Where to go out at night in the Blue Mountains

By Time Out in association with Destination NSW and Blue Mountains City Council.

Three sisters walk into a bar… The Blue Mountains may be high on your list of getaway destinations close to Sydney, but when you think about them you probably have breathtaking views and bracing hikes on your mind more so than things to do after dark.

As it happens, the Blue Mountains have many great places to eat, drink or see a show. Whisky, craft beer and local wines are showcased in top-notch establishments, alongside food options from affordable to fancy, and every weekend the live music scene goes off. Here are six of the best ways to spend an evening in the Blue Mountains – along with our suggestions on how to make a complete weekend of it, with top accommodation picks, galleries to visit, cafés and shopping must-dos.

1. The Bootlegger Bar, Katoomba

Where: 92 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba
Open: Wed-Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm; Mon 5pm-midnight (closed Tue)

With an old-time western barroom ambience – check out those bentwood chairs – and a matching taste for whisky, the Bootlegger Bar is a must-visit for a tipple and a hearty feed. The bar occupies the famous art deco Niagara building on Bathurst Road, and specialises in American-style brisket, pulled pork and ribs as well as burgers. Whisky flights give you three themed whiskies to try: it’s an opportunity to expand your knowledge of bourbon, rye, Australian or Japanese whisky, sing malt Scotch or gin. Local products on the menus include wine from Megalong Creek Estate and Dryridge Estate, beer from Brew Mountains, and Grose Vale-distilled Karu Gin. Bookings are recommended here – especially if you’d like a good table to watch the live music acts that perform every weekend.

Make a weekend of it in Katoomba: Stay at elegant duplex Lurline Villas, halfway between the Three Sisters and Katoomba Town Centre. Brunch on the famous toasties at Frankly My Dear Coffee. Visit the ever-changing art exhibitions – or even get creative at a workshop – at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre.