#5 Oxford Arts Factory
The main room at OAF
Starting the list is Oxford Arts Factory. The venue has two rooms that cater for live music – the main room and the gallery bar. The gallery bar is great for a midweek fix of live entertainment, equipped with a small stage and bar. Situated amongst the artistic hubb of Darlinghurst and Surry Hills, the gallery bar brings this artistic environment to Oxford Street. The main room features a mezzanine for those that like to keep out of the sweaty mosh pit, allowing for a birds eye view of live acts as well as the goings on in the crowd. The location of OAF is fundamental to its success as a much loved Sydney venue, situated right in the middle of the Oxford Street strip. Being advocates of young up and coming talent, OAF is a great venue to see something new and exciting.
#4 Brighton Up Bar
Brighton Up Bar
Located at 77 Oxford Street, right across the road from OAF, is Brighton Up Bar. The grungy drinking hole that lies below is in stark contrast with the new renovations of its venue upstairs. The gig space is small and intimate, decked out with some great rock n’ roll photography. Brighton Up Bar is another venue that supports local and interstate talent, having gigs on most nights of the week.
#3 The Standard
The Standard
If you’re stumbling about at Taylor Square on a Saturday night you’ll be glad to know that there’s a great venue right under your nose. Located up stairs from Lo-Fi and next door to Kinsela’s is The Standard. It’s large spacious gig room is arguably the best on Oxford Street. What’s best about this place is that it has been designed for live music. The stage is far away from the bar, minimising crowded queues. The Standard also has a mezzanine with bleacher seatings for comfortable view points of the live act. Oh and if you’re feeling a bit peckish mid-gig, pop downstairs to Johnny Wong’s Dumpling Bar for some Asian goodness ($1 dumplings on Wednesdays!)
#2 The Basement
The Basement
The Basement is a great intimate setting. It’s the perfect venue for a date with dinner and live music both upholding great standards. The music is more blues, funk and jazz oriented however they have been known to hold the odd hip hop show. Located just up the road from Circular Quay at 29 Reiby Place, The Basement is easy to get to from suburbs north of the bridge and the east, making it your most convenient dinner date gig destination.
#1 Venue 505
Venue 505
Sydney’s top jazz and funk venue is undoubtedly the 505. The venue can be found at 505 Cleveland Street in the heart of Surry Hills. A great spot to see live music with the comfortability of your own living room, thanks to the well designed couches that fill the gig space. There’s live music every night of the week with Sound Check’s favourite being Old School Tuesdays – live funk and soul bands and free entry. The convenience of Central Station down the road makes the 505 the most accessible trendy venue in town.
Sound Check 
I love the basement! I wish that was number 1! I think it’s also a really important part of Sydney’s cultural history- it used to be home of some of the best swing bands of the 1950’s! that’s how established it is!
I’ve heard so much about 505 – and now having read that it’s your #1 – I promise and endeavour to make a HUGE effort to go check it out. Very cool.
Great idea for a blog. I like the whole top 5 idea.