Sydney is seen around the world as a vibrant, 24-hour city, but many claim it is the ‘opposite’.
Visitors – both from abroad and from the region – said they were ‘shocked’ to see shops and restaurants closing so early in the evening and public transport halted.
TikToker Jenny Tian pointed out that it is difficult to get coffee after 2 p.m. because most cafes are closed while shops close at 5 p.m. and restaurants stop serving food at 9 p.m.
She said many “party areas” have been turned into residential areas and that those who want to use public transport at night would be better off “enjoying half an hour in the freezing cold waiting for a night rider.”
Expats who have moved to Sydney share their frustrations with how early everything closes.
Australians are breaking the myth that Sydney is a 24-hour city. Many have complained that shops, cafes and restaurants all close early in the day or evening
‘What are the real reasons/challenges behind the lack of nighttime activities (apart from some bars and kebab shops)? And why isn’t the city vibrant 24 hours a day, even though there is a large percentage of Sydney’s population that likes to stay up late?’ asked a man on Reddit.
‘I moved to Sydney from Asia in 2016 and was so surprised to find that most branches close so early. Pharmacies, salons, retailers, cafes, restaurants and shopping centers all close before 7pm. It’s just dead everywhere and this was even before the pandemic,” said another.
Australians were quick to agree, with visitors saying they were ‘shocked’ to discover how ‘dead’ the city can be on weekday evenings.
“Sydney is the opposite of a 24 hour city,” one Australian commented, and another said: “I left Sydney in 2004, it was a 24 hour city…moved in 2017…dead.”
Visitors said they were shocked to discover how early Sydney closes on weekday evenings, with many pointing out that the majority of Sydneysiders are ‘chronic morning people’.
‘I’m from Melbourne. I recently went to Sydney. I was shocked at how dead the CBD is, by 6pm the streets are empty. Melbourne is buzzing every night,” one woman replied.
‘Coffee shops closing at 2pm in Australia was an absolute culture shock. Where I come from we have coffee after dinner at 10pm,” wrote a second.
Others pointed out that the same was true of most Australian capitals, except Melbourne.
Many said the majority of people living in the New South Wales capital are ‘chronic morning people’.
‘I think it’s common for people to say they like to be in bed between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. And that even includes young people in their twenties. There are many cities in the world where people go out to eat at that time,” said one user.
‘Sydney is a ‘morning city’. Many cafes open at six in the morning. Many people get up early to do things. Enjoy nature, etc. The ‘nightlife’ really suffers,’ explains another.