Sydney gay district

The atmosphere is lively and the decor is a collection of wonderful oddities, including fruit chandeliers and a taxidermied boar playing the trumpet. There are plenty of regular events, including drag nights and cabaret shows.

Best places to stay in Newtown/Erskineville

The Erko Hotel is one of Erskineville’s best pubs and it also has rooms available where you can stay overnight.

Meanwhile, The Sunshine Inn is a warm bistro-bar soaked with natural light in the day. Best of all, proceeds from your stay support Taronga’s global wildlife conservation efforts—so you can relax and make a difference at the same time. It features live music performances every day from 5:30 pm. The Wildlife Retreat has also been awarded a MICHELIN Key, one of the world’s most respected accolades in hospitality.

Guests also have access to the tranquil N’Gurra Lounge, free parking, and high-speed WiFi. We’ve put together a guide to help you decide where to stay and what to check out but you’re sure to feel welcome wherever you go.

LGBTQ areas in Sydney: Darlinghurst

Darlinghurst is one of Sydney’s main LGBTQ neighborhoods and, back in 2016, almost one in five couples were men in same-sex relationships.

The Imperial Hotel is one of the most popular LGBTQI+ venues in Sydney’s Inner West and one of Sydney’s most iconic locations, once used as the setting for the famous 1995 film Priscilla Queen of the Desert. This small cove is a popular and relaxed hangout for LGBTQI+ locals, particularly during the summer months. Redfern is only around three kilometers from Sydney’s CBD and is home to beautiful parks and an excellent cafe and dining scene.

Best bars, clubs and restaurants in Redfern

The Bearded Tit is a fantastic bar and art space that’s the gathering point for many of Redfern’s most colorful characters to sit back and relax with some delicious cocktails.

It’s about seven minutes from The Bank and just down the street from The Imperial Erskineville, so you’ll never be far from some of the area’s best LGBTQ venues.

Marrickville

Marrickville sits right next door to Newtown, around seven kilometers from Sydney’s CBD. Once a major industrial hub, it’s now a popular foodie hangout with a number of craft breweries and a thriving art and music scene.

It hosts a variety of events, including shows and themed nights geared toward patrons within the LGBTQ community.

Best places to stay in Surry Hills

Hotel Harry is a stylish, hip hotel close to Crown Street which also has an onsite restaurant with a dance floor and live music performances. They host live music and serve delicious pitas and cocktails.

The Kirketon Hotel has a range of rooms that can suit a variety of budgets and is around 15 minutes from Oxford Street.

Potts Point

Potts Point has historically been Darlinghurst’s main competition when it comes to Sydney’s LGBTQ scene and this harborside suburb is known for its brunches, boutique shopping and cutting-edge street fashion.

Bar Positano is a popular cafe bar that often runs limited edition cocktails during Mardi Gras to go with their usual offerings of delicious paninis and Aperol Spritzes.

Best bars, clubs and restaurants in Surry Hills

The Beresford Hotel on Bourke Street was once solely an LGBTQ club and today it’s still very popular with LGBTQI+ clientele.

The Ultimate package also has a 3-course dinner included. The Marrickville Organic Food Market runs every Sunday where you can find organic produce and handmade crafts, while many of the old warehouses have been transformed into excellent coffee houses.

Best bars, clubs and restaurants in Marrickville

Red Rattler is a super unique venue that hosts a whole bunch of different queer events.

Follow it up with a visit to The Bookshop Darlinghurst, a sanctuary of LGBTQIA+ knowledge since 1982, and Qtopia, the largest museum and cultural centre for queer history and culture in the world, housed in the heritage-listed former Darlinghurst Police Station.

As Australia’s home of drag, you’ll find shows seven days a week on Oxford Street, whether it be all-in dance productions at Universal, drag trivia at Stonewall, or more intimate affairs at Ginger’s,The Oxford Hotel’s lounge bar.

Other local institutions are Infinity Bakery, Sydney’s first organic sourdough bakery, and South Dowling Sandwiches, both offering unpretentious yet unforgettable sandwiches.

Enmore

Enmore may be a compact suburb in the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQIA-friendly Inner West, but don’t overlook it.

It also invites the public to bring their favourite vinyl for a spin.

Be sure to stop at Concord Street’s mural dedicated to two late LGBTQIA+ musicians, George Michael and trans electronic music pioneer SOPHIE.