Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits will light up Brookvale with Dirty Thursdays, Aperitivo Fridays and Spritz Sundays, blending music, community and Northern Beaches culture.
As the late afternoon sun begins to fade behind the warehouses and industrial streets of Brookvale, a different side of Sydney's Northern Beaches starts to emerge. Delivery trucks give way to groups of friends arriving after work. Roller doors close for the day while music drifts into the evening air. The neighbourhood, long known for its makers, breweries and creative spaces, is steadily developing a nightlife identity of its own.
At the centre of that shift sits Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits, a venue that will continue to bring music, conversation and community together throughout winter and beyond. Located within the Manly Spirits precinct, Lilly's Bar is establishing itself as a gathering place where the focus is less on spectacle and more on atmosphere – an evolving social space shaped by local DJs, carefully curated playlists and the easygoing character of the Northern Beaches.
Over the coming weeks, Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits will host a series of weekly events that reflect the changing rhythm of the area. From disco-infused Thursdays to vinyl-led Fridays and relaxed Sunday sessions, the venue offers a window into a part of Sydney that feels increasingly connected to its own creative culture. All events are curated by Kaos Kollective and Lili Joy, who bring together the DJ lineups each week, helping shape the venue's distinctive musical identity.
Evenings at Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits
Brookvale has undergone a quiet transformation over the past decade. Once largely associated with light industry and warehouses, it has become a destination where breweries, distilleries, cafés and creative businesses coexist within a compact neighbourhood.
Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits sits comfortably within that landscape. Visitors arriving in the early evening will encounter a venue that embraces the industrial character of its surroundings while creating a warmer, more intimate atmosphere inside. Conversations flow easily between tables, music fills the room without overwhelming it, and the pace feels noticeably different from Sydney's larger entertainment districts.
The venue's weekly programming reflects this approach. Rather than presenting isolated events, Lilly's Bar is building a recurring social calendar that encourages regular gatherings and familiar faces.
Dirty Thursdays at Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits
Every Thursday evening, Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits will host Dirty Thursdays, a weekly event that transforms the venue into a midweek meeting point for music lovers and Northern Beaches locals.
Running from 5pm until 11pm, the evening will feature a soundtrack of disco, house, jazz-influenced grooves and contemporary electronic sounds curated by a rotating lineup of DJs selected by Kaos Kollective and Lili Joy. The concept is intentionally uncomplicated: good music, relaxed company and an opportunity to mark the transition from workday to evening.
Adding to the appeal are all-night $12 drink specials featuring three margaritas and three martinis named Dirty, Dirtier and Filthy, alongside a selection of bar snacks designed for sharing. The specials complement the laid-back atmosphere and encourage guests to settle in for the evening.
Part of the appeal lies in its consistency. As Sydney's winter evenings arrive earlier, Dirty Thursdays will offer a reason to linger a little longer before heading home. The atmosphere is expected to evolve naturally throughout the night, beginning with after-work conversations and gradually building into a lively but approachable social scene.
Disposable cameras circulating through the venue will add another layer of nostalgia. Images captured throughout the evening will later be shared online, creating a visual archive of nights spent among friends, music and familiar faces.
Vinyl and Aperitivo at Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits
On Fridays, the mood will shift.
Aperitivo Fridays at Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits will draw inspiration from the long-standing European tradition of gathering before dinner to share drinks and conversation. Between 5pm and 7.30pm, guests will be welcomed with a complimentary Italian aperitivo spread prepared by resident Italian chef Davide, while a selection of DJs curated by Kaos Kollective and Lili Joy spin vinyl-only sets.
The choice to focus on vinyl feels fitting for a venue that values atmosphere and intentional listening. Records bring a different cadence to the room. Tracks are selected carefully, transitions are deliberate and the music becomes part of the evening's texture rather than simply background noise.
Brookvale's growing creative community has embraced spaces that encourage slower forms of socialising, and Aperitivo Fridays appear likely to continue that trend. The combination of analogue music, authentic Italian hospitality, shared plates and relaxed conversation offers a distinct alternative to the faster pace often associated with Sydney nightlife.
Sundays in the Northern Beaches
By Sunday afternoon, the energy of the week has softened.
Spritz Sundays at Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits will invite visitors to settle into the final hours of the weekend with DJs, a welcoming atmosphere and an open-door approach that includes four-legged companions. Dog-friendly gatherings have become a defining feature of Northern Beaches culture, reflecting the area's strong connection to outdoor living and community life.
Throughout the afternoon, guests can enjoy $10 Aperol Spritz specials while DJs curated by Kaos Kollective and Lili Joy play a vinyl soundtrack of dub, reggae and funk. The combination of relaxed beats, classic spritzes and community spirit creates an easygoing Sunday ritual that feels perfectly suited to Brookvale.
As music drifts through the venue and conversations stretch into the afternoon, Spritz Sundays will provide a reminder that social experiences do not always need to be large-scale events. Sometimes the most memorable moments emerge from simple rituals repeated each week.
For visitors exploring Brookvale for the first time, these Sunday sessions will also offer a glimpse into the local character that has helped redefine the suburb in recent years.
Event Details
Venue: Lilly's Bar at Manly Spirits
Location: 9–13 Winbourne Road, Brookvale NSW 2100
Dirty Thursdays
Every Thursday
Time: 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Specials: $12 Dirty, Dirtier and Filthy margaritas and martinis, plus bar snacks
Entry: Free
Aperitivo Fridays
Every Friday
Time: From 5:00pm
Complimentary Italian aperitivo spread by resident chef Davide: 5:00pm – 7:30pm
Vinyl DJs curated by Kaos Kollective and Lili Joy
Entry: Free
Spritz Sundays
Every Sunday Afternoon
$10 Aperol Spritz all afternoon
Vinyl soundtrack featuring dub, reggae and funk
Entry: Free
Dog Friendly
Official Links:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1576917177125802/1576917230459130
https://beacons.ai/lillys.bar