The perfect girls’ night out with Nadia Fairfax

After a banging girl’s night out in Sydney? Look no further; we got style guru, influencer and all-around legend Nadia Fairfax to take us through her absolute fave Sydney bars and restaurants to hit with your ride-or-dies. 

But first, what is a girl’s night? Well, Webster's dictionary defines it as… Nah, we’re joking. A girl's night is just a fun night with the gals and could mean a sit-down meal, a boogie, a couple of drinks at a fun bar, or all of the above. For Nadia, it’s a “good release from the daily grind. It’s just about finding a groovy spot, maybe with some music you can move to and nice lighting and all the good things, really. Things that us ladies need.” Particularly the good lighting, please. 

Before we get to Nadia’s grade-A spots for a tipple and a snack, we asked our pal some need-to-know questions. For example, what is our new bestie drinking on a night out? “Ok, this is absolutely shocking, but I love nothing more than a Piña Colada. My friends always give me a hard time about it. But they’re so delicious.”

Nadia is an Aussie fashion god, a brill Insta influencer and a whole lot of fun. With that in mind, we had to get her girl's night-out fashion tips. “It’s about making subtle changes and adding things to a look you already love. You know, like throwing on a bold lip or a really audacious earring or throwing on a really wild pair of heels.” Brb – dusting off our neon pink, sparkly platforms. 

“For me, it’s all about something I can dance in and something I can eat in. So, nothing too tight and nothing white (just in case). It is funny how your style evolves when you get older. I remember when I was younger, I used to cover myself in bloody body glitter when I was going anywhere. Now it’s just about finding things that make me feel comfortable and still make me feel a bit sexy. It’s really important to feel a bit sexy on a girl's night out.” 

Now that we’re all dressed up (sans body glitter) and ready to partay, let’s see where the night (and Nadia) are taking us. 

First up, the delightfully wonderful Sydney staple, Continental Deli. “It’s all about the canned cocktails; such a cool thing that they do. That’s definitely a favourite thing of mine and so easy. It’s just a cute Instagrammable moment people can share, and just a little point of difference that is really cool.” 

Next is one of Sydney’s newer venues, the three-levelled Shell House. “My favourite spot within Shell House is the Clocktower Bar. You feel like you’re in a different country, you could be in the middle of New York or London. It just feels very international and elevated. Something about it just makes me feel like I’m away overseas and I think that’s a really fun thing.”

Another cornerstone of Sydney hospitality on Nadia’s list is 10 William St. “I just feel like it has a really good local vibe. I love the cosiness of it, and you’re packed in tight, and it’s buzzing. It gives you that hit of energy you need for a girl’s night. It feels like you’re somewhere with a bit hustle and bustle and, of course, the pretzel… like let’s be real. The pretzel is amazing, especially after a few drinks.”

Of course, Nadia’s fave, Charlie Parker’s, is a must-stop on a girl’s night. “The best thing there is Giacomo (Jacko): a beautiful Italian guy, who is just so kind and helpful. And of course, their Naked Colada (a twist on Nadia’s fave drink) is the most delicious beverage in Sydney. Next time you’re there can you please have one? And I think there is something beautiful about the old jazz they play there, makes me feel like I’m in an episode of Boardwalk Empire or something.”

And lastly Bar Topa (home of Sydney’s tastiest tapas) and the wonderfully quirky Piccolo Bar (another newbie – sort of) round out her picks. “I just love the story of Piccolo and I think it’s got a lot of history. The bartenders just tell really great stories about it.” And after serving as a staple of the King's Cross late-night hospitality scene for nearly 70 years, there are a lot of stories to tell. Now restored as a cosy 12-seat aperitivo bar, Piccolo slings delish cocktails, a fab selection from Penny's Cheese and, of course, good old LP's hot dogs.

Well, that’s it, folks. Next time you’re scratching your heads, wondering where to take the gal pals, refer back to Nadia’s badass list (BYO body glitter, of course).