Bars and Nightclubs
Oxford Street, Sydney

Chingalings

1/133 Oxford St Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
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What this joint offers is a place for you to wear whatever you feel like pulling out of your wardrobe. The people aren't pretentious. It's the simple pleasures that make a great night out at Chingalings. Grab some mates, a few bucks after work and have a night to remember forever!

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Chingalings Review


Review by Marissa Wilford

Since its opening a few years back, Ching-a-lings has proven itself as a standout favourite amongst Sydney's urban dwellers.

Having opened back in 2008, it was the first small bar in Darlinghurst to chock-stock its door to the public, and is located just up from the Columbian on Oxford St. It is made noticeable by the friendly well-dressed man standing outside beneath the big sign that reads, "MONEY EXCHANGE".Walking up the stairs into the venue, one might think terrible terrors of the place. But as the heavy bass beat of some old-school hip hop group bellows out from the speakers, and the warmth from the yellow lights pushes through the light fixtures in the ceiling dimly illuminating the still rather dark place, it's reminiscent of one very cool New York loft apartment.

Bopping melodically to the song, this place is anything but obnoxious or pretentious - possibly because it's too small for ego yet densely populated with fashionable creatures. Those meandering around are either seated on the strange layout of the sunken leather couches, standing by the two-seater table and chair attachments to the brick wall, dancing about in front of the DJ's residence or seated outside on the wooden deck complete with BBQ. The vibe is super friendly, the crew are aged anywhere between their mid 20's to late 30's and you can feel the posi vibes.The front part of the bar is a cosy little seating area all comfortable in the corner. The windows are sometimes open and as summer approaches, that refreshing blast of air is a nice accompaniment to the beers on sale. The bar is basic with basic drinks - no cocktail menu or fancy food here - and the smokers are out back on the wooden deck casually exhaling. Despite the lack of intricate refreshments, what they do have to offer is a lot of beer ($6 - $9) and general mixers ($7 - $9). If you're super nice to the attractive bar staff, you can ask for the "Ching-a-Lings Special" which tastes just like apple pie. For what it's worth, it's urban culture paradise.

A trip to the loo is exactly that - a trip.A steep descent into the concrete underground that is the bathroom, graffiti and various other in-descript images decorate the walls, ceiling, floor, handrail, mirrors... it's totally bonkers down there! And of course, that token toilet that dribbles loo juice all over the floor. Given the quantity of graffiti, it's difficult to tell which is male and female - word of advice - the two on the left are women's, the two on the right are men's.

With all the chaos of the colours, it's a wonder how patrons still maintain friendliness in the most inconvenient of locations. The whole bar is a buzz of friendlies - even the staff.

Ching-a-lings is a gem in the realm of small bars in Sydney. It's cute, cosy and pumpin' out the beats like a legitimate Brooklyn loft - word.




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A 2nd Chingalings Review


Review by Nastasia Campanella

A bar with possibly the coolest name around town, Chingalings is nothing short of fabulous. With the cool name comes a huge adventure to find the joint. Hidden between a tanning salon and an Indian restaurant, I'm sure many people had to walk back and forth once or twice like we did to find the door. When we finally spotted the friendly looking bouncer and got inside, we were glad we'd hunted the bar down.

Upon first glance, we're not quite sure what we're in for. There are gritty brick walls and concrete floors, giving off an underground vibe. Settle in with a house wine though, and you're in for a real treat!

A stack of 20 something hipsters schmooze on bar stools and mismatched lounges while the DJ spins dub step and funk. I'm starting to see people gushing over the skeleton pictures spray painted over the walls. Meanwhile, my friend and I are discussing the wire cages and old recycled light fittings which bring a cool industrial ambience.

Unlike many of Sydney's other "small bars", Chingalings has had a bit of a tough introduction to Sydney. Originally, the bar was opened with the entry point on Little Oxford St. Neighbours got sick of the noise and kicked up a stink, forcing owners, Jack Brown and Cameron Reid to pay a fine and move. With the entry point shifted to main Oxford Street, the boys were up and running again.

The bar also doesn't have food or cocktails. What you'll find is a bunch of house wines served in tumblers [$7.50], and beers like Melbourne Bitter or Coopers [$6-$9]. They'll make sweet mixed drinks for you if that's what you're after, but that isn't really what they do here.

What this joint offers is a place for you to wear whatever you feel like pulling out of your wardrobe. The people aren't pretentious. It's the simple pleasures that make a great night out at Chingalings. Grab some mates, a few bucks after work and have a night to remember forever!

Make a Function Enquiry


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