Shark Hotel — Restaurant in Sydney

There are bars—and then there’s Shark Bar.

If you’ve ever set foot inside, you already know this place doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. No velvet ropes. No overpriced espresso martinis or influencers taking selfies in the bathroom mirror. Shark Bar is the kind of venue that looks you dead in the eye and says: “You’re here to drink, dance, and probably make at least one questionable life decision.” And that’s exactly why people love it.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: it’s not “nice” in the traditional sense. The floor might be sticky. The lighting is unapologetically dim. The crowd? A wild mix of local legends, wandering backpackers, and half the city’s uni students looking to forget the week that was. But therein lies the beauty. Shark Bar doesn’t put on a show—it is the show. Every night is a new episode of unfiltered, unscripted mayhem, and you’re one of the main characters.

The music? Relentless. DJs here don’t care about your subtle indie-pop playlist. They’re spinning absolute bangers—anything from 2000s pop-punk anthems and sweaty EDM remixes to hip-hop floor-fillers and Aussie classics that have the whole place yelling lyrics like it’s the national anthem. If you came to stand in the corner and vibe, you’ve picked the wrong place. But if you’re ready to scream “Mr. Brightside” at 2:00 a.m. while strangers pour vodka sodas down their throats like it’s a sacred ritual, you’ve found home.

Now let’s talk drinks. Affordable. Strong. And often served in plastic cups that double as souvenirs of a night well lived (and half remembered). The bartenders? Efficient chaos merchants. They’ll serve ten people in the time it takes a cocktail bar to squeeze a lemon. No frills, no fuss, just booze and good vibes. And don’t be surprised if they give you a nod of recognition after your third visit—regulars are remembered here.

And of course, there’s Fred’s Incident™—a moment now cemented in Shark Bar folklore. After confidently announcing that “shoeys are for cowards,” Fred proceeded to misstep on the stairs, launch his vodka raspberry like a firework, and land in a bin. Not next to it. In it. A full, plastic-lined rubbish bin—arms up like a gymnast sticking the landing. The security guard just nodded solemnly and said, “Seen worse.” Fred climbed out, dusted himself off, and kept partying. That’s Shark Bar spirit.

What truly makes Shark Bar elite is the energy. It’s not just a venue; it’s an ecosystem. A full-throttle, sweat-drenched, limbs-flailing ecosystem of people who just want to have a damn good time. There’s no judgment here—wear thongs, lose your voice, dance like no one’s watching (though everyone is). The bouncers have probably seen it all, and as long as you’re not a dickhead, you’ll be fine. It’s rowdy but not toxic, messy but not malicious.

You can’t fake this kind of atmosphere. You can’t replicate it with branding or curated Instagram feeds. Shark Bar is real. It’s raw. It’s a rite of passage. It’s the kind of place you tell stories about years later, starting with “Remember that night at Shark Bar when…”

So if you're after craft cocktails and charcuterie boards, keep walking. But if you want volume, vibe, and a place that makes you feel alive from the first beat drop to the last light switch—Shark Bar delivers in spades.

Five stars. Would lose dignity again. Fred...

Worst Experience EVER at a venue! I attended an event at this venue with friends & family last night (Saturday) that was hosted in the upstairs area of the club! My friend and I were tired from dancing in heels and decided to sit down on the stools around the tables where all our belongings were... I had messaged my husband to come and pick us up (he would be 30min) My friend and I had been sitting and talking for approx 20 min and out of NOWHERE a man claiming to be the 'manager' that possibly resembled an Indian nationality (I would put his name but he refused to provide that!) walked straight up to me instructed me to take my friend home as she was stumbling and slurring!!! WHAT??? I was absolutely shocked as we had been sitting down talking for the past 1/3 of an hour & his claim was that she was 'stumbling' and intoxicated?! I replied that we were actually waiting on our ride, which at that point was only 10 min away. I queried how he could possibly come to a conclusion of stumbling, when we had been sitting down? I also politely asked him for his name and position but would only reply with " I'm the manger', 'I don't need to tell you my name'! He then called his other security buddies to help escort us outside! I have the whole interaction on camera as we were feeling threatened by their aggressive tone, on two occasions the man that had originally 'kicked us out' and another security guard used physical violence towards me in attempts to not be filled - which was my right! (I was in a public space) We proceed to be escorted outside due to what I assume to be 'intoxication' even though while walking through the club towards the exit there were women drunk and sitting down on main stairwells (I also have this on video) I'm absolutely disgusted at the treatment and unprofessionalism of the club and its employees... I still cannot reconcile why we were targeted and removed from the venue, and even though we had been drinking, we were no more 'intoxicated' than anyone else there! Noting that we had actually stopped drinking a while before and were ready for home. I will never go to this venue again, I will strongly advise against this club and will happily refer people...

Generally, I try not to write negative reviews as much as possible. but we are all looking for a place to spend a nice evening. and we are reading these comments. So I think everyone has a right to know about a place with bad security staff like Shark Hotel

We gathered at Shark Hotel to celebrate my friend's birthday with our friends. We were inside for a long time and I was out the door to deal with my phone. I saw that the security staff started to let visitors in with their IDs. “My everything is inside, can I go back in?” I asked. They said I should ask my friend to bring my ID. I told my friend and he brought me everything and I got in line. It was my turn, I showed my ID. but they said "you are drunk." and they didn't let me in. I said that I only bought 1 beer inside and half of the beer was still on my table, how could I get drunk? already, I said that I just got out of the inside, but they did not take it. I told the other security guard about the situation. "Maybe you drank somewhere else," etc said. I opened my bank app and showed him my last shopping breakdown. He looked in detail, and although he saw the $5 Shark hotel transaction, he walked away without saying anything. I tried to explain myself to the security guard who wouldn't let me back in but he said I had to walk away. my English is not very good. I am too respectful a person to argue with anyone for such a reason anyway. I returned home...

but I had to leave my friend's birthday party unfinished. this is a really lousy situation. How can you decide that a person is drunk? And how can you ruin someone's whole night, and whole day with such a wrong decision?

I also ask the hotel authorities to take care of it. Check out the security cameras, see what I'm drinking, and how many minutes ago I went to the door. look at my movements, any sign of drunkenness? what's the problem? Is it because I don't have enough English? If you had bought a $100 breathalyzer, you would have not been hurting anyone. if this is really the problem...

I leave the comments to the visitors if the manager still doesn't do anything even though there have been complaints about "Security Staff" before me and...