Tag Archives: Sydney

The World’s Best Bars – Pontoon Bar, Sydney, Australia – Review

Let me start his review by saying if you are looking for a place full of 21+ patrons out to have fun and meet new people then simply put… you have found a home. 

Funnily enough, we ended up at Pontoon Bar by accident. Me and 3 mates were supposed to have a quiet one at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel, however after a few drinks, we looked for greener pastures. After a quick chat, we deemed that Pontoon was both the closest nightclub and away we went in a semi drunken stupor across the bridge. 

For those who have never seen Pontoon Bar, it is stylish in it’s simplicity. Half the bar is outside, half inside within feet of Darling Harbour and the array of luxury boats dotted on the water. After being interrogated by the bouncers (and we mean interrogated) we were let in and the fun began. ensure you get in. 

The dance floor only kicks off at 10.30pm or so, the great thing about Pontoon Bar is the fact you can still kick back, watch a game of footie, grab a reasonably priced bite to eat and wait in anticipation for the girls to arrive. If you are heading to Pontoon Bar with a group of guys, it is strongly recommended you get there early (8.30pm) and dress smart casual as the bouncers are pretty picky with who they let in. As someone who is a bit of a regular, I can say this is not an effort to be pretentious, rather to prevent violence which used to be overly common at this hotspot. I can say however that those days are over and the only reason people go there now is to have a good time. 

So after a few drinks, the dance floor filled up with a countless sexy girls and we were in heaven. It wasn’t longbefore we hit the dance floor having a great time. As has always been the case with Pontoon Bar, there was a hen’s night going on, which added a little bit of side entertainment to the night. (For some reason, every Saturday there is at least 1 Hen’s night going on here). 

So anyways the rest of the night remains a bit of a blur, however without question the clientele who go to Pontoon Bar are there to have a good time and are definitely not afraid to try and meet someone new (if you know what I mean). The only downer on the night was that the bouncer’s, in an effort to keep the peace are a little bit overzealous, so behave yourselves.

By Ben King For Cargo bar and Hugo’s Lounge

Oceans, Bar, Bars, Nightclubs, Clubbing, Sydney Bars, Sydney Clubs

The beachside suburb of Coogee, located in Sydney’s South East is well known as a city within a city when it comes to bars and clubs. When it comes to Coogee however, anyone will tell you that the 2 places to be are the Coogee Bay Hotel and The Palace, however, I’m here to tell you now there is a 3rd place to consider.

Housed in a converted bottle shop, Oceans Bar is a paradigm shift from the famed Coogee bars and clubs. Class and sophistication simply ooze from every pore of this bar, whether it be as a result of the fantastic marine inspired interior, extensive beer wine and cocktail menu or fantastic service, which, to be fair, Coogee’s nightlife is not so known for. Couple this with the amazing views of the beach and Wedding Cake Island, Oceans Bar provides a breath of fresh air to Coogee’s nightlife.

We headed there at about 3pm on Saturday to attend a friend’s birthday, and from the minute we walked through the glass doors we knew this place offered something a little bit more then you traditional beachside bar. To start with, thongs and shorts are out! Without question Oceans Bar patrons are dressed to impress, with some of the most stunning women you’ll see (and I suppose the guys looked pretty good too.)

A mix of 18 – 30 year olds seem to frequent this bar as a change from the pub/club atmosphere offered at the other more notable Coogee venues. Needless to say the experience provided by Oceans Bar definitely provides this, as typified by the cocktail of the day the “White Wine Sangria.” Couple this with the entertainment that inherently goes with a Hen’s night and I must admit I was extremely comfortable for a 26 year old guy who cringes at the thought of having to wear a collared shirt and black shoes on a night out (in addition to the fact their extensive beer selection also included Hoegarrden and Tiger, my two favourite beers ever.) Despite the glitz and glamour, pretention at Oceans Bar is kept to a minimum which to me is the probably the most appealing aspect of Oceans Bar (other than the girls). A feature of this venue is the fact you are able to take your drinks out onto the “corso” overlooking the Coogee skyline in all its glory. Whoever bribed the council to allow this to happen did a fantastic job as this is definitely and attraction as it allows the discerning drinker to enjoy not just the fantastic decor but also the classic beach breeze, an experience Sydney’s more notable bars simply cannot replicate.

Although I was ushered from the place by my friends at 10pm, Oceans Bar seems to attract quite a big (and extremely good looking crowd) and if you don’t mind the trip to Coogee then I strongly recommend you try Oceans Bar out.

By Ben King forSydney Bars,Melbourne Bars andPerth Bars