Gen Zer exposes ‘boring’ problem with Sydney nightlife

Aussies have lashed out at a once bustling inner-city suburb, using a five-second video to expose an “awkward” issue it faces.

The grimness of Sydney’s nightlife has been exposed in a five-second clip.

Maeve Victoria posted a TikTok of her mate standing on the main strip in Sydney’s Kings Cross, a suburb that used to be crammed with nightclubs, activities, and colour.

The once bustling street was empty, with barely anyone around besides a few people who certainly didn’t seem to be partying.

“Let’s go out for a crazy night,” she wrote.

The clip then pans to how quiet and empty the area looks.

The TikTok amassed 11,000 likes. Picture: TikTok/MaeveVictoria

She posted a video about how quiet Sydney has become at night. Picture: TikTok/MaeveVictoria

Kings Cross used to be Sydney’s hub for partying, but now the suburb has become increasingly suburban, with trendy restaurants outnumbering clubs and pubs.

You’re just as likely to see an inner-city couple out walking their $5000 purebred, as you are to see a group of mates lining up to go into a bustling club.

Maeve, 24, told news.com.au that she grew up in Sydney and has been disappointed by what Australia’s most expensive city offers after 6pm.

“I find the nightlife disappointing, boring and too expensive,” she admitted.

The Gen Zer is young enough to never have experienced Sydney’s nightlife before the lockout laws introduced in 2014 changed it.

The laws that were introduced to curb alcohol-related violence ceased in 2021, but Kings Cross, as a party district, has never quite made a full-fledged comeback.

Maeve’s post started a big conversation online. Picture: TikTok/MaeveVictoria

She said going out at night in Sydney is too expensive. Picture: TikTok/MaeveVictoria

Her clip ignited a big conversation online, with locals sharing their annoyance at how much Sydney has changed.

One person pointed out, “Sydney nightlife is sad on the weekends”, and the floodgates opened with people pointing out that Kings Cross is no longer the place to party.

“It is literally so sad.”

“Sydney f**king sucks! I managed to have a few wild nights when I was like 18, and it has been s**t since.”

“You are in Kings Cross, which hasn’t been good since 2014.”

“You going to the cross in 2024 is your first problem.”

“You are in the most dead part of Sydney for clubbing.”

“Sydney is dead.”

“It is so awkward going out now! Everywhere is a ghost town.”

George St is now the place to be, according to people online. Picture: Damian Shaw

The response also exposed that, while Kings Cross is no longer a hot spot to party, there are other places to visit.

“It does pop off. You’re just in the wrong area of Sydney,” one person argued, before explaining that George St in the CBD goes off “every night”.

“Go to Newtown or Oxford St for a good time,” another advised.

“You’re in the most dead part of Sydney for clubbing! Go to the Argyle or Ivy or Home The Venue on a Friday or Saturday night and see how packed it is,” someone else said.

One person pointed out that the demise of Sydney’s nightlife could have less to do with previous laws and far more to do with inflation.

“People blaming lockout laws, but in reality, we’re in a cost of living crisis, and it is $15 for a beer. Thanks government.”

In 2021, a global report ranked Sydney as one of the world’s worst party destinations.

“Sydney’s reputation for being a fun place to go out at night has taken a dive over the past seven years,” Committee of Sydney chief executive Gabriel Metcalf told The Daily Telegraph.

“The impacts on our nightlife are starting to show up in some of the key global rankings that drive foreign investment in our city.”

In the Benchmarking Sydney’s Performance Report, Sydney was ranked against other global cities in 12 categories, including healthcare and safety, life science and student experiences – all of which the harbourside city performed well in.

But for nightlife, housing affordability and air pollution, voters said the city needed some significant improvements.

According to the research which included stats from the Time Out global City Index Survey for 2021, Sydney was ranked in the bottom three for housing ­affordability, falling behind Toronto, San Francisco, London and Miami, while the nightlife experience in Australia’s most populous city was ranked second-last worldwide among 37 leading global cities. Taking last spot was Boston.

Originally published as Gen Zer exposes ‘boring’ problem with Sydney nightlife