Sydney Neighborhood for Nightlight and Sightseeing
 

Hi travelers!

My boyfriend and I are going to Sydney in a couple weeks and are debating which area to stay in. I visited Sydney years ago but this will be his first trip (so we definitely want to stay accessible to the sights). That said, we are in our late 30s (no kids) so we would also love to be near good restaurants (we live in New York so we're big foodies) and fun bars (not crazy clubs, but hip and happening evening life). Suggestions on neighborhoods to stay, where we can get both access to the sights and good food/nightlife?

Thank you so much!

PS - Anyone know anything about the Ovolo Woolloomolloo hotel or area (the old Blue Hotel I think)? The hotel looks very cool, a boutique hotel we'd LOVE, but I heard the nightlife closes early in that area (?).

Ovolo is too far away from the CBD or Potts Point to walk at night.
Trip Advisor is probably a better source of info on night life

<<Trip Advisor is probably a better source of info on night life>>

Use Timeout.com

Sydney is physically immense - its actual city borders encompass nearly 4800 square miles (or about FOUR Rhode Islands). You're going to be better off near Circular Quay, the Rocks, the CBD or even Darling Harbo(u)r.

I would possibly stick to the main tourist area, The Rocks. There are some very good pubs there - good atmosphere - and you are close to good restaurants (Aria, Galileo, Rockpool (?), cocktail bar at the top of the Shangri-La) and the Opera House. Woolloomooloo is being gentrified and many people do stay there (there are some fabulous hotels - I knew the Ovolo when it was the W Hotel and it was a really nice hotel - and many small B&Bs) but there is also a big shelter for the homeless there and many of its would-be residents miss out on accommodation and spill out into the surrounding streets, so it's not the safest. Also somewhat isolated at night. Similarly I find Potts Point / Kings Cross grotty and somewhat unsafe, but in Kings Cross you have all the nightlife (pubs, clubs, good restaurants in Kellett St). Perhaps good for an excursion, as it is well-served by trains and buses. Nightlife in the Cross closes down early due to alcohol-fuelled violent behaviour (closing 3am, last entries 1:30am).

The only problem is that The Rocks is an expensive neighbourhood, but it is an interesting one. I would still splurge on that :)

Lavandula

Postscript: I just found out Galileo has closed - it used to be in the old Observatory Hotel, which then became the Langham, and the restaurant later closed. It is now The Kent Street Kitchen and is a high-end French fusion restaurant. I have never tried it, and could not find a website for it but there are plenty of reviews:

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Resta...uth_Wales.html

If you are looking for somewhere special you could do worse than the Langham. It's a bit out of the busy part of the Rocks but still a charming neighbourhood.

Lavandula

Thanks for sharing about your next tour program. There have different types of outstanding bars and restaurant in Sydney and I think it will fulfil your requirements.