Inn

Sydney’s fervour for this candle-lit basement bar with a whisky collection extensive enough to stop even collectors dead in their tracks has yet to slacken. Head down the alley, turn right and right again, then take the stairs straight down. The apocalypse could well be happening outside and you'd have absolutely no idea, so transportive is atmosphere below the city streets, complete with vintage prizefighter portraits and soaked in the sounds of jazz and blues.

The Cumberland

As far as dramatic entrances go, the Cumberland makes quite an impression. The secret is out, sure, but that doesn't make pulling open the original 1920s fridge door at Manly's Cove Deli any less exciting. Behind it is an operation that has spared absolutely no expense, and soaking in all the elements – the painstakingly handcrafted leather banquettes, original turn-of-the-century brass beer taps – is much of the fun. The rest lies in clever concoctions inspired by Australia's history, the quirky toilets and the unexpected exit.

• Circular Quay

In the basement of a heritage warehouse in Sydney’s CBD you’ll find a Sicilian-inspired cocktail bar named for the ill-fated wife of Michael Corleone in  Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 mobster masterpiece, T h e Godfather. But don’t let that put you off. For those of us who have been lying about having seen T h e Godfather their whole lives, good news. Every page of the drinks menu will run you through the storyline (spoilers lie within, but it’s literally been 50 years) so you can impress your date with cinematic knowledge while sipping on top tipples.

You’ll find Sydney favourite Burrow Bar hidden in the basement on the corner of Clarence and Barrack Streets (they previously were found hidden along an alleyway off George Street). The cocktails are killer, the team is great, and it's a top spot to escape Sydney’s hustle and bustle, albeit for a few glorious hours.

Here's one for those who believe in the journey just as much as the destination. To reach Door Knock, you'll need to conquer two steep flights of concrete stairs (is this further underground than Town Hall Station?) and a very long hallway. You no longer need to knock three times when you arrive at the door with a brass pineapple, but you'll still feel like you've really earned that cocktail when you set foot in the place.

Old Mate's Place

Old Mate calls the 'hidden' bet and raises it – literally – with a killer bar and cracking rooftop at the peak of an otherwise unmarked building. You'll need to scale 102 steps or a lift ride tinged with anticipation, but they're small prices to pay for serious cocktails crafted by some of the best in the biz. Whether you're here to canoodle in a candlelit booth beneath the stacks of old library books or snag a coveted spot on the compact rooftop makes no difference; you can't go wrong either way.

Clarence Street is Sydney's unofficial headquarters for tip-top watering holes hidden in plain sight, and Lobo is one of the originals. The only giveaway might be the echo of Cuban rhythms snaking their way up the spiral stairs. Follow them, and be rewarded with lots and lots of top-shelf rum shaken and stirred by a crack team that sweats the details. Turns out the spirit of Old Havana is and well. 

Employees Only

If we had to credit one bar with the revival of the speakeasy, it might very well be Employees Only. The original opened in New York back in 2004, with nothing but a neon 'Psychic' sign to clue the thirsty. In the decade-plus since, the celebrated cocktail bar has opened outlets in major cities across the world, and we got a taste when our very own 'Psychic' sign lit up for the first time at the end of 2018. Excellent cocktails are to be expected, and yes, there really is a tarot card reader on hand.

Double Deuce Lounge

Maybe there's a small queue forming on the north side of Bridge Street just off George Street. Or maybe not. Either way, look for a security guard standing at attention, ready to radio down and ask whether there's a spot available down in this debaucherous cocktail den that nods to the so-called Golden Age of Porn and the daggy drinks that went along with it without a shred of self-consciousness. If there isn't, it's very much worth waiting for.

Part general store and wine bar, part speakeasy-style tropical cocktail bar, Huelo sure is shaking things up along King Street. The multifaceted operation is the child of two Sydney hospitality heavyweights – Dre Walters from Old Mate’s Place , and Ginny’s Canoe Club , and Swan 'Swanny' Kanongataa from the Rover and Bistecca – so know that your drinks are in good hands. At the front of the booze operation is the general store and wine bar selling goodies Nonna would love. But hidden at the back behind a door is a speakeasy-style 12-seater tropical cocktail bar with its own sunny courtyard. Come here in the afternoon (or late at night) for fun and fruity cocktails.

Earl's Juke Joint

If you're one of the very few people who don't know that Betta Meats on the south end of King Street in Newtown is no longer a butcher, you do now. The vintage patina conceals one of the Inner West's treasures and one of the friendliest bar teams in town. Settle in for a Sazerac at the long timber bar, and it won't be long before the eternal charms of this New Orleans-inspired neighbourhood joint cast their spell. 

Papa Gede's

Even if you look up Papa Gede's on your phone, chances are you'll wander into the wrong laneway or look past the cobblestones into the dark tunnel off Kent Street and wonder whether there's actually anything there. Keep walking and you'll find laidback tiki bar that'll cast a real spell on you thanks to great chat and an even greater Zombie. Bonus points for dog-friendliness.

Ramblin' Rascal Tavern

Look for the sliver of a sign with the silhouettes of three skulls (they're co-owners Sebastian "Cosmo" Soto, Dardan Shervashidze  and Charlie Lehmann). That's the only indication there's something happening behind a nondescript door sandwiched between a convenience store and the entrance to a hair salon. And boy, it is really happening down in this dive bar dreams are made of. Cognac is the calling card, as are the bowls of corn nuts and Mary's burgers on demand to soak it all up between rounds.

The Barber Shop

Behind a fully functioning barbershop is where you'll find this schmick bar with a terrarium vibe, so you can get all handsome and then take your new look out for drinks. Gin is the focus, so step to the front of the queue if a humble G&T or a filthy Martini is what you gets you going. And being that it shares the back of a laneway with the Baxter Inn  and the Duke of Clarence , chances are you'll be hiding out in this neck of the woods for quite a while. 

The Swinging Cat

Just about the only thing that isn't classy about the Swinging Cat is the fact that it shares an entrance with a Subway sandwich franchise. But hey, at least it makes for an easy way to recognise you're in the right place. Head underground and you'll find yourself in a world of gas-lit streetlamps and old-school New Orleans-style comforts. They're your cue to order a Vieux Carré, sit back, relax and clink glasses to the Big Easy. 

Is it a seamstresses workshop? No! It's Stitch, a CBD basement bar that's been doing its thing since 2011. Whisky is a big part of the offering, with plenty of bourbon and rye to back it up. A carb-heavy carte that trades in hot dogs, burgers, tacos and fried mac-and-cheese balls knows exactly what buttons to push, and a selection of vatted cocktails make for a very spirited finish. It's no stitch-up.

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Guide to Sydney

Aboriginal name: Warrane (pronounced War-rang)

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• Getting to Sydney
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A city of iconic attractions and brilliant beaches, Sydney is a destination you'll never forget.

Sydney is home to must-visit icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, but this Harbour City is constantly evolving. New rooftop bars, theatre shows and designer shops pop up at every turn, and the urban excitement is perfectly balanced by afternoons spent lying on the sand. Plus, with diverse destinations at its doorstep, Sydney is the perfect base for day trips and weekends away.

Sydney/Warrane is home to a number of distinct First Nations groups, spanning from the beaches of Bondi out to the Blue Mountains. Warrane refers to the area now known as Circular Quay and Sydney Cove specifically. 

Aboriginal culture is vibrant across the city, and you can experience it on cultural tours, exhibitions and events throughout the year. 

• Traditional name: Warrane (pronounced War-rang),
• Indigenous Peoples of Central Sydney: Gadigal people
• Traditional lands of Greater Sydney: Eora Nation
• Traditional languages of Central Sydney: Gadigal language
• How to say g’day in Gadigal: Budyeri kamaru

Being one of Australia’s major cities, getting to Sydney is easy with many international and domestic flights arriving daily. 

• Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) is 9km (5.5mi) from the city and services international and domestic arrivals
• Hire cars, rideshare and taxi services and shuttles are conveniently available to book prior to your arrival, or on the day 
• Sydney Airport is also serviced by an urban train line direct to the city

Sydney offers clean, reliable and affordable public transport services connecting all of the city’s suburbs. Read more about getting around Sydney .

When it comes to weather , Sydney is quite predictable and experiences four distinct seasons. The warmer months are commonly from November to February, with the cooler months being March to August. 

Even if you are visiting in the cooler months, make sure to pack swimwear, as it is common to enjoy warm, sunny days during winter.

• High season: Spring and summer (November to February)
• Low season: Winter (June to August)
• Don’t miss: The long list of festivals and events happening all year long

Throughout Sydney, you’ll find accessible attractions , museums and galleries , heritage landmarks and more.

• Arrival: Special assistance for people with disabilities, including those with hidden disabilities , is available upon arrival and departure at Sydney Airport.
• Getting around: Most of Sydney’s public transport networks are accessible for people using a wheelchair or mobility device. You can use the ‘Accessible services only’ option on the Trip Planner tool for real-time public transport information.
• Accessible experience highlights: Australia in Style provides epic accessible Sydney tours for wheelchair users, and the staff at Let’s Go Surfing are committed to helping everyone ride Bondi’s famous waves.
• Helpful resources: The Vacayit app provides immersive audio guides to selected Sydney attractions. Check out Sydney’s access and inclusion map to explore the city on your own.

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