Neighbourhoods

Sydney isn’t a one-neighbourhood kind of romance – it’s a whole constellation of queer pockets, each with its own mood, soundtrack and dress code. At the centre of it all is Darlinghurst, with Oxford Street pulsing straight through its heart. By day, it’s café-hopping, bookshop-browsing and gym bunnies in tiny shorts; by night, the rainbow strip flips the switch: classic pubs, draggy chaos, sweaty backrooms, and that deliciously messy post‑3am sidewalk energy. You’ll find everything from old-school camp institutions to sleek new cocktail bars within a couple of blocks, plus easy spillover into Surry Hills next door, where things get a touch more design-y – think wine bars, galleries, good coffee and boys who own at least three pairs of statement glasses.

When you want things a little looser and more rugged around the edges, head to Newtown in the Inner West – Sydney’s alt heart and long-time refuge for misfits, musicians and multicoloured mullets. Here, rainbow flags hang outside terrace houses, the pubs are full of queer crush material, and King Street is a never-ending strip of cheap eats, vintage shops and divey bars where you’ll inevitably end up talking to someone about their band. Keep wandering and you’ll hit Enmore and Marrickville, where warehouse parties, live music and crafty breweries keep the vibe going. On the other side of town, Potts Point adds a touch of grown-up glamour with leafy streets, Art Deco apartments and intimate bars, while beach days are best spent in Manly or Bondi. Put simply: wherever you land, Sydney has a neighbourhood ready to flirt back.