Nightlife & venues

Explore Sydney’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ nightlife. Discover club and bar openings and acquisitions, venue closures, and detailed reviews like our take on Flash. We also cover major milestones such as ARQ’s farewell, plus event guides and insider tips for your next night out.

US-based Pride Holdings Group, which acquired the Stonewall Hotel business in Darlinghurst last year, has secured a 10-year lease over the former Kuleto's cocktail bar in Newtown as part of an expansion of the Stonewall brand into Sydney’s inner west, with an opening planned for January.

After years of feeling like they didn't fit into Sydney's drag scene, local performer Crème recently claimed a standout victory – taking home $10,000 as the winner of the annual Slay 2 Stay drag competition at Oxford Street's Universal nightclub.

Oxford Street gay bar Stonewall Hotel has extended its lease of neighbouring venue Diva bar, ensuring long island iced teas will continue to be poured from the pink-coloured watering hole for at least another three years, seven months and 27 days.

Sydney’s soon-to-launch gay bar Pink Pony has changed its Instagram handle to "new.name.coming" following online backlash that accused the venue of culturally appropriating a song by a lesbian artist about inclusivity while at the same time marketing itself primarily towards gay men.