Mardi Gras local hot spots
Myles Wearring
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is upon us once more and the harbour city is brimming with interstate and international visitors here to help the locals celebrate.
To mark the occasion we’ve compiled this quick guide to queer Sydney’s highlights.
The gay and lesbian community can be found in all corners of Sydney but is most prominent in the trendy inner city suburbs of Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Potts Point and the surrounding suburbs of Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay, and in the vibrant inner west suburbs of Newtown and nearby Erskineville.
Darlinghurst
Oxford Street, Darlinghurst is historically the gay heart of Sydney and where the annual Mardi Gras parade takes place. These days the strip is much more mixed and the gay and lesbian community has dispersed into surrounding suburbs, but it’s still where most of the gay bars and clubs are.
They include Slide, The Midnight Shift, Colombian Hotel, Palms, Stonewall Hotel, The Oxford Hotel and ARQ. Most bars in the area are very gay friendly.
Popular restaurants in Darlinghurst include Unas, famous for their schnitzels, seafood restaurant Fish Face, Thai restuarant Thai Nesia, French bistro Sel et Poivre and diner The Falconer.
Find more Darlinghurst restaurants and Darlinghurst bars.
Surry Hills
Surry Hills is far and away the restaurant capital of Sydney and heaven for queer foodies, with the likes of modern Thai establishment Longrain, Kylie Kwong’s famous Billy Kwong, Lebanese at Fatima’s, pizza at Pizza Mario, Japanese at Toko and Spanish at Bodega, to name just a few highlights.
Gay-friendly bars and pubs in Surry Hills include The Winery, The Beresford Hotel and Dolphin Hotel.
Find more Surry Hills bars and Surry Hills restaurants.
Potts Point
The swanky harbourside suburb of Potts Point, just behind Kings Cross, is the place to see and be seen in gay Sydney. Most of the action happens in the bustling cafes and restaurant scene on Macleay Street and Challis Avenue, including the Italian Fratelli Paradiso, mod Oz at Lotus and Yellow Bistro and Thai at Sailors Thai. And don’t miss the coffee at Toby’s Estate.
Find more Potts Point restaurants.
Newtown
Newtown might not be as bohemian as it once was but there’s no doubt it’s still Sydney’s home of grunge and has a very large and diverse gay and lesbian contingent.
King Street is crawling with great restaurants including Thai Pothong, the mod Oz Oscillate Wildly, Happy Chef for Chinese and Newtons Cocina Modern Mexican.
Find more Newtown restaurants.
But that’s just skimming the very surface of queer Sydney. What are your favourite things about it?
Don’t forget Nevermind on Oxford St. During Mardi Gras week its been renamed to the offical Mardi Bar.
Christian of Darlinghurst
I would love to see a similar listing for Melbourne!
Tiarne Fitzpatrick of Mooroolbark
