7 Top things to do in Newy at night

By day Newy is all about the beach while nights belongs to live music and a burgeoning food and small bar scene.

Here are 7 ways to enjoy Newcastle after dark:

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.

The harbourside village of Carrington (aka Carrodise) is home to microbrewery Styx Brewery (tastings by appointment) where quality small batch beer and spirits are made onsite.

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.

You can also try Newcastle Distilling Co’s spirit range (including the city’s first barrel-aged rum) at the Koutetsu and the Junction Hotel.

Considered one of NSW’s finest theatres, the Civic Theatre offers a world-class line-up of local and national acts. Have a pre-show drink at the new Kingsley Hotel’s rooftop Romberg’s or Civic Digest and be sure to look up and admire the theatre’s grand ornamental dome.

The Newcastle Entertainment Centre also offers a calendar of shows and performers featuring everyone from Guy Sebastian to Keith Urban.

The Station Newcastle meanwhile regularly stages events and entertainment.

Newcastle punches above its weight when it comes to great food. Lauded eateries include Subo, Restaurant Mason and Flotilla to name but a few.

Elevated Japanese bites can be had at Nagisa with its prime harbour front location at Honeysuckle while the view almost eclipses the food at Merewether Surfhouse.

In the up-and-coming Newcastle village of Lambton you’ll find authentic Spanish tapas and stellar cocktails at Rosa Bar. Book one of the cosy leather booths and explore the menu ranging from empanadas with chimichurri, through to cochinitas, sticky marinated pork belly served in lettuce cups.

Newcastle offers a budding small bar scene.

Highlights include Tiki inspired rum bar Blue Kahunas, Coal and Cedar, and dimly lit Japanese speakeasy the Koutetsu.

Also worth checking out is brew pub the Rogue Scholar, the Blind Monk on cosmopolitan Beaumont Street and Money Penny found along the harbour front.

*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.

Get on the dance floor, groove to live DJ’s and get your karaoke on at Newcastle’s bars and clubs: King Street, Argyle House, the Mex Club, Finnegan’s, Uptowns and Jam’s Karaoke and Bar.

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 Family Hotel on Hunter Street, the Greenroof or the Kent in Hamilton and gastro pub the Burwood at Merewether with its mouth-watering steaks. Out of the CBD area, head to Lambton where you'll find Blackbutt, Lambton Park and the General Roberts Hotels among others. 

Newcastle has a long and proud history of live music. At the height of Newcastle’s pub rock era bands would perform nightly at Newy’s hotels, nightclubs and bars.

There was a strong line up of local bands while headline acts played on their way up and down the east coast...today Newcastle’s legendary musical heritage continues.

Some of the best venues for live music include the Great Northern, Queens Wharf Hotel, Customs House and the Lucky Hotel, while you can hear blues and roots music at The Wicko.