If you’ve never had a sweaty, late-night rendezvous at Cargo Bar, one of Sydney’s OG party bars, you haven’t lived. Or more likely, you’re a baggy-jeans-wearing Gen Z who’s probably cooler than me. Millennials and Gen X know Cargo Bar well – what's your story? – and love it or loathe it, the King Street Wharf boozer is a Sydney institution.
Swinging open its doors in 2000 – the same year as the Sydney Olympics – Cargo Bar has been a reliable go-to spot for night owls, providing high-octane fun for 24 years, which is no small feat in a city of glittering openings and sad closures. And while there have been some minor touch-ups throughout its lifespan, the team decided it was time for a revamp. Now, after a massive four-month renovation, Darling Harbour’s iconic nightclub is back, complete with cutting-edge lighting and sound systems, a killer new DJ booth, a luxe VIP area, and fresh bar, lounge and dining spaces. And yes, the dance floor and pop hits remain.
That’s not all we like. Featuring lush greenery, colourful furniture and those harbour views, the Palm Springs-inspired beer garden is a prime place for lunch catch-ups and after-work sundowners. Hungry? The menu features crowd-pleasers like crisp fish tacos, schnitty burgers, salt and pepper squid and a Japanese eggplant bowl with miso-roasted eggplant. Plus, come down at night and get around the $25 mid-week offers, which come with a meal and your choice of boozy drink.
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With a capacity for 500 punters and late-night opening hours – including until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights – there’s a lot of fun still to be had at Cargo.
And we’ve got to say: the sprawling, two-level nightclub is looking schmick. Do you have plans this weekend? If not, it may be time to venture down memory lane.
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