Me I'm under 18 and my parents went to visit out of curiosity. Unfortunately we didn't see too many night life, well maybe they don't start until 11pm or so we went there at 7. Ever since I was a kid growing up in Australia, Kings Cross had a sleazy reputation, notwithstanding the best efforts of local residents to confer a sense of respectability on the place. Located about 2 km from Sydney city, Kings Cross has for decades been a red light district with both female and male prostitutes touting their wares.
It has many strip joints, bars and restaurants, and is a center for Sydney night life. It has also suffered from a reputation for illegal alcohol trading and for drugs. Mind you, it did go through a fashionable Bohemian period in the early 20th Century, when many of Australia's writers, poets and artists descended on it. Its reputation for night life was enhanced during World War Two and during the Vietnam War when United States servicemen on leave made a beeline for "The Cross" looking for a "good" night out.
More recently it has become notorious for nighttime violence, with drunks fighting outside pubs and bars, which have led to at least one person being killed. This has led to the New South Government imposing what are known as "lockout laws", banning admission to clubs after 1. If you want to visit Kings Cross do so during the daytime and leave the nighttime to those others. Don't waste your time here. There are so many other better places to spend time in Sydney.
The lock-out laws have made this area a ghost town and shadow of its former self. A little bit out of the main city but full of life, with plenty of restaurants and night life. Even early evening, this is worth a stroll and finding somewhere to eat then move on somewhere for a drink afterwards. If someone's driving then there's plenty of on-street parking around as well.
Service was rude and after only two of our orders turned up was told that they would not start cooking the missed order until i went back to the bar to pay by which time i was halfway through my meal. Needles to say i did not bother we went down the road and had a much better experience.
