If you want to dance

For a classic party dance floor head to The Albion Hotel in Parramatta on a Friday or Saturday night. It’s on those nights the historic and usually relaxed pub becomes a raucous nightclub until the early morning. R&B is the usual vibe but check their socials for what DJs are on.

The Canley’s Bar 53 is a great place to both start and end your night. Work your way through the pizza menu and old-school cocktail list, catch a comedy or acoustic set, then stick around for the dance parties in the garden out back. If you want to avoid sweaty crowds, create your own dance floor at one of the VIP Karaoke Bar rooms in Liverpool or Canley Heights, the latter comes with the added bonus of having its own bar and restaurant.

The Albion Hotel, Parramatta - Credit: The Albion Hotel

If you want a fancy night out

The title of fanciest bar in the west is hard fought. Parramatta’s candidate is 1930s themed, 26th-floor bar Nick and Nora’s. Come for the sweeping views of Western Sydney and stay for the lavish menu that includes a huge number of whiskeys, Champagnes (you can get a Champagne tower), cocktails and even cigars.

Nick and Nora's, Parramatta

Penrith’s competitor for the title is Theo’s, a Mediterranean-inspired rooftop bar with similarly stunning views but also an infinity pool and a menu of fresh pastas. Meanwhile, over in Bankstown, you’ll find Lady Banks inside the mega Bankstown Sports Club. Pull up a seat under the festoon lights and take in the panoramic 360-degree views, stretching from the Sydney CBD skyline all the way to the Blue Mountains. If you’re less into extravagance and more into small-batch wines and cutting-edge cooking, check out AG Bar, a velvet and marble laden small bar and restaurant hidden in a Penrith alley.

Theo's Rooftop Bar, Penrith

If you want to chill & chat with a drink

Sometimes you don’t want to dance, eat in a loud restaurant or fuss around with organising a booking, you just want a good chat in a nice place with good drinks. Western Sydney has plenty of options. Breweries are a great walk-in, no frills, casual option. Riverside Brewing Company serves brews including a rich ruby red ale and a summer ale made from all-Australian ingredients in a mini Parramatta warehouse, while Rusty Penny pours their wide range of brews alongside American barbecue in a huge Penrith hall.

Rusty Penny Brewing, Penrith

If your priorities are more scenic than drink-based, swap the brewery for a leafy courtyard at the Royal Cricketers Arms. Founded in 1880 and sitting on the edge of a nature reserve in Blacktown, the pub makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a quaint country town. If you’re looking for sunset views on the river, The Log Cabin is a 100-year-old pub in Penrith that makes for the perfect picturesque spot to while away a sunny afternoon.

The Log Cabin. Penrith

If you want to chill & chat with a tea or coffee

Thanks to Western Sydney’s incredible diversity, non-drinkers are catered to by a vast array of late-night cafes. In Korea, cafes close late and it’s the same in Strathfield, Sydney’s Koreatown. Check out LAB for coffee, tea and Instagram-friendly cakes in a modern space until 10-10.30pm.

Sydney’s southwest also has a rich and caffeine-fuelled late-night culture. Diem Hen Cafe and Cafe Nho in Canley Heights are the old-school examples, serving up traditional Viet iced coffees (beware the huge caffeine hit) and fresh juices into the night. For a contemporary take, settle into the velvet sofas and modern-Asian menu of V Lounge.

If you want to be entertained

Western Sydney has countless options for live entertainment. Those interested in the local art community, look at what’s on at Liverpool Powerhouse. You’ll find everything from live comedy and music to gallery exhibitions and art workshops. There’s also the brand-new Powerhouse Parramatta, which is set to open from 9am to 9pm, with multiple exhibitions and more than 3,000 objects on display.

Liverpool Powerhouse, Western Sydney

For a do-it-all-in-one kind of experience, check out one of Western Sydney’s mega venues like Mounties in Mount Pritchard or Rooty Hill’s West HQ, home of the epic Sydney Coliseum Theatre. They’re in-between a function centre and an entertainment precinct, so you can design your own night by choosing between multiple dining options, stages featuring both local and international acts, DJs on the weekend and fun extras like bowling (West HQ), poker and bingo (both at Mounties).

For a more bespoke and low-key experience, take a friend or date to Blacktown’s Skyline Drive In, an old-school drive-in cinema with an American diner attached. To get into live sport, check out our guide to which local sports teams to follow.

Skyline Drive In Blacktown, Western Sydney

If you want a late-night feast or mid-party snack pit stop

Western Sydney is one of the most diverse places on earth. What that means for you is bustling street food spots, late-night eat streets, food trucks with burgers worth queuing for and old-school institutions with feasts fit for a celebration. The two main late-night food hubs are Lakemba and Strathfield.

Lakemba is a multicultural suburb where you can get mandi (a huge Yemeni platter of slow cooked meat over rice), biryani, Afghan grilled meats and freshly made flatbreads on Haldon Street until late. Nearby in Campsie, you can experience genuine Filipino street food at Smoky Cravings – get a handful of charcoal grilled skewers, take a seat in the open air and chase it all with a halo halo (a coconut and shaved ice dessert topped with all kinds of goodies).

Smoky Cravings, Western Sydney

Strathfield is Sydney’s Korean hub, walk up the main road to find Korean barbecue, street food shops and fried chicken joints open until midnight. Head to Tapari Momo in Granville for Nepalese dumplings or sample Korean-Chinese fusion at Biwon Strathfield. Order the set menu for a bit of everything or share plates of Mapo tofu and Jjajangmyeon (black noodles). Your late-night food truck option is Chubby Buns, a cult burger brand with late night spots dotted around the west.

Chubby Buns Burgers, Lidcombe - Credit: Chubby Buns Burgers