SYDNEY
In a nutshell: The bling party king 
Tell me more: Your options here are boundless, and you may have trouble figuring out where to start! We suggest Kings Cross (“the Cross”) for its late night club scene, complete with Sydney’sbest DJs and some of its most hard-partying citizens. Darling Harbour combines more of the same with the shiny harbourside, which the most refined Sydneysiders throw up into after a big night. The Rocks has a chilled-out, outdoorsy pub atmosphere; and Newtown and Surry Hills offer the best hangouts for more indie alternative types (like us lot).
You can’t go wrong with: Kings Cross, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Newtown and Surry Hills.
Backpacker haunts: Scubar, The Gaff, Scruffy Murphy’s, Side Bar, Scary Canary.
TNT watering holes: Kuleto’s, Pocket Bar, 4 Pines, The Clare, Shady Pines.
If Sydney was a drink: Lychee Martini

MELBOURNE
In a nutshell: Where the kool kids go
Tell me more: Melbourne prides itself on having a more unpretentious, grassroots partyscene than Sydney – you’ll find more lounge bars, live music and sofas. There are classier dress codes and a selection of “best-kept-secret” bars which you’ll have to navigate side-streets and laneways to find. Start by picking up a clubbing guide from a music store, bookshop or bar. St Kilda is the most well-known party spot, whether you want to relax or rock out, while Fitzroy has the most pubs of any suburb in Melbourne. You should also check out Chapel St, Prahran. It’s a Melbourne mainstay, boasting fashion and food as well as nightlife.
You can’t go wrong with: St Kilda, Brunswick St and Fitzroy.
Backpacker haunts: The Joint, Base Backpackers Bar, The Green Room.
TNT watering holes: Hairy Canary, The Local Taphouse, The Brunswick Hotel. 
If Melbourne was a drink: A Cosmopolitan

DARWIN
In a nutshell: Australia’s beer drinking capital
Tell me more: Darwin is often labelled the “Drinking Capital of Australia” with an average annual beer consumption of 230 litres per person (for which, some Darwinites try to blame the hot weather, perhaps legitimately). We say, when in Rome… Mitchell Street is home to the most pubs and clubs, with live bands, DJs and plenty of drink deals to entice you in until the early hours of the morning. Can’t decide where to go? Drink while you think. 
You can’t go wrong with: Mitchell Street.
Backpacker haunts: Monsoons, Discovery, Melaleuca, The Vic Hotel
TNT watering holes: Deck Bar, Throb, The Tap, The Ducks Nuts.
If Darwin was a drink: A tray of Jager Bombs

BRISBANE
In a nutshell: Youthful sun-kissed style
Tell me more: Fortitude Valley – or “The Valley” – has the most to offer, from chilled wine bars (for those who prefer posh partying) to lively clubs that go off on the weekends. The West End encapsulates Brisbane’s move towards more stylish entertainment, so if you want to partyin vogue, it’s the place for you. Kangaroo Point, though quieter on the whole, has a couple of great places hidden away from the city bustle, with fantastic water views to boot.
You can’t go wrong with: Fortitude Valley, the West End and Kangaroo Point.
Backpacker haunts: The Downunder Bar, Pig ‘n’ Whistle, The Tin Bar, Birdee Num Num. 
TNT watering holes: The Zoo, Cloudland, The Beat, Salon.
If Brisbane was a drink: Long Island Iced Tea

PERTH
In a nutshell: The best live music scene in Oz?
Tell me more: The CBD is great for a drink after business hours on a weekday, but on weekends the party definitely goes off elsewhere. Northbridge is the must-see scene, with some of Perth’s top nightclubs and bars. Mt Lawley is close behind, and Subiaco has less venues but is a bit more fashion-conscious. There’s some fantastic live music to be found in Perth, particularly in Northbridge and down in fantastic Fremantle.
You can’t go wrong with: Northbridge, Mt Lawley or Subiaco.
Backpacker haunts: The Brassmonkey, Mustang Bar, The Barracks Bar, Black Betty’s
TNT watering holes: The Bird, The Shed, The Deen, Harry’s Bar.
If Perth was a drink: Port

May 30th, 2011