John C.
Yelp
In recent times Darling Harbour's Bungalow 8 has established itself as one of the most popular Sydney city nightspots for 20 to 30 something's. On my recent venture into the Bungalow I discovered why.
Bungalow 8's strongest feature is its atmosphere. The large outdoor deck area with a well fuelled heating system allows patrons to abandon their scarves and coats on a cold winter's night, effectively creating illusions of summer and schoolies, as groups sit at large tables (which can be booked), sharing cocktails served in plastic buckets. The crowd is a mix of casual and corporate, but the general mood is unpretentious, friendly and relaxed.
Bungalow 8 serves well as a place to gather for a party as it encourages a laid back, let your hair down feel which the crowd embraces progressively through the night as they dance to retro 90's music, the party vibe is promoted further when the DJ is accompanied by a live drummer.
The service is friendly and professional, further allowing patrons to relax and feel comfortable. The food is tasty but not exceptional, it is basically high quality pub food: Steak, fish and Thai salads, priced at what you would expect for the venue; if you want nouveau cuisine, you're better off to go to a restaurant.
My only real criticism of Bungalow 8 is their kitchen closed too early. 9PM closing time might be appropriate for your average restaurant, but for a nightspot encouraging people to stay out all night, food should be available later, especially when you need something to soak up those buckets of booze. Recently I walked into a restaurant in Beijing at 1:30 am and many people were ordering dinner and this was not an isolated experience. Come on Sydney catch up with the rest of the world!
Overall Bungalow 8 delivers a fun night out, whether for a Friday night after work gathering, a party with friends or a warm up for a big night ahead at one of the larger nightclubs. I certainly had a good time and would venture back in future escapades.