Sydney's top ten pick-up joints
Looking for love in all the wrong places? Then try these ones
Sydney: it's the city of love. But how to find that love? We here at Time Out Sydney are all about making your life easier, so here are ten places that the love of your life is lurking - provided, that is, that they fit into one of the archetypes outlined below.
Pick up a sporty type
Key Largo Rushcutters Bay
One of the many reasons why Key Largo is so right-on for hooking a sports nut is the plasma screens. Stuck for conversation? Ask your target how many inches they have at home and see what kind of response you get. Go when the "big game" (regardless of the sport) is screening to make the most of supporter camaraderie.
Golden Sheaf Double Bay
Rugby-playing private school boys and their tennis/netball-loving female equivalents are what you'll find at this Double Bay institution. Grab a pool cue and show off your skills with the stick, or treat that special someone to salt and pepper squid and an alcopop. It's romance in a Ralph Lauren shirt.
Pick up a backpacker
Bunga Bar Bondi Beach
Still haven't found that special someone? The solution is obvious: get friendly with "natives" from all around the world at a tiki tavern! Between island-inspired interiors and a multitude of Malibu-based cocktails, you're bound to come out with a tropical babe complete with grass skirt on your arm, right? Right?
Side Bar Sydney
With a good central location (just next to, um, Central) and a building full of backpackers connected to it, Side Bar's friendly atmosphere, clientele consisting almost entirely of excited travellers and immediate proximity to the rooms in which they bed down means that the enterprising wooer could be practising the international language within a couple of hours.
Pick up an indie kid
Abercrombie Hotel Chippendale
If you're cool-looking enough, you're already spending your Friday nights at Purple Sneakers surrounded by the fashionably-clad, interestingly-haired kids. If you can't manage the crush of vibrant youth but fancy some old-school indie, Britpop on every second Saturday night drops the classics; and those cocktail jugs certainly facilitate social interaction.
The Lounge Surry Hills
It's where the indie elite of Surry Hills congregate, with the cool and the beautiful splayed around tables while obscure mixes play on the PA. Put together a posse of suitably cool-looking confederates and you'll be hitting Oxford Street's nightspots in the best-looking mob scene imaginable.
Pick up a suit
Bar Europa Sydney
Desperate is as desperate does. You might find a suit here, but chances are it'll be on hire. That said, it's dark down there, so no one will see your shame.
Bar Europa, Basement, 82 Elizabeth St, Sydney 2000. (02 9232 3377 www.bareuropa.com.au).
Establishment Sydney
Classic territory, and for good reason. You'll find your usual investment bankers and hedge funders here, both skirted and pantsed so you can hedge your bets. And it's loud, so you can fudge your lack of knowledge of high finance with smiles and nods.
Pick up a beautiful person
Ivy Sydney
Pick up anything here from models to part time actors to aspiring waitresses. It's all here and it's all good looking. Just make sure you are too.
The Beresford Darlinghurst
Watch what day you turn up, depending on your persuasion. Sunday's gay day, but Friday night means Grazia girls and hot guys. The barstaff aren't half bad either.
