Have you heard of Midtown? It’s the aptly named block on Hunter Street that crosses Devonshire, Union, and Steel Streets.

Unlike the sprawling East End and the strip precincts of Hamilton and Mayfield, Midtown is an incredibly condensed hub of activity with a few quirks that make it the perfect place to spend an evening.

We achieved a superhuman feat on a Thursday night: visiting every single bar.

During the expedition, we indulged and imbibed selflessly to share the best of what the block has to offer and even uncover some hidden gems.

One thing that became quickly apparent during the Midtown Crawl is that unlike other nightlife stomping grounds, Midtown is a pokies-free zone. The area is loaded with moody bars, casual dining, and excellent music, unadulterated by the chinking sounds and flashing fluorescent lights of a VIP lounge.

The venues are typically small and independently owned with genuinely passionate staff at the helm. I was overwhelmed by how inviting and welcoming all the venues felt – there was absolutely no pretension, judgement, or (particularly as a woman) sense of danger.

The first venue we visited was Granddad’s Bar, one of the newest kids on the block. With so many other great cocktail bars in the city and only down the road from The Koutetsu, I was curious how it matched up to its competitors. 

We were not disappointed.

Mystery mini cocktails were given complimentary on arrival – a lovely touch and a source of debate as we tried in vain to figure out what was in it. We tried their Negroni (my self-appointed cocktail litmus test) and a Pasha Bulka (a rum-based float with Pina Colada ice cream).

We forced ourselves out of Granddad’s earlier than we would have liked to make it to the next venue in time, it was only half a block away – Mad Poet.

For those who haven’t visited yet, mad poet is a wonderful little place. It’s dimly lit,  plays only vinyl, and the offering is simple and satisfying. It’s the kind of neighbourhood venue you could happily go to by yourself for dinner at the bar – have the lasagna and a glass of wine. 

It would also make a brilliant Tinder date spot with plenty of intimate tables for two – quite an atmospheric achievement in a room as small as it is. While we were there, I spoke to the owner, Dylan James Oakes, about the Midtown community which he referred to as the “unofficial nightlife council” of the area. 

He described the beauty of how different the offerings of each venue are, which removes direct competition and allows the businesses to work together, not just for big events like the upcoming West Best Bloc Fest, but also just for day-to-day security and safety.

We bid mad poet farewell and traversed backwards and upstairs to Charlie’s Rooftop, where tacos and tequila were the order of the day. 

Carlito’s Cantina is popping up at Charlie’s every Thursday evening with Latin vibes, excellent snacks, and fun drinks to match. I had a Tequila + Verdita, which is definitely not a shotting shot, but a premium quality and highly enjoyable sipper served with a chaser of spicy and herby sangrita. 

My friend had a Margarita; the bartender offered the choice of “regular or spicy,” but the answer is always spicy. After taking some incredibly unflattering action photographs while eating some incredibly delicious tacos, we departed to the next bar.

All it took was a hop, skip, and a jump down the road, and we rang the doorbell for access into one of my favourite cocktail bars, The Koutetsu. The hidden oasis on Hunter Street was bustling with what seemed to be a harmonious combination of regulars and first dates, all scattered throughout the eclectic and grungy (yet somehow polished and not dive-y) venue. 

We sat at the bar for maximum people-watching opportunities, mainly staring at the bartender whose creations were verging on molecular gastronomy. It was over before it had even begun, and we were off.

Next up was open mic night at The Rogue Scholar. We grabbed a quick beer and headed to the band room just in time to hear the last two tracks from the king himself, Elvis Presley. The second act was a brilliant local duo who we suspected had performed on stage together more than once before. The crowd was ramping up and once again, we had to pry ourselves off our seats prematurely to make it to the next venue.

It was not a long walk; we didn’t even bother putting our jackets on to brace the mid-winter weather, as just next door is Jam’s Karaoke & Bar. I must admit that I was a bit nervous walking in as a Jam’s virgin, however my friend is a regular and pushed me both physically and metaphorically towards the microphone. 

It took a whole 20 seconds for the inhibitions to leave my body, aided by very encouraging staff and patrons (and a few drinks in my system), and we shamelessly belted out a duet. Nothing like some beer and sake, terrible singing, and even worse dancing to make you feel amazing, and on that endorphin high, we ran out into the night.

It was approaching 9pm, close to my self-imposed millennial curfew, but there was one crucial spot we had yet to visit – Bernie’s Bar. Named in honour of the long-departed wine bar on Beaumont Street, Bernie’s is Newcastle’s only LGBTQ+ bar. 

It offers a cavalcade of events each month but even for a quick Thursday night drink, the bar is a super engaging, interactive space. We ordered a Mystery Marg and took full advantage of the props and catwalk. 

For our crawl, we only focused our efforts on the bars, but many restaurants fall into the Midtown block like Bella Italia, The Happy Wombat, and Calamari Kitchen & Bar, which adds another dimension to the community. 

While you could absolutely satisfy yourself with the small plates and casual dining that we enjoyed, more substantial offerings are easily within reach. For the destination punter, you could plan a three-venue-escapade including dinner, drinks, and dancing all without having to cross a main road. All in all, a successful mission and truly enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Florence Diffey DipWSET is a Newcastle-based wine educator and co-founder of Vera Wine.