8 Best Bars for Hooking Up in Darwin

Looking for a hook up in one of Darwin’s bars?

Darwin might not be the largest capital city in Australia with just 150,000 residents but it makes up for its size by offering a diverse nightlife and, as you would expect for Oz, plenty of bars, clubs and pubs. There’s a good range of venues to choose from including sports bars, locals’ pubs, cocktails bars and some good old fashioned Irish pubs. Some rely on live music to get the punters in the door whilst others can count on their cold beer, large TVs and friendly bar staff to get people coming back for more. Whatever their style, there are some (more than others)  that can attract the singles.

In this feature guide, we take a look at the most popular bars in Darwin where your chance of hooking up are pretty high.



Hooking up in Darwin’s Bars

Unless you are headed to a brothel or a sex club, there is no one spot in any Australian city where you are guaranteed to pick up a date. Most of the bars you can find in Darwin have great reputations for good beer, food and company with some being more locals bars and others being popular with tourists or business travellers. However, there are some that have more of a reputation for attracting singles and for providing either a laid-back vibe or a party atmosphere which can be conducive to hooking up.

singles scene darwin
Though a small city, the nightlife in Darwin is pretty good. Image via Wikipedia.

According to recent data published by the local council, the areas with the greatest number of singles are:

  • Fannie Bay
  • Darwin City
  • Nightcliff
  • Stuart Park
  • Coconut Grove
  • Woolner
  • East Point
  • Leanyer
  • Lyons
  • Millner

In these areas, there is a greater proportion of men and women living alone so there is definitely a greater chance of hooking up in locals bars in these suburbs.

However, we can lead a horse to water but, to make it drink, the rest is down to you and your best chat up lines. So, here is our selection of the best bars in Darwin where you can test your silver tongue.

Best Bars for Hooking up in Darwin

Mitchell Street Bars

There is no doubt that the liveliest area of Darwin for pubs and clubs is Mitchell Street and, in the dry season, the strips is usually heaving with tourists, miners and backpackers all hitting the loudest and, often, cheapest bars in town. The further you get away from the Parliamentary end of the street, the better and the more the bars there are that appeal to singles on the pull.

discovery bar and club darwin best hook up bars
The bar scene on Mitchell Street is thriving but is very much dominated by the nightclub, Discovery. Image via Google Maps.

There’s a lot of bars to choose from on Mitchell Street, including:

  • The Deck Bar, 22 Mitchell Street
  • Globies Sports Bar, 97 Mitchell Street
  • Hotel Darwin, 39 Mitchell Street
  • Lizards, 105 Mitchell Street
  • Lobby Bar, Crowne Plaza, 32 Mitchell Street
  • Lost Arc, 89 Mitchell Street
  • Six Tanks Brew Co, 4/69 Mitchell Street
  • The Tap on Mitchell, 58 Mitchell Street

Discover Nightclub

Our first recommendation for Mitchell Street is the Discovery Nightclub at number 89 Mitchell Street, Monsoons Party Bar at number 46 and Shenannigans at number 69.

The former is a multilevel club which has a karaoke room and features plenty of the latest music acts and DJs. It can get pretty loud and wild on a weekend and it’s not the best place to try your one-liners so you might have to impress on the dancefloor instead.

Check out their website for more information on upcoming events.

Monsoons Party Bar

Monsoons, however, is more of a party pub with a great reputation for some wild nights out. In fact, the bar was the venue for the infamous 30th anniversary Darwin Hookers Ball in 2017. They regularly host events that attract the crowds including the Australian Swimwear Model of the Year, International Lingerie Model competition plus some great singles minglers. It is perhaps the best bar in the city for pressing the flesh at a wild party or exceptional event….the beers not too bad either!

You can find our more information about what’s on at Monsoons by visiting their website.

monsoons party bar hook up darwin
Nights like these might be more guy-heavy than most but the bar remains a party hot spot. Image via Facebook.

Wisdom Bar

Also worth a mention is the Wisdom Bar at number 48 Mitchell Street. It’s one of the best places in the city for live music and is right in the heart of the tourist strip so you can be guaranteed to find a lot of visitors to the city looking for the right person to help show them the ropes. They’ve got something on every night of the week plus they serve some excellent food, great drinks and have a really friendly atmosphere. The weekends are much busier and can offer the richest of pickings but check out the website for details of their booked acts.

Shenannigans

Shenannigans at 69 Mitchell Street is a traditional Irish pub with live music and weekly karaoke. It is a very popular bar for European backpackers, particularly the Brits and is a great place to head during the peak season.

Known locally as ‘Shaga’, the bar is one of the stalwarts of Darwin’s downtown pub scene. Friendly, lively and with a great terrace for people watching, it’s a bar that’s more hit than miss. Check out their website for more details on what’s on.

shenannigans darwin hook up bars
You can’t beat an Irish pub to draw the backpackers. Image via website.

The Precinct

7 Kitchener Dr, Darwin City NT 0800

www.theprecincttavern.com.au

The Precinct is situated on Darwin’s busy waterfront and is a celebrated outdoor venue with an exciting and contemporary feel. It’s well known in the city for its craft beer selection and has a choice of more than 46 local, imported and premium beers, ciders and ales. It also has a great selection of sports, Keno and live DJ entertainment.

The crowd is more touristy than a locals bar which does mean that the scene can be a bit transient but it is a great spot to hit in the city. One of the reasons it gets more visitors than most is the attraction of the outdoor area which overlooks the Wave Pool and Darwin Waterfront lawns. It’s not a bad spot for some people watching and can get pretty busy too.

The Darwin Ski Club

20 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay, NT 0800

www.darwinskiclub.com.au

To the west of the city and overlooking Fannie Bay, the Darwin Ski Club is a relaxing beach bar with some of the best views in Darwin. It’s home to the city’s water-skiing association and is very much a locals bar. However, it does get pretty busy on a Friday evening and on a Sunday afternoon when there is live music to be enjoyed. Don’t get us wrong, this is not a wild party pub nor will you find backpackers at the bar but it does offer a laid-back way to enjoy the sunset and to try your best moves in a more grown up way.

darwin ski club best bar singles hook up
For a great view and a more mature approach to the singles scene head to the Darwin Ski Club. Image via website.

Skycity Casino

Mindil Beach, Gilruth Ave, Darwin City NT 0820,

www.skycitydarwin.com.au/bars/

Darwin’s casino, Sky City, attracts a lot of tourists and is also pretty popular with stag and hen dos. You don’t have to be a high roller to enjoy the atmosphere but the tables and pokies certainly offer a diversion if you aren’t having much luck hooking up.

There are a couple of bars in the complex including the Sportsbar, Sandbar and Lagoon bar plus there is the Infinity Beach Club experience. All offer hook-up potential and, if you are a guest, you have the added bonus of having your suite close at hand for those success stories.

Beachfront Hotel

342 Casuarina Drive, Rapid Creek

Situated on the foreshore and close to Nightcliff, the Beachfront Hotel pub is a popular locals bar that often has live bands and gets a lot of praise for its sporting events and beer quality. They do some great barbies, have a good selection of pokies and offer a real friendly Aussie welcome. It’s worth the trip out to spend some time here and its not too shabby a setting for a Friday night. Hook ups depend on the night and the crowd.

Featured image via Monsoons Party Bar & Restaurant (Facebook).

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