Newcastle at night

By day Newcastle is all about the beaches and baths, the cafés and galleries, and the historic sites and coastal walks. And the nights?! Well, they belong to live music and stage shows, incredible restaurants, plus a burgeoning small bar scene. Here are some top ways to enjoy Newcastle after dark:

Carrington is also home to the Earp Distilling Co. The Earp family, who have operated businesses in Newcastle since the late 19th century, today operate this swanky gin distillery and bar in a repurposed tile warehouse space. Expect stellar cocktails, spirits and gin making classes.

Modus Brewery is a spectacular architecturally designed and state-of-the-art venue, alongside a fully operational award-winning brewery, set in the heart of the beachside suburb of Merewether. Brewery-fresh Modus beers are poured from 36 frosty taps with live music bringing the vibes.

Sample grain to glass under the one roof at Foghorn Brewery. Housed in an historic warehouse, the beer at Foghorn literally travels from serving tanks to frosty glass. Plus, when beer this fresh is partnered with a piping hot, woodfired pizza, live music, and the occasional trivia session, well, consider your night sorted.

Shout Brewing in Islington is known for its delicious batch of craft brews, with stand-outs including Pale Ale, New England IPA, and XPA. Their Clyde Street venue is a relaxed, fun space that is also dog and family friendly, and serves a cracking pizza. 

Considered one of NSW’s finest theatres, the Civic Theatre offers a world-class line-up of local, national, and international acts. The Civic is Newcastle's premier venue for live performance, presenting a year-round calendar of events, including live music, comedy, dance, drama and musicals. Many shows perform to full-house audiences, so our hot tip: book your tickets first, then plan your Newcastle trip around that.

Pre-show dinners and drinks are catered for by some of the city's best venues. Crystalbrook Kingsley is a nearby 5-star hotel, where you can go for incredible cocktails, Ms Mary's and Romberg's, plus if it's a special occasion, then Roundhouse Restaurant is a must.

Newcastle Comedy Club is an intimate, New York-style venue nestled in the heart of the Newcastle CBD. Every week, it plays host to a vibrant lineup of comedy showcases, spotlighting local talent from the Newcastle region as well as special guest performers from Sydney, Melbourne, and beyond.

The club also welcomes solo comedians who present their own one-hour shows while touring. With a history of attracting major names in Australian comedy, including Wil Anderson and Tom Gleeson, Newcastle Comedy Club promises top-tier entertainment and an unforgettable night out. It's the go-to destination for the hottest comedy shows in town..

Newcastle punches above its weight when it comes to great food. Lauded eateries include hatted restaurants Flotilla and Humbug. Francophiles will love Bistro Penny and Frenchie, for authentic Italian there's Alfies and Market St Basement, and Japanese cuisine enthusiasts will adore Nagisa and Susuru.

But honestly, those restaurants are just a tiny sample of the many incredible menus you can explore while staying in the city. There truly is something to suit all tastes, from fine dining excellence to hearty pub food, and fresh produce laden quick and easy eats. Darby Street in Cooks Hill, Beaumont Street in Hamilton, and the Honeysuckle Promenade are where you will find a variety of restaurants all together, making menu browsing a breeze.

Newcastle offers a budding small bar scene. Seek out gyoza and bespoke cocktails at Japanese-inspired speakeasy, The Koutetsu. Australian gins and Japanese whiskeys dominate the cocktail list while mixologists can whip up custom drinks to suit individual palettes – while happily chatting away to the folks lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar.

Highlights include Mad Poet, a new addition to the West End bar scene with a determined focus on good wine and charcuterie, but above all it's about the music. New York jazz bar vibes in the heart of Newcastle's East, The Underground is dark, atmospheric, and full of unexpected energy. Enter via the steps on Bolton Street beneath the historic Grand Hotel to get the full underground bar experience.

*Did you know you can do an unofficial bar hop by Newcastle’s light rail? There are six stops and you can hop on and off and explore bars enroute.

Newcastle has a long and proud history of live music. Whether visiting Newcastle to lock in some epic music memories or just hoping to grab a casual show while in town, our live music venues are primed to deliver a memorable live music experience. 

Newcastle's dynamic music scene showcases up-and-coming local artists through to high-profile international talent. Some of the best venues for live music include The Stag & Hunter, The Great Northern, Queens Wharf Hotel, Oceane, Mad Poet, The Lucky Hotel, and The Underground.

Get on the dance floor, groove to live DJ’s and get your karaoke on at Newcastle’s bars and clubs: King Street Hotel, Uptowns, and Jam’s Karaoke and Bar are always are great idea.

Newcastle’s drinking culture goes back to convict times. Typically Novocastrians slaked their thirst at a pub and you can still find old school pubs dotted across Newcastle.

Try the Commonwealth, Cricketers and Ori Hotels in Cooks Hill, the Greenroof or the Kent in Hamilton. Out of the CBD area, head to Lambton where you'll find Blackbutt, Lambton Park and the General Roberts Hotels, among others.