More than just booze: Sydney’s best novelty bars put the FUN back into night life

DRINK and golf, drink and shop, drink and shave. Sydney bars are going beyond booze to serve up a whole lot of fun that’s worth getting off the couch for.

Mattia Bondanza and Jane Zouch play putt putt at Holey Moley in Newtown. Picture: Justin Lloyd

WANT a bellini with your birdie? A pisco sour with your putt? Sydney bar operators are teeing off new ways to drive customers off their sofas and put the fun back into a night out.

Putt-putt themed bar Holey Moley, which opened in Newtown on Wednesday is “a mashup of mini golf meets cocktail bar meets music,” says Michael Schreiber, CEO of venue operator Funlab.

Along with nine putt putt holes it will be serving cocktails such as kaffir lime margaritas, grapefruit mimosas and cucumber collins and to soak it all up, bao buns filled with braised pork belly, Szechuan fried chicken and panko prawns.

An array of food at the Holey Moley Golf Sydney on King Street in Newtown. Picture: AAP

Schreiber believes Sydney needs more venues providing offline motivation to attract patrons staying at home as a result of the lock-out laws, streaming services, dating apps and home delivery.

“The lockout laws have damaged that impetus to go out, especially if you want a late night. A lot of people can’t be bothered,” he says. “(Putt-putt) is not an activity you can get on your phone, the internet and it can’t be delivered.”

Bongo Bingo launch event for Friday Feed. Supplied images. Pics by Ben Cvoro.

The inaugural Friday night Bongo’s Bingo two weeks ago sold 550 tickets in two minutes. The subsequent Saturday night event at Paddington Town Hall sold out in six minutes.

The mash-up of bingo and rave is a UK concept, licensed by Michael Watson of Wats On Events who says it was so popular it will become a monthly event.

Bongo’s Bingo attracts an average age of 25-40. “It’s not a young crowd but they still want to get up, have a drink, have a dance and have fun.”

SYDNEY BARS WITH BENEFITS

Games, drinks, Japanese food = fun at Goros.

GOROS

84-86 Mary St, Surry Hills

If the late-night karaoke booths don’t provide enough entertainment, the old school arcade games will. Think pool, air hockey, street fighter and Time Crisis — plus all games are free on Wednesdays. Fuel your competitive streak with a selection of Japanese bar food, burgers, beers and cocktails.

Because good hair and good drinks belong together at The Barber Shop. Picture: Chris Pavlich

THE BARBER SHOP

89 York St, City

Would you be game enough to go for a cutthroat razor shave in a bar? This speakeasy-style bar is concealed behind a working barber shop. A perfect blend of slick hairstyles, sharp blades and sweet alcohol.

Drink and click at the Shirt Bar in Sydney.

SHIRT BAR

7 Sussex Lane, City and 7A/100 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo

Sipping fine Scotch and shopping for a tailored shirt are no longer mutually exclusive. But beware, it’s real life drink-and-click — the more you sip the more you shop.

Playright Louis Nowra with dogs Coco and Basil at the Old Fitzroy Hotel. Picture: Sam Mooy

THE OLD FITZROY HOTEL

129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo

This looks like an old-school pub, complete with 22 beers on tap and fireplace for roasting marshmallows, but it’s also home to the intimate 60-seat Old Fitz Theatre which has staged everyone from Tim Minchin and Ewen Leslie.

Records in the front: iOTA at Mojo Records on York St. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Party at the back, records in the front. Mojo Bar in Sydney

MOJO RECORD BAR

73 York St, City

The small bar is a vinyl-lover’s dream, with racks of new and pre-loved records to choose from. Browse through the racks of records then head out the back to the bar for live music, beers and classic cocktails.

Your hair game will be strong after a visit to Blown Lux at Sydney's Barangaroo

BLOWN LUX

Tower 1, Shop 8/100 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo

If you have to hang around while your girlfriend gets a blow dry, it might as well be somewhere that serves beer and cheese and meat plates.

Deus Bar and Kitchen at Camperdown.

Rising Sun Workshop in Newtown.

DEUS EX MACHINA

98-104 Parramatta Rd, Camperdown

Stop by for a cocktail, draught beer or glass of wine while deciding what features you want your custom motorcycle to have.

RISING SUN WORKSHOP

1C Whateley St, Newtown

Technically a cafe, this community hub serves up booze from 11am in a big, bright warehouse that is also a motorcycle workshop share space.