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Overview
It comes as no surprise that Australia's nightlife scenes have shifted dramatically in the past five years. From COVID-19 to the spiking cost of living, Australians' leisure habits are constantly adapting. It may have taken us nearly half a decade to get back off our couches and into our local pubs and restaurants post-lockdown, but the data shows that it's finally happening. Australians are getting more comfortable with heading back out into the nightlife.
The Visa Vibe Economy report, commissioned by Visa and conducted by McCrindle, provides a comprehensive snapshot of Australian life after dark. From chasing the newest must-try restaurant to heading out to night markets, Australians are finding fresh ways to make our nights count.
For one in three Australians, going out at night is "extremely or very important" to their lifestyle. Dining out is the most popular choice for leaving the comfort and safety of their houses, followed by heading to the cinema, visiting night markets and going to bars and pubs.
Etheus
The stats also show that, despite the rhetoric around Gen Z being isolated phone addicts, the younger generations are driving Australia's night-time activity, with Gen Z choosing to go out an average of just over nine nights per month, followed by Gen Y (or millennials) with an average of 7.2 nights out a month.
With Visa's new data providing a snapshot of Australia's after-dark habits in the second half of the 2020s, we spoke with two hospitality leaders to get a sense check on what the future of our nightlife may look like and how it has changed.
Intentionality over consumption
Across the country, operators are seeing a clear move towards more intentional nights out. Kingsley Smith, owner of The London Hotel in Paddington, notes that the midweek pub catch-up has dropped significantly. Kingsley says that Australians are drinking "considerably" less midweek. Saturday nights are still booming, however, as Kingsley observes that Australians are saving themselves for a bigger blowout on the weekend. "Saturday is still the big night out, possibly bigger than ever," he tells Concrete Playground.
Jason Williams, the Director of House Made Hospitality, echoes this trend, adding that while Australians continue to socialise, caution around spending due to inflation is shaping how people engage with hospitality.
"People are spending a little less, but they're still going out. Guests are chasing experiences — not just good food and drinks — but they're more value-conscious than before."
Apollonia
Kingsley believes that the future of the Australian nightlife is "food-focused" with punters looking for "alternative entertainment" outside of bars and clubs, noting that a night out "doesn't need to involve alcohol".
This observation is backed up by Visa's data, which found that great food and entertainment take centre stage on Australians' nights out. At the same time, the availability of alcohol ranked low on our list of after-dark priorities.
"Australians are drinking less alcohol these days, driven by health and wellness trends, shifting social habits and cost-of-living pressures," says Jason. Despite these trends, Jason remains optimistic about the future of Australian nightlife, particularly in his hometown of Sydney.
"Sydney's nightlife is slowly rebuilding after years of lockout laws and red tape, and we're finally seeing real energy from all levels of government to support it," says Jason.
"Spending habits are changing, but there's no shortage of passionate operators and creatives ready to deliver great experiences and that enthusiasm will help grow the audience again."
Baptist Street Rec. Club
Even as our habits change, the magic of our cities after dark remains. "We just need to normalise going out more often and make the city feel alive after dark. More retailers staying open later would help, too," Jason shares.
According to Kingsley, al fresco dining is booming among customers, and councils are (thankfully) supporting this shift. "Outdoor dining is growing in popularity, and our councils are listening and approving more sidewalk seating and parklets."
A message for the home bodies
With the price of a pint, the comfort of streaming services and all of our friends living on the small computer in our pockets, it's often easier (and more tempting) to choose a night in over heading out into the dark. But as the weather warms up, Kingsley offers words of encouragement to the homebodies. "Embrace our city at night," says Kingsley. "The more people out, the safer it is and the more vibrant the city becomes."
Jason, on the other hand, shares a timeless and pertinent reminder to help us create the future of Australian nightlife.
"Netflix will still be there when you get home. Get out and create your own stories to tell — the world's full of energy, flavour and good company if you go looking for it."
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