Smith's Alternative

Smith's Alternative is a café, bar and small performance room at 76 Alinga Street in Civic, in the old Smith's bookshop building. It isn't a gay bar, but it's the city's most reliable home for queer shows: Bear World's guide notes regular drag, cabaret and queer nights, including a monthly Rock Cabaret with drag queens and kings and a bi-monthly Queer Variety Show, and Stun Magazine listed its 'Club Cornucopia' drag night in September 2026. Google rates it 4.5 from about 890 reviews and lists it open daily from noon, until 9 or 9:30pm most nights and 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Ticketed shows sell through its website, so check the programme before you go.