The Mona Vale HotelReview

Review By Ben King

The bar and nightclub scene in Sydney's far North is dominated largely by two venues that seem to be ahead of the game when it comes to providing a awesome night out... the Mona Vale Hotel is one of them.

Growing up in Sydney's West, the city was the mainstay of our nights out on the town due to the vast selection of bars and nightclubs to choose from as well as the convenience. The only time we ever boycotted the city was to go to one place and one place only... the Mona Vale Hotel! Given the additional hour it took to get there, as well as the expense, it goes without saying we would only make the trip if it was worth it... and without fail every time, it was.

Fast forward a few years to now, and nostalgia rather than a sea-change was the reason I decided to go to the Mona Vale Hotel with a few mates. Unlike the old days, we didn't have to jump a taxi in order to be able to afford to get there, which was nice, and nor did we worry about the cover charge. For those who may be foreign to Sydney, the North of Sydney tends to house some of Sydney's more affluent residents, and as such, the crowd at the Mona Vale Hotel reflects this. With a mixed crowd under the age of 28 heading there on Friday and Saturday, it would seem some have earned this on their own, and some just rely on pocket money from mum and dad, however one thing is for sure is that the girls are steamingly hot.

Couple this with the regular events, in particularly during summer, and the Mona Vale Hotel offers a fantastic night out. The music is different depending on what night you go, but generally plays a healthy mix of house, RnB, rock etc. Given the locale, the people that go their all tend to be regulars, which, ensures are a few visits you will likely start bumping into the same people if you are a socialite despite the size of the place. This to me is unique, and an attractive feature of the place. Couple this with the relaxed and reasonably friendly nature of the people that attend and you have the makings of a great night out.

The only suggestion I would make is that if you are travelling there, public transport towards the end of the night is poor, so draw straws to see who's going to be the designated driver. Alternatively just make damn sure you pickup and spend the night at some rich guy or girls house and ask their butler to drive you home in the morning.