Last night, I donned an orange jumpsuit and was thrown behind bars with two of my friends. Our crimes? Bootlegging, smuggling and inciting revolution. Our punishment? Four shaken cocktails.
Ok, so this wasn’t real prison. We served our sentence at Alcotraz, Sydney’s first prison-themed cocktail bar. The immersive theatre experience is all about trying to get your parole, while sipping on cocktail contraband, colluding with the corrupt guards, and staying on the Warden’s good side.
Alcotraz may have only landed in Sydney in late 2025, but it originally made its mark in London back in 2017. After years of UK success, the immersive cocktail experience has since crossed the globe, with sessions running in Melbourne, Brisbane, and of course, Sydney.
I’m no stranger to Fever events, having previously attended their Stranger Things The Experience adventure at Luna Park. Their experiences are often led by amateur actors, who may not have big credentials but make up for it in enthusiasm and dedication.
I was eager to see how Alcotraz Sydney had turned a compact underground spot in Chippendale into a moody, San Francisco-style prison, and whether a boozy night behind bars was worth the $80 price tag.
The experience
One thing I’ve learnt about attending Fever events is that you get in what you put out: arrive with energy, converse with the actors and lean into the fun.
When we rocked up to Alcotraz, we were led into a dark room where we were made to stand against the wall. The venue manager (who was not in character) took us through the rules and asked us the usual questions (were we drinking, if we had allergies, etc.) before sending us on our way to meet the prison guards and collect our orange jumpsuits.
Meeting the prison guard (named Wilmot) was where the real “immersion” began. In a New York-inspired accent, she barked at us to put on our jumpsuits before letting us know that she was a corrupt guard and allowed for the consumption of booze (or, as they called it, “chicken soup”) on her premises. We just had to hide it from the dreaded warden.
This is where it’s important to “lean into” the experience. Before any booze had been consumed, audience participation was a bit lacking, which made it feel slightly awkward and clunky. That being said, the actors were able to draw us out of our shells with their funny innuendos and quick-witted improv.
We had to fill out cards to state what we were imprisoned for, our aliases and why we were eligible for parole. We already had to do this digitally, though this wasn’t mentioned, so it felt a bit strange just having to do it all over again. It was moments like this where the experience felt a bit budget, as we wondered why they couldn’t just print off our online answers.
It’s also important to note: unless you’ve booked out Alcotraz Sydney, your experience will be with other guests. Although you’ll be put in your cell with your mates (there’s space for six people per cell), you work together as a team. Therefore, if other groups are quiet (or very rowdy), it can impact your experience.
We found that we were helping the plot move along more than other groups, who seemed more focused on getting an Instagram shot in their jumpsuits.
The contraband (aka, the cocktails)
The prison guards keep you well-watered with cocktails throughout the experience, serving up four different drinks across the two-hour immersion.
As you sip, the Warden and the Guards will come and talk to you, as will Cassidy, another inmate in the prison who’s attempting to break out herself. It’s a nice mix of being able to enjoy your cocktail with your friends and interacting with the actors.
The first two cocktails were great, but by the third and fourth, things tipped firmly into toothache territory, with extremely syrupy, sweet cocktails. If this isn’t your thing, you’re better off playing it safe with wine or beer instead.
Our overall rating
Overall, I’d give the experience three out of five stars.
The actors and actresses saved the day. We found the Warden genuinely hilarious, quick-witted and dedicated to the role. Wilmot was great at keeping us entertained in between the action, and Cassidy got us to rally for her parole to be granted, a true people’s princess. The performances were playful, and the actors didn’t break character once.
The space itself is cleverly done. Sitting inside the cells in our orange jumpsuits, snapping incriminating photos, was undeniably fun. That said, it felt like the set wasn’t quite pushed far enough. There were telephones mounted on the walls and letters pinned up in the cells that never came into play. With more interactive props woven into the environment, the experience would have felt more professional and dynamic.
As for the drinks, they were paced well. I never found myself waiting or wishing for the next one, but quality-wise, they were inconsistent. The first two were solid, while the final pair veered into overwhelmingly sweet territory. It didn’t ruin the night, but it did dull the grand finale.
I’d recommend Alcotraz to big groups, especially if you can book out the entire space. When everyone’s on the same wavelength, the crowd dynamics really lift the experience, and the audience interactions feel playful rather than awkward. It’s the kind of evening that thrives on shared chaos and collective commitment to the bit.
If you’re heading in as a small group (three or fewer people) or worse, on a first date, I’d probably steer clear. The forced mingling and immersive theatrics are far more fun when you’ve got strength in numbers and zero fear of embarrassment.
Alcotraz Sydney
Where: 12-16 Chippen St, Chippendale NSW 2008.
When: Sessions continuing through to the end of May.
Price: Tickets cost $80 per person for alcoholic tickets, non-alcoholic tickets for $65.
