Kinselas Bar

You’re either here for the tranny bingo, some sort of show, or the happy hour special!
It’s a bit dingy inside … dive bar type from the 80s. But you can’t go wrong with $ 5 drinks from 6 to 8pm Monday to Thursday and I believe there’s tranny bingo one of those nights. It’s a staple off of Oxford street and stays open late.

I’ve heard that this was a very different venue before the curse of the lock-​out laws descended. But having not experienced this I had a marvellous time anyway.
The amazing historic interior is super charming but where this place truly shone was in its clientele. Just. Rad. Peeps. Really. Super laid back, queers or all varieties. In an area that is renowned for its shiny and plastic people, it’s such a gift to find a venue to the contrary.

When I came up here 6 years ago I had an awesome time but since then apparently things changed… Allan and security #17seemed to think we were not good enough for them anymore. So I guess our next night until 5:00am will just have to be next door.

This one star review is dedicated to manager Alan and security #17. Congratulations on making your venue the least attractive in the area.

Perched right on the edge of Taylor Square on Oxford, Kinselas has been around for years.
Nab yourself a table outside for relaxed, early evening after work drinks, and be entertained by the character filled street traffic that wanders by.
Last week I not only spotted the man of steel himself, Superman (looking like he’d been drinking some heavy kryptonite), but I also spotted a masked man in a head to toe yellow lycra suit, but I’m not sure which superhero he was nor what his powers were.
As the night rolls on, and the tempo of the district starts to shift, you’ll be asked politely to move inside (due to licensing laws), but no need to grumble as the interior of Kinselas is as interesting as the view outside.
Crane your neck gazing at the breathtaking interior of the main bar while sipping your gin and tonic. The high ceilings are spectacular, and art deco stylings are simply gorgeous.
Well worth a a visit to check out the stunning interior.

Kinselas as an establishment is quite a famous Sydney pub and is a historic building, what it offers regarding drinks and entertainment is not special or exciting, but it is still a great bar, the reason being is the location.
Kinselas opens out onto the street at Taylor Square so on a Friday or Saturday night or morning it is the place to go if you want to really experience the Oxford Street insanity.
It is very much a meeting place and is one of the first places to really get busy on the weekends and you don’t have to deal with the claustrophobia of being trapped amongst the crowd due to it’s openness to outside. Kinselas is perfect for your pre drinks warm up to a big night ahead.

If you’re after a drink at any time of the day or night then Kinsela’s is your place. Far be it from me to know why I was out till all hours on a Monday night but as my companion and I rolled up, we enquired to the bouncer to see if we had time to fit in a quick drink before this place shuts to which we were reliably and happily informed, «This place never shuts» Plenty of time, I thought!
Actually I’m sure at some point in their life everyone has had a drink at Kinsela’s. It used to be the place to be back in the day (I’m talking before my time) but still seems to gather a crowd at all hours. Maybe it’s the fact that it is open at all hours.
The cocktails are nice and I must admit I like the lounge bar area inside, no matter what part of the day or night I’m there!

Part of the LoFi collective, Kinselas boasts to be the friendliest bar in Darlinghurst, and luckily they’re located dead centre in the heart of Taylor Square.
With the huge windows that look onto Flinders st, you can sit back and relax with your mates, some bevies, a mostly cool people inside Kinselas. Although, if you’re stuck outside in the rain, with your make-​up dripping down your face, you may be jealous of them inside — I’d suppose.
The vibe inside can depend on the amount of people there, and if it’s very busy, don’t expect to get any change from a 20 minute wait for drinks at the bar. Although, this will give you ample time to consider the interior architecture and art deco details that make this venue a historic building with a robust history in Darlinghurst.

«It used to be a funeral home.» That is the topic of conversation which pops up every time a new member of the party arrives.
It’s a trivial tidbit that is impressive and makes the teller look educated and historically interesting. «Hello, how are you? This place used to be a funeral home.» Oh how impressive and historically interesting you are. «Thank you. Drink?»
That was a common conversation you might overhear at Kinsela’s. The vents in the roof and walls, the singed crucifix over in the corner, all telling signs of the building’s past. It’s nice to be somewhere with history. There are so few places in Sydney you can go to that have any interesting historical context.
When I was travelling in Europe, everywhere had a story, this is where a king was executed by his chambermaid, this is where Dickens wrote a joke on a napkin, this building used to be a castle that was owned by an eccentric German Prince. In Australia though, the best we can often do is, «This building used to be a tree. It’s made out of wood.»
So even though Kinsela’s past is only a short one, at least it’s one of note. The art deco interiors are conversation worthy and provide a nice atmosphere to get a sneaky drink with friends. The bar staff are friendly and the seating is comfortable, when you walk out the front door you’re at Taylor Square and the sporadic sounds of the Taylor Square fountains are soothing and help to drown out the traffic on Oxford Street.
I don’t know whether I was there on a good night, or if it’s always like that, but the music playing over the speakers was unlike so many bars and pubs you go to these days, made with instruments and without pitch correction, so that was nice too.