Asian-based Clubs and Events in Sydney

This is a list of “Asian” nightclubs in Sydney and my thoughts about them. This list does not include the Southern Asians.

In no particular order…
Last update: Oct 2015

EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT

• OPM @ Marquee Hotel (Urban Agent) [Recommended] Formerly on Thursday nights.
  OPM has since 2012 has built a reputation of an event of always being busy, packed, etc with a decent crowd.  The promoters have capitalised on this, and have killed off their former staple event, Bamboo, and made OPM their jewel in the crown. Crowd is Asian focused. Detailed Review
• Fridays @ 80 Proof (Self promoted) Since 2013
  The old Cheers Bar has been refurbished and renamed to 80 Proof. Crowd is mostly Korean Internationals. Music by the real-life-person-DJ varies from Top 40 to EDM. $10 entry. These guys are also open on Saturday. If you’re feeling a bit tight ass and don’t mind a place for a dance, this place isn’t too bad, but keep expectations low.  Detailed Review
  

Irregular Friday Nights

• Bounce @ Space Nightclub  (Red and Blue Events)
  K-Pop and RnB aiming for the Korean crowd, but all nationalities welcome. Held on average once every month or so. I visited in Jan 2014 at St James Hotel and it was pretty crap, but I purely think it is because half the Korean population are overseas back home during early Jan. I’m sure it is more busy in other months. Space nightclub should be a better venue compared to St James.

EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT

• Embassy @ Zeta Bar  (Urban Agent, et al.)
  Mostly Asian-Australian crowd, mixed ages but appeals more to the older crowd since the place inherent is classy on its own. Dress code applies. Small dancefloor, okay atmosphere. Bottle service offered. Everyone dresses really well here. Safe bet visit. $25 at the door. Detailed Review
• NOVA @ Mr Tipplys [Recommended for chinese nationals] (Mizuya)
  Started in Sept 2014. A mostly Chinese based-born-Overseas crowd. There are VIP’ sections where it does its best to replicate Asian clubs in regards to overpriced bottle service and hot waitresses. Smart casual. Entry $30. Detailed review
• Saturday @ 80 Proof (Self promoted) Since 2013
  The old Cheers Bar has been refurbished and renamed to 80 Proof. Crowd is mostly Korean Internationals. Music by the DJ (yes, there is an actual DJ booth now) varies from Top 40 to EDM. $10 entry. These guys are also open on Friday. If you’re feeling a bit tight ass and don’t mind a place for a dance, this place isn’t too bad anymore.  Detailed Saturday Review

Irregular events

• NAUTI Dayclub @ Cafe Del Mar (So Suave)
  Cafe Del Mar in Darling Harbour is a great venue for food, and I suppose it would be nice for the occasional dayclub. No review yet. Last event was April 2015.

(As of recent) No Longer Running 🙁
It is always sad to see events go no matter how much i didn’t like them. Such is the current nature of the industry.

• Privilege Fridays @ V Bar – It became a mixed quasi asian – Caucasian event and just closed. Promoters are finding a new venue. It will still never be like the original Privilege Friday
• CoCo Saturdays @ The Flynn Bar
  When The Flynn Bar was used to be Bligh Bar, Urban Agent also held an event here years ago. Marty and I decimated the dancefloor and all its 30 inhabitants. It never recovered. However to be honest, the location is in the middle of a business district – its inconvenient and the venue doesn’t suit too well to stand on its own.
• Taboo @ Verandah Bar – I think Sydney has been grown tired of Verandah Bar. It was a miracle it lasted this long.
• LKF @ Civic Hotel – Longstanding and being at a venue that doesn’t suit the crowd, promoters have wisely moved to Mr Tipplys, renamed the event and upped the cover charge to $30
• Mink @ Martin place Bar / V Bar (Clique)
  Started in July at Martin Place Bar, it has already moved to the smaller V Bar before being killed off. It was pretty dead when I visited on the third week of opening, and promoters will need to push more on the promo side to find a new Saturday event. Review at Martin Place Bar.
• #Fabric @ Martin Place Bar
  For lack of a better attendance. It’s suspected that going at it alone is proving difficult for Syndicate Events, with the EDM ‘movement’ not gaining enough traction in Sydney Asian clubbing to warrant a weekly profitable event. Review
• Kinki @ King St Hotel
  (Syndicate) Not sure why it went down as it was always popular. I think the collaboration of promoters decided to split and go their own ways Regardless, RIP.
• Flow Fridays @ The Den (Ivy) [Syndicate]
  Short lived resurrection of the previously popular Flow Friday at the Ivy had relatively good reviews but has since stopped in Feb 2014.
• Bamboo@ Pontoon Bar
  Bad reviews, people already sick of the venue due to Syndicate’s perfect event being there prior – it didn’t last long.