Pictured: Bar Messenger
A few years ago, we wrote an article on why we thought wedding after-parties were going to be the next big thing. Fast forward to now and it turns out our prediction was spot on.
With a swathe of trendy, late-night venues popping up in and around Sydney since the pandemic, more and more couples are choosing to make the most of their special day by hosting a wedding after-party.
What is a wedding after-party?
As the name suggests, it’s a party that happens after the wedding. It’s held at a separate venue to where the reception has taken place. This is perfect for couples who don’t want the fun to end as soon as the clock strikes twelve (or more accurately, between 10-11pm at most wedding venues).
Why have one?
As mentioned above, most wedding venues have a curfew (there’s a whole heap of reasons why curfews exist) and if you know you and your guests won’t be ready to call it quits as soon as the reception is finished or you’re hosting an earlier wedding (say, a lunchtime wedding) then an after-party is the perfect way to keep the celebration going.
Where should I have my wedding after-party?
If you’re getting married in Sydney and want to party until the wee hours, look no further. We’ve rounded up the 10 best Sydney wedding after-party venues. Check them out below.
Bar Messenger
This ‘underworld of wine’ is a place where people come to hide from the busy city streets. We mean this quite literally – the entrance is concealed behind a large framed picture, and the space itself feels seductive and moody in the best way possible. Situated beneath the historic Customs House, just a stones’ throw from Circular Quay, it’s an ideal place for an intimate wedding after-party. Hire it exclusively, put on your own playlists and continue the party in style.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Address: 10 Phillip St, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Open until: 3am
Website: barmessenger.com.au
The Lobo
Rum lovers, rejoice! The Lobo (named after the Caribbean’s last Sugar Baron, Julio Lobo) is home to a handpicked collection of over 150 rums, including rums dating back as far as 1930. Lobo lived in an era of unprecedented grandeur and western excess and The Lobo is a space deliberately reminiscent of that time. Book a lounge area here for up to 20 people and keep the good times rolling.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Address: Basement Lot 1/209 Clarence St, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Open until: 2am
Website: thelobo.com.au
Big Poppa’s
Delivering non-stop hip hop since 2016, Big Poppa’s is one of the best Sydney wedding after-party venues. Open from 5pm – 3am every night of the week, alongside their dance floor friendly beats they also serve some delightful Italian dishes (think king prawns, spaghetti and an A4 page worth of cheese).
Location: Sydney, NSW
Address: 96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010
Open until: 3am
Website: bigpoppa.com.au
Casa Rosa
Taking inspiration from the iconic Palazzo Chupi ‘pink house’ in New York, the fabulously eclectic fit-out of Casa Rosa makes every wedding after-party here feel more fun. That said, it’s not just about the decor. This cocktail lounge and rooftop terrace delivers consistently good cocktails, DJs who know their Italo-disco tunes and a Mediterranean menu.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Address: 100 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW, 2008
Open until: 3am
Website: abercrombie.sydney/casa-rosa
Lil Sis
This bar and bottle shop is a spellbinding place for people with a soft spot for biodynamic and organic wines and salty snacks. Set inside a 19th-century terrace right next door to The Abercrombie, Lil Sis is a cool take on the caves a vin (wine cellars) of Paris with a cosy, neighbourly feel about it. Its late-night hours make it an ideal setting for a wedding after-party, with DJs often spinning French-inspired lounge disco tracks and Heinz spaghetti and cheddar jaffles on the menu.
Location: Chippendale, NSW
Address: 100 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW, 2008
Open until: Until late
Website: abercrombie.sydney/lil-sis
Club 77
For over 25 years, Club 77 has been at the centre of Sydney’s late-night music scene (you can read about its colourful past here). An all-inclusive venue, it’s recently been redesigned to reflect the aesthetic of New York’s dive bars. There’s stylish new furniture, three new stages, a cutting-edge custom DJ booth and hotdogs. And if you’re still dominating the dance floor between 2:30-3:30am they have a late-night happy hour.
Location: Darlinghurst, NSW
Address: 77 William St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010
Open until: 4am (Thurs + Sun), 4:30am (Fri + Sat)
Website: club77.com.au/
Palmer & Co
An underground prohibition-style bar, Palmer & Co is where good booze and refined debauchery meet. Located in a brick-vaulted basement (circa 1850s), this well-hidden venue ticks all the boxes when it comes to hosting a wedding after-party: live music, late-night hours and a menu to keep all human beings happy with things like grilled bolognese jaffles.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Address: Abercrombie Lane, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Open until: until late
Website: merivale.com/venues/palmerandco/
The Barrie
The Barrie takes two things very seriously: live entertainment and alcohol. For these reasons alone, The Barrie ranks as one of the best places to be after dark. There are live acts and DJs every night and if you’re partial to a delicious cocktail (or two), The Barrie definitely has your back. They’re experts in events too and pride themselves on their impeccable service.
Location: Chippendale, NSW
Address: 107-109 Regent St, Chippendale, NSW, 2008
Open until: 11pm (Thurs), 3am (Fri + Sat)
Website: thebarrie.com.au
Zaffi
After sunset is when Zaffi – a Lebanese supper club – really comes alive. Featuring hot pink booths, silver seats and a menu that makes overeating impossible (blame ex-Rockpool and Chin Chin chef Graeme Hunt) the vibe here is top-notch. Expect live music and the rhythmic beats of traditional drums and dancing on tabletops until 4am (they quite literally raised the roof so people could do this!).
Location: Sydney, NSW
Address: 10-14 Hunter Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Open until: until late
Website: zaffisydney.com.au
The Baxter Inn
Described as “a place where John Cheever and Johnny Walker might spend some time together”, this pretzel and whiskey-filled establishment has a lot to offer as a wedding after-party venue. For over 10 years, The Baxter Inn has been pouring beers, mixing cocktails, refining its wine list and expanding its whiskey range (around 630 different types and counting) for folks who enjoy low lighting and late nights out. It’s an especially popular spot amongst blues fans with the Baxter Blues Club being a long-standing Sunday night ritual.
Location: Sydney, NSW
Address: 152—156 Clarence St, Sydney NSW
Open until: 3am
Website: swillhouse.com/venues/the-baxter-inn/
