Sydney is filled to the brim with parks, bars, restaurants and museums to fill in the weekends with fun, entertainment and excitement. But if you’ve exhausted all your usual spots and are looking for something a little off the beaten track, Sydney also offers up new and quirky spots that are sure to fulfil your need for something a little different. 

Maniax Axe Throwing

If you’ve ever wanted to indulge your inner Viking, Maniax in St Peters is the place to be. Maniax lets you (safely) hurl axes and land the bullseye. They have a range of package options for individuals, groups and even date night. And if all that axe chucking has tired you out, they have a feast fit for a Viking available too.

Swingin’ at the Speakeasy

Palmer & Co is a Prohibition-era bar that certainly looks the part with an industrial-meets-1920s decor and an old-fashioned lamp marking the entryway. Hidden down an alleyway and underneath Sydney streets Palmer & Co is known for their cocktails (including their signature cocktail the Bloomsday) and their live swing music. The bar is open every night but on Wednesdays Palmer & Co’s themed night, Swingin’ at the Speakeasy encourages you to dress up and have a turn on the dance floor with live swing music.

The Magician’s Cabaret

From Penn and Teller to Dynamo and Criss Angel, magicians have delighted and bewildered us for years. The Magician’s Cabaret in Darlinghurst is an authentic Parisian cabaret and bar with dinner shows every Saturday night. Live music, cabaret shows and magic shows play on other nights of the week and the venue is iconic for its selection of classic French cocktails. The Magician’s Cabaret also houses the Australian Museum of Magical Arts with various ‘magical’ artefacts on display, from posters and illustrations to costumes and literature on magic. 

Trim the Cat

Here at Beauty News we love a feisty feline, especially those deserving of the honour of having a statue made in its likeness. Way back at the end of the 18th century, Matthew Flinders (a cartographer who would later go on to help map Australia) was a 25-year old lieutenant on the HMS Reliance. Joining Flinders on his seafaring journey was his best mate, Trim the Cat. Flinders respected Trim greatly, remarking that the cat was incredibly brave after falling overboard: “when a rope was thrown over to him, he took hold of it like a man, and ran up it like a cat.” Trim the Cat’s statue rests behind the one of Matthew Flinders outside the NSW State Library on Macquarie Street in the CBD. Honour this brave cat with a cheeky photo and then explore the historic State Library.

Know of other weird and quirky hotspots in Sydney? Let us know in the comments below!