Sydney gay district
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You can also find short-term apartments in Potts Point offered by LGBTQI+ locals.
Elizabeth Bay
On the other side of Kings Cross lies Elizabeth Bay, which has one of the highest densities of LGBTQ residents in Sydney. Order some takeaway to eat on the go from their extensive, American-influenced menu, or settle in for one of their bottomless brunches.
Best places to stay in Potts Point
The Macleay Hotel is a great accommodation option that provides beautiful views of the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House and is only a short walk from the harbor itself.
If you stay here you’ll be close to the harbor, Sydney’s CBD and many other LGBTQ districts, including Potts Point and Darlinghurst. Don’t expect a standard lip sync, as these kings and queens always have a surprise ready. It’s home to Oxford Street, the center of Sydney’s LGBTQ scene with clubs, bars and cafes run by and for Sydney’s LGBTQI+ community.
The strip was dubbed the ‘Golden Mile’ during its peak between the 70s and 90s and was a haven where queer men could socialize and be themselves during a time when the rest of the city was far less welcoming.
Today, even though you can find LGBTQ hotspots throughout the city, Oxford Street remains a major hub for LGBTQI+ activity and hosts Sydney’s famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, usually held every March on Oxford Street.
Best LGBTQ bars and clubs in Darlinghurst
Oxford Street is where you’ll find most of the best LGBTQ bars in Darlinghurst.
If you’re looking for a nude beach, the small and secluded Obelisk Beach is popular with LGBTQ locals and tourists.
Want to know the world better? Order a generous scoop of Turkish mastic ice cream from Hakiki or try the multi-award-winning gelato from Cow and the Moon. As a nightcap, visit Twin Peaks-themed tiki bar Jacoby’s for a flaming cocktail, or Midnight Special, a cosy speakeasy with live blues acts and deep-cut vinyl DJ sets.Redfern
Within Redfern lies the heart of Sydney’s alternative LGBTQIA+ community: The Bearded Tit.
Laid-back and welcoming, the bar is home to many of the city’s queer creatives, with performances from musicians, drag kings and queens, and members of Sydney’s ballroom community. Bloody Mary’s is an excellent LGBTQ-friendly restaurant in Potts Point’s iconic Gazebo Building with both indoor and outdoor areas. While not a gay-exclusive property, the retreat is very welcoming to LGBTQ+ travellers, offering a serene, romantic alternative to city hotels.
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.
Regents Court is a luxurious option for those looking for furnished apartments offering chic studio apartments with privacy and comfort. And with Sydney’s vibrant gay nightlife just a 20-minute taxi away, you’ll enjoy the perfect balance of nature and nightlife at this one-of-a-kind hotel.
The only food they offer are cheese boards, but you’re also welcome to order food to the bar from the nearby Lorentto Pizzeria.
Best places to stay in Redfern
Hotel Hacienda is a lovely, welcoming hotel that’s around a 10-minute walk from The Bearded Tit. It’s a great budget choice with a few different options for single rooms, as well as multi-room apartments on offer.
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. The Ultimate package also has a 3-course dinner included.
Before you catch a show, grab a cocktail at the Enmore Country Club, which is funkily themed in the style of an American saloon, or Fortunate Son, which sits directly across the road from the theatre and was created by two of Sydney's best-known bartenders — so you know the drinks are going to be delicious.
For cheap eats, look no further than the Chinese Dumpling Master, an ultra-filling Xinjiang restaurant adored for its braised eggplant, the plastic grapes hanging from the ceiling and the fact that it’s BYO.
Conveniently, P&V Wine & Liquor Merchants is across the road, which stocks natural Australian and international wines, as well as craft beers, artisanal spirits and non-alcoholic drinks. Uncover them with Sydney’s Pride History’sregular walking tours, led by leading LGBTQIA+ historians and lively ‘nuns’, known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
It offers a gym, an outdoor pool and sleek, minimalist rooms.
Redfern
The density of LGBTQ residents drops off after Potts Point but there are still thriving LGBTQ communities in neighborhoods like Redfern, which has the fifth-highest proportion of LGBTQ couples in Australia (as of 2016).
Enmore Road provides for sweet tooths, too.
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.
Here are the top choices, read more about these bars or click below to see listings of all gay venues in this city.
Sydney Gay Bars