The night is forever young at these hidden kitsch Sydney bars.

Sometimes all is not what it seems in Sydney. With Sydney’s late-night scene currently undergoing a major change due to State Government’s tough stance on the local nightlife activities, the nightlife scene is changing in a new direction. Need not to fear, not all nightlife is dead in Sydney with quirky late night venues still pouring on. From cheesy American delights to whisky, cocktails and pinball games in sight, these Sydney bars and late night treasures are worth that extra bit of navigational skill.

Baxter Inn

You could easily walk past the Baxter Inn without ever knowing you just missed an opportunity to experience Sydney’s finest whisky haven. After all, it is cleverly tucked away in the backstreets and down the staircase into a basement.

The hunt to find Sydney’s inner city speakeasy is worth it. Open the door and expect to see an old-fashioned wooden bar mastered by well-dressed bartenders. These bartenders have the right swag and craftsmanship to blend you the perfect cocktail with concoctions that you didn’t think it was possible to shake together. But of course, the star of the show here is its extensive whisky collection; it resembles a towering library wall. With the aid of a ladder, the bartenders are able to locate the encyclopaedias of whiskey on display.

Baxter Inn is doesn’t only make you feel like you are lost in time, it is a prime place to hibernate from the late night inner city bustle with its small tables and cosy booths creating an intimate setting. Freebies? A complimentary bowl of pretzels to help you get that extra bit thirsty!

Baxter Inn, Basement 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000

 

The Soda Factory

The promise of some boss hotdogs may have been the drawcard to enter this retro-fitting hole-in-the-wall takeout joint but not all is what it seems. Reach out for that mock Coca-cola vending machine handle, to open the door for a world of late-night cool.

Contrasting to its hip entrance is the darkly-lit, wooden finished, The Soda Factory. This much-loved institution knows how to draw a local crowd with its Grease-loving American diner style menu. Spare the loose change with its gourmet Dollar Dawg nights (yes, from a measly $1) every Tuesday.

Its central bar is the place for quirkily-named cocktails and alcohol-fuelled ice creamed floats (not one for the kids sorry). It boasts all sorts of entertainment seven days a week including movie nights, live music and DJ spins.

The Soda Factory, 16 Wentworth Avenue, Surrey Hills, NSW 2010

 

Frankie’s Pizza 

Those hungry ninja turtles were right to seek refuge below ground level as Frankie’s Pizza is a haven amongst the concrete jungle that lurks above.

Follow the neon light along Hunter Street and follow the stairs down to find a NYC inspired pizza parlour. If you are inspired to have a Lady and the Tramp style date over pizza, this is your place! It looks and feels all so quintessentially Italian with its stereotypical trimmings – candles in old wax glass bottles, tiny tables decorated with red and white tablecloths, matching the checkered black and white floors with an old-school wooden bar acting as the centrepiece.

It’s not just for pizza romantics; head through its saloon doors to a parallel world waiting to bring the kid out in everyone. With its dimly lit back bar featuring diner booths, pinball machines, a stage for the local rock gods surrounded by old concert bills plastered around its walls, it will make you relive your teenage hood nostalgia.

The bar can be forgiven for serving up drinks in plastic glasses too – especially as things can get wild in here until closing time at 3am. Oh, did I mention it serves deliciously affordable pizza for a fiver a slice? Cowabunga dudes!

Frankie’s Pizza, 50 Hunter St, Sydney NSW 2000

Photo credit: The Sofa Factory

What is your favourite Sydney late night hidden gem? Share below!