The Bourbon
The Bourbon has been a Kings Cross fixture since the 1960s, operating at 22 Darlinghurst Road in the heart of the strip. It's a late-night bar and restaurant that stays open when most other venues have closed. The ground floor is a straightforward pub with a long bar, pool tables, and sports on the TVs. Upstairs has a dance floor that runs on weekends. The kitchen serves pub food until late. The crowd is mixed and unpredictable, from shift workers finishing up to tourists extending their night to locals who've been coming here for years. Beers start at AUD 10 and pub meals run AUD 18-30. It's not glamorous, but it's reliable.
What to Expect
A classic, slightly worn Australian pub that happens to be open at 4 AM. No pretension, no cocktail menu, no dress code worth worrying about. Pool tables, cold beer, and whatever sporting event is on TV.
Worn-in, familiar, and utterly unpretentious. The Bourbon doesn't care what time it is or where you've been. It's just open.
Background rock and pop on the ground floor, commercial dance and top 40 upstairs on weekends
Almost none. As long as you're wearing shoes and a shirt, you'll get in.
Night owls who need somewhere to go after everywhere else closes. Shift workers. People who like pubs without frills.
Cash and cards accepted. ATM on premises.
Price Range
Beers AUD 10-14, spirits AUD 12-16, pub meals AUD 18-30
≈ USD 6-19 / EUR 6-18 for drinks and food
Hours
Daily noon-5 AM (hours may vary, check current schedule)
Insider Tip
The Bourbon is best used as a last stop rather than a first stop. If everywhere else has closed and you're not ready to go home, this is where you end up. The food is surprisingly decent for a late-night pub.
Full Review
The Bourbon occupies a space in Kings Cross that no other venue does: the one that's always open. Its position on Darlinghurst Road means it catches foot traffic from every direction, and its late license means it outlasts nearly everything else in the precinct.
The ground floor is a pub. There's no other way to describe it. Long bar, stools, pool tables in the back, and a TV showing whatever sport is currently playing somewhere in the world. The staff are efficient rather than chatty. You order, you pay, you sit. The beer is cold and the pours are standard.
Upstairs operates as a dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights, though calling it a nightclub would be generous. It has a DJ, some lighting, and enough space for perhaps 150 people. The music is commercial and the crowd is whoever decided to walk upstairs.
The kitchen deserves mention. Late-night pub food in Kings Cross is hard to find, and The Bourbon serves burgers, steaks, and fish and chips until the early hours. Quality sits firmly in the "good enough at 3 AM" category, which is exactly what's needed.
Bathrooms are functional. Security is present and handles the late-night crowd professionally. The venue shows its age in the decor and fittings, but that's part of its charm. This isn't a destination venue. It's a utility, and it serves that purpose better than anywhere else in Kings Cross.
The Neighborhood
Darlinghurst Road is the main strip through Kings Cross. The Bourbon sits in the middle of it, surrounded by other bars, restaurants, and a few remaining adult venues. Late-night food options within walking distance include kebab shops on Darlinghurst Road and a few Chinatown-style restaurants on Kellett Street.
Getting There
Kings Cross station (T4 line) exits directly onto Darlinghurst Road. The Bourbon is a 1-minute walk from the station exit. Rideshare pickup can be tricky on Darlinghurst Road late at night due to traffic; walking to the quieter William Street end may be faster.
Other Venues in Kings Cross
Candy's Apartment
Two-level cocktail bar and late-night venue on Bayswater Road. DJs play funk, soul, and disco. Intimate setup with a dance floor that gets packed after midnight.
World Bar
Multi-level nightclub in a heritage building on Bayswater Road. Three floors with different music on each. Teapot cocktails are the signature serve.
Potts Point Hotel
Corner pub at the quieter end of Kings Cross. Recently renovated with a rooftop bar offering views across the city. Calmer alternative to the strip.
Kings Cross Hotel
Large venue on the corner of William Street with multiple bars across several levels. Rooftop terrace is popular in summer. Mix of live music and DJs.