Five Vibey Sydney Venues To Book If You're Tired of the Annual Festive Traditions

Goros is well known as a party destination for Sydneysiders. So, if a stuffy lunch stifles your Christmas cheer, turn to this energetic Surry Hills bar instead. Capable of holding anywhere between 2 and 250 people, Goros has a variety of spaces to book, from private rooms indoors and outdoors to window booths, karaoke rooms or even the entire venue. The karaoke rooms might be the standout with free 80-minute sessions, in-room waiter service and a song list for the ages.

Thanks to its multi-level portfolio, Barangaroo House has made a name for itself as a leading destination for any night out. Each of the three levels of this venue has a signature offering, and two of them are strong candidates for an unconventional celebratory offering.

LEVEL 1: REKODO

On level one, you’ll find Rekodo, a Japanese-inspired restaurant and vinyl bar that delivers on its promise of atmosphere and experience with a great selection of food, drinks and ready-to-play records. A particularly festive offering available is the bottomless jukebox package. It’s available every Saturday and Sunday for $95pp, and you’ll get your fill of Japanese cuisine, free-flowing drinks and the chance to choose your vinyl playlist with an optional extra cocktail package for an extra $35pp.

LEVEL 2: SMOKE

One floor above is Smoke Rooftop. It combines top-notch cocktails with stunning harbourside vibes. A nostalgic menu of cocktails calls back to memories of Aussie culture gone by (think chicken salt-soaked chips and halftime oranges at Saturday sport). Add that to the regular live music offering every Thursday through Sunday, and you’ve got one vibey Christmas catch-up ready for the booking.

Deeper into the concrete heart of Sydney on Newtown’s King Street is an institution of celebration, not festive by any traditional means, but celebrations abound nonetheless. Welcome to The Bank. This is a place where there’s something to do almost every night, making it a strong choice for a weeknight catch-up. Come for comedy on Tuesday nights in Waywards (the upstairs space) or Booze & Qs Trivia on the ground floor or for Birdcage LGBT+ parties on Wednesdays. Then Thursdays through Saturdays, expect ticketed live music and other entertainment in Waywards or DJs and dancing on the ground floor.

For something casual and summery to the core, look no further than Golden Sheaf. Head here to enjoy the picturesque fig tree, sun-soaked beer garden and bottomless margarita package. Because what’s more festive than bottomless margaritas in the sun? Pick from four margarita flavours that range from sweet to spicy and enjoy share plates like marinated olives, roast peppers with capers, grilled saganaki with truffle honeycomb and crispy calamari with nori and vinegar salt. It’s available every Saturday for bookings of four people or more (at $99pp).