Sydney is regarded around the world as a bustling 24-hour city, but many argue that it is quite the opposite.
Visitors, both overseas and interstate, said they were “shocked” to see shops and restaurants close and public transport stop so early in the evening.
TikToker Jenny Tian noted that it is difficult to get a coffee after 2 p.m., as most cafes close, shops close at 5 p.m., and restaurants stop serving food at 9 p.m.
He said many “party areas” have been converted into housing areas and that those who want to take public transport at night “enjoy waiting half an hour in the freezing cold for a night passenger.”
Expats who have moved to Sydney have been sharing their frustrations with how early everything closes.
Australians are busting the myth that Sydney is a 24-hour city. Many have complained that shops, cafes and restaurants close early in the day or at night.
‘What are the real reasons/challenges behind the lack of nighttime activities (leaving aside some bars and kebab shops)? And why isn’t the city vibrant or open 24 hours a day, even though there is a large percentage of Sydney’s population who like to stay up late? one man asked on Reddit.
‘I moved to Sydney from Asia in 2016 and was very surprised to find that most establishments close so early. Pharmacies, beauty salons, retail stores, cafes, restaurants and shopping centers close before 7 pm “It’s dead everywhere and this was even before the pandemic,” said another.
Australians were quick to agree, while visitors said they were “shocked” to discover how “dead” the city can be during the week.
“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 back in 2017… dead.”
Visitors said they were surprised to discover how early Sydney closes on weekdays, while many noted that most Sydneysiders are “chronic morning people”.
‘I’m from Melbourne. I recently went to Sydney. I was surprised by how dead the CBD is, at 6pm the streets are empty. “Melbourne is abuzz every night,” one woman responded.
‘In Australia, coffee shops closing at two in the afternoon was an absolute culture shock. Where I’m from we have coffee after dinner at 10 at night,” wrote a second.
Others pointed out that the same was true of most Australian capital cities, apart from Melbourne.
Many said the majority of people living in the NSW capital are “chronic morning people”.
‘It seems common to me for people to say that they like to be in bed between 9 and 10 at night. And this includes even young people in their twenties. There are many cities in the world where people go out to dinner at that time,’ said one user.
‘Sydney is a ‘morning city’. Many cafes open at around 6 in the morning. Many people get up early to do things. Enjoy nature, etc. The “nightlife” part is hurt,” another explained.
