loquasagacious
NCAP Mooderator
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- 2004
Iinitially it must be stressed that Canberra has one huge advantage over almost anywhere else; huge centralisation of the nightlife. There are 7 different establishments (9 depending how you count) in one building, 15 within a 50m radius of garema place and about 3 more if you extend that by another 100m. Everything is walking. Also all of this is happening a ten minute walk from the on campus halls and colleges. So basically there are lots of places to go an easy stumbling distance from lots of students – a recipe for a vibrant nightlife. Lots of student specials as well which are great.
Anyway here goes - starting with the Sydney Building and working outwards.
Mooseheads:
General Notes: Mooseheads pricing is generally reasonable with some good specials eg The Hour of Power from 10-11pm on thursday night is $1 tap beers, basic spirits and mixers. $2 for the rest of the night. If you have a moosecard (available for purchase from the bar in the day time or free if you join the ANU liberal society) you get $2 prices before 11 every night (a $3.50 discount on saturdays). Also they sponsor Johns XIII.
Downstairs: this is the pub part of mooseheads and is composed of two floors ground and lower ground (toilets on lower ground). A bar and pool table on both levels. There is never a cover charge for downstairs and the clientèle is more of the pub rock bogan variety. By day they serve food which is good value at $10 for a fair size pizza and a pint.
Upstairs: This is the club part or “The Moose”. Again two levels one with a dance floor (1st) and the 'cocaine lounge' which looks down on the dance floor(2nd). Both are served with a bar, there is more seating upstairs however. Downstairs has a soundproof smoke room. On Saturdays the moose is a $5 cover.
The Phoenix:
This is a pub frequented by young professionals and the like. It can however get quite crowded as it is very small. I know for a fact that some of the economics lecturers drink there in addition to various political types/hacks. Certainly among the more intellectual of nights out.
Shooters:
Has a Texan theme, again is composed of a pub downstairs and club upstairs. No cover on Thursdays and $2 drinks all night. It is however quite small, fairly seedy and the toilets are from 1952. In my opinion a $5 cover and $5 drinks on Saturday just aren't worth it.
Sultans:
Haven't spent much time here – enough to know its dominated by fully sik azns, lebs and skanky girls. Fights are not infrequent. On Saturdays they have cage dancers.
Quattro:
I believe this is somehow affiliated with Sultans (possibly another pub/club) combo. Prices are low as are numbers in attendence. Certainly among the seedier of places to go.
ICBM:
Has a discount deal with Fenner and B&G. No cover charge reasonable drink prices. Usually however it is fairly quiet – however it seems busier of late being packed the Saturday before last.
Echo Bar:
A good place to sit and chill as a kind of intermission from the moose as it is pretty empty, not very loud and has seats. However be aware that the regulars are NOT to be messed with.
PJ O'Rielleys:
One of Canberras many Irish pubs – personally my favourite. Never any cover, reasonable prices, cider on tap, large pints (600+ml). Karaoke on Thurs and Sat nights, live DJ (playing 80s music) on Fridays. A nice (fairly) non-pretentious Irish feel. The crowd is typically a mix of young professionals and uni students. Only downside is it closes early (1am?). Has $7 student meal deals during the day.
Wig and Pen:
Neos favourite nightspot. Technically a microbrewery in themselves as they brew a lot of their own beers – probably the most consistently high rated being the velvet stout (beloved of neo and my housemates). It has a fairly subdued atmosphere and is a good place for some quiet beers and great conversation. Also it is the closest to campus, if you go remember to check out the mural thingo above the bar.
SouthPac:
This is a contraction of The South Pacific Islander Club. In reality it is a seedy RSL/pub with a dance floor. It has a fair number of pool tables and poker machines. It is located under civic bus interchange. Even the carpet is sticky from spilt alcohol. There tend to be a fair number of underage girls. Comparitive to its hey-dey it is tame – there used to be deals like a $10 cover and two free jugs of spirits..... It is frequented by Fenner and B&G people, personally I would only go were there a hall thing on there – otherwise its not worth it.
King O'Malleys:
Definantly the cheesier of the Irish pubs in civic. Features live music, the dirtiest toilets in civic (seriously every single time I've been in them there is piss and pieces of newspaper everywhere). The crowd is generally young professional trending toward middle-aged, also the Pjs regulars come here after Pjs shuts for the night. It has a convienient location next to Chicken Gourmet.
The Hippo Bar:
Basically a cocktail lounge. Predominantly a young professional crowd. $5 cover, crowded, funny little stools, and pricey drinks. If you're into cocktails then its the place to be.
Academy:
This is very much a Sydney style nightclub (or discotek if you're European). Is all below ground and is situated in what used to be a Greater Union cinema complex. Has two levels, the candybar (obvious name inspiration) which overlooks the main area. The main area having previously been a cinema is composed of a bar, largish standing/sitting area and a lower again dancefloor. Features special guest Djs and the like. Its a $5 cover on Thursdays but this gives two free drinks on entry and then $2 archers all night (the marvels of competition with mooseheads
). However Friday and Saturday nights are a huge $15 cover and the drinks are expensive. Young crowd, supre skanks and fully sik brothas do abound though.
Club Mombassa:
Plays predominantly reggae, etc music and has a nice feel however the crowd is generally middle-aged and inclined to sit. $5 cover.
Grail:
All I know is its karaoke on Monday nights.
Civic Pub:
Firstly it is actually in Braddon. More importantly it has LOTS of pool tables and reasonable drink prices. Neo also attests to cheap steak.
Cube:
Canberra's gay club. This is not a place for homophobes. This said straight girls do go there simply because they don't get hit on as much and can be more relaxed. Probably has the most open and prevalent drug use of any of Canberra's clubs.
The Casino:
The only place open 24/7, drinks are expensive. And obviously its a casino.
Also worth noting is food:
$2.50 per slice pizza can be found all around the Sydney Building, 24hr kebabs on Bunda street and chicken burger and chips at Chicken Gourmet (till 5am).
..............................
Places out of civic that rate a mention:
The Dickson Tradies:
Prices are ridiculously low and they have trams which you can sit in and drink.
The Lighthouse (Belconnen):
Has stolen a lot of the Labor Clubs customers. Is quite busy on weeknights predominantly frequented by Canberra (Belconnen) locals from as soon as they can go eg lots of high school (or the ACTs crappy equivalent) kids as well as uni students and f/t workers. So overall a fairly young crowd. Fights are not uncommon.
.............................
My personal pick is; The Moose, PJs, the Wig & Pen, pizza and chips (from chicken gourmet) which I readily concede is a strange mix.
Anyways if I've missed something/been defiecient in some regard then feel free to have a crack at rectifying the situation.
Anyway here goes - starting with the Sydney Building and working outwards.
Mooseheads:
General Notes: Mooseheads pricing is generally reasonable with some good specials eg The Hour of Power from 10-11pm on thursday night is $1 tap beers, basic spirits and mixers. $2 for the rest of the night. If you have a moosecard (available for purchase from the bar in the day time or free if you join the ANU liberal society) you get $2 prices before 11 every night (a $3.50 discount on saturdays). Also they sponsor Johns XIII.
Downstairs: this is the pub part of mooseheads and is composed of two floors ground and lower ground (toilets on lower ground). A bar and pool table on both levels. There is never a cover charge for downstairs and the clientèle is more of the pub rock bogan variety. By day they serve food which is good value at $10 for a fair size pizza and a pint.
Upstairs: This is the club part or “The Moose”. Again two levels one with a dance floor (1st) and the 'cocaine lounge' which looks down on the dance floor(2nd). Both are served with a bar, there is more seating upstairs however. Downstairs has a soundproof smoke room. On Saturdays the moose is a $5 cover.
The Phoenix:
This is a pub frequented by young professionals and the like. It can however get quite crowded as it is very small. I know for a fact that some of the economics lecturers drink there in addition to various political types/hacks. Certainly among the more intellectual of nights out.
Shooters:
Has a Texan theme, again is composed of a pub downstairs and club upstairs. No cover on Thursdays and $2 drinks all night. It is however quite small, fairly seedy and the toilets are from 1952. In my opinion a $5 cover and $5 drinks on Saturday just aren't worth it.
Sultans:
Haven't spent much time here – enough to know its dominated by fully sik azns, lebs and skanky girls. Fights are not infrequent. On Saturdays they have cage dancers.
Quattro:
I believe this is somehow affiliated with Sultans (possibly another pub/club) combo. Prices are low as are numbers in attendence. Certainly among the seedier of places to go.
ICBM:
Has a discount deal with Fenner and B&G. No cover charge reasonable drink prices. Usually however it is fairly quiet – however it seems busier of late being packed the Saturday before last.
Echo Bar:
A good place to sit and chill as a kind of intermission from the moose as it is pretty empty, not very loud and has seats. However be aware that the regulars are NOT to be messed with.
PJ O'Rielleys:
One of Canberras many Irish pubs – personally my favourite. Never any cover, reasonable prices, cider on tap, large pints (600+ml). Karaoke on Thurs and Sat nights, live DJ (playing 80s music) on Fridays. A nice (fairly) non-pretentious Irish feel. The crowd is typically a mix of young professionals and uni students. Only downside is it closes early (1am?). Has $7 student meal deals during the day.
Wig and Pen:
Neos favourite nightspot. Technically a microbrewery in themselves as they brew a lot of their own beers – probably the most consistently high rated being the velvet stout (beloved of neo and my housemates). It has a fairly subdued atmosphere and is a good place for some quiet beers and great conversation. Also it is the closest to campus, if you go remember to check out the mural thingo above the bar.
SouthPac:
This is a contraction of The South Pacific Islander Club. In reality it is a seedy RSL/pub with a dance floor. It has a fair number of pool tables and poker machines. It is located under civic bus interchange. Even the carpet is sticky from spilt alcohol. There tend to be a fair number of underage girls. Comparitive to its hey-dey it is tame – there used to be deals like a $10 cover and two free jugs of spirits..... It is frequented by Fenner and B&G people, personally I would only go were there a hall thing on there – otherwise its not worth it.
King O'Malleys:
Definantly the cheesier of the Irish pubs in civic. Features live music, the dirtiest toilets in civic (seriously every single time I've been in them there is piss and pieces of newspaper everywhere). The crowd is generally young professional trending toward middle-aged, also the Pjs regulars come here after Pjs shuts for the night. It has a convienient location next to Chicken Gourmet.
The Hippo Bar:
Basically a cocktail lounge. Predominantly a young professional crowd. $5 cover, crowded, funny little stools, and pricey drinks. If you're into cocktails then its the place to be.
Academy:
This is very much a Sydney style nightclub (or discotek if you're European). Is all below ground and is situated in what used to be a Greater Union cinema complex. Has two levels, the candybar (obvious name inspiration) which overlooks the main area. The main area having previously been a cinema is composed of a bar, largish standing/sitting area and a lower again dancefloor. Features special guest Djs and the like. Its a $5 cover on Thursdays but this gives two free drinks on entry and then $2 archers all night (the marvels of competition with mooseheads
). However Friday and Saturday nights are a huge $15 cover and the drinks are expensive. Young crowd, supre skanks and fully sik brothas do abound though.Club Mombassa:
Plays predominantly reggae, etc music and has a nice feel however the crowd is generally middle-aged and inclined to sit. $5 cover.
Grail:
All I know is its karaoke on Monday nights.
Civic Pub:
Firstly it is actually in Braddon. More importantly it has LOTS of pool tables and reasonable drink prices. Neo also attests to cheap steak.
Cube:
Canberra's gay club. This is not a place for homophobes. This said straight girls do go there simply because they don't get hit on as much and can be more relaxed. Probably has the most open and prevalent drug use of any of Canberra's clubs.
The Casino:
The only place open 24/7, drinks are expensive. And obviously its a casino.
Also worth noting is food:
$2.50 per slice pizza can be found all around the Sydney Building, 24hr kebabs on Bunda street and chicken burger and chips at Chicken Gourmet (till 5am).
..............................
Places out of civic that rate a mention:
The Dickson Tradies:
Prices are ridiculously low and they have trams which you can sit in and drink.
The Lighthouse (Belconnen):
Has stolen a lot of the Labor Clubs customers. Is quite busy on weeknights predominantly frequented by Canberra (Belconnen) locals from as soon as they can go eg lots of high school (or the ACTs crappy equivalent) kids as well as uni students and f/t workers. So overall a fairly young crowd. Fights are not uncommon.
.............................
My personal pick is; The Moose, PJs, the Wig & Pen, pizza and chips (from chicken gourmet) which I readily concede is a strange mix.
Anyways if I've missed something/been defiecient in some regard then feel free to have a crack at rectifying the situation.
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