Bars in Sydney

Must do

Dining at the Opera Kitchen at Sydney Opera House. Image James Pipino

Cocktails at Double Bay. Image Tony Yeates

Harbour bars

Looking for the perfect Sydney moment when you can enjoy good food and a glass of wine by the harbour? Go where Sydneysiders go and soak up the atmosphere at Opera Bar in the Sydney Opera House or a bar by the water at Cockle Bay, Walsh Bay or Wooloomolloo Wharf.

Bars in Sydney

Courtyard at Ivy. Image Murray Fredericks for Merivale

A profusion of intimate bars can be found in Sydney's laneways and inner city suburbs. You'll discover an unsual tipple, unusual venues and cute names from one end of the city to another. But where to start? Stitch Bar is located via a shop front on York Street in the city centre - it's filled with sewing materials and machines as well as a staircase that leads you down to the cool basement bar. Meanwhile, Grandma's on Clarence Street is a retro haven of cosmopolitan kitsch and faded granny glamour where you can kick back and relax, once you've found it - there's no street signage.

There are beautiful old bars such as the Marble Bar, built in the 1890s, and the glamourous Rockpool Bar located in an American-style deco building on Bligh Street. Zeta Bar in the Hilton Sydney is fabulously new in style while Blue Bar on 36 of the Shangri-La Hotel is an exclusive cocktail lounge located high above the city, with views of Darling Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

Popular bar neighbourhoods include Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Newtown, Potts Point and Bondi Beach. Gardel’s Bar located above Porteno on Cleveland Street in Surry Hills is the Argentinean barbecue hotspot and offers you a unique cocktail experience with an Argentinean twist. Mille Vini in Surry Hills is ideal for fine wine and delicately sized food offerings while the pretty garden setting of The Winery in Surry Hills and the rooftop poolbar at The Ivy are popular outdoor bars. The Zanzibar in Newtown has cocktails and beer on tap at its rooftop bar in this inner-city neighbourhood.

Harbour bars

View from Cockatoo Island. Image Hamilton Lund

Escape to the harbourside to soak up the languid atmosphere of a city that's absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to bars. Start at Water Bar in the Blue Hotel on Woolloomooloo Wharf. In The Rocks, Wildfire stocks rare tequilas and rums while The Argyle attracts the uber-cool crowd. At Pyrmont there are views, views and more views from a string of bars including Astral Bar in The Star and Flying Fish Bar.

Best of Bondi bars

After a day chilling out at Sydney’s most famous beach, hit Bondi’s bar scene. Enjoy munching on a tasty tapas menu or crusty pizzas, with views and vibes at one of the many bars near the beach. Stylish hole-in-the-wall bars include Speakeasy, The Rum Diaries and Flying Squirrel.

Cocktails at Sydney Opera House

One of Sydney Opera House’s many attractions is Opera Bar. Located in the forecourt of the iconic building, this relaxing bar serves up great food and creative cocktails with sensational harbour views and live music on weekends.

Opera Bar at Sydney Opera House. Image Mark Pokorny

Manly bars

Casual Manly has a great mix of bars where you can chill out in venues packed with beachside chic. Manly Wine by Gazebo on the beachfront offers a quirky assortment of flavours such as fish and chips and soda-pop siphons. The Jetty Bar at Manly Wharf Hotel is perfectly located on the harbourside of Manly with fantastic views and a cruisey outdoor setting.

Bars in Sydney

Sydney bars are places to see and be seen. Locals have their regular haunts but are equally drawn to the regular new openings around the city

In summer, the city's beachside and rooftop bars are at their best. Icebergs, perched on the southern tip of Bondi Beach, is one of the most glamorous drinking holes complete with panoramic ocean views.

In Manly the new Hugos on Manly Wharf serves famous pizzas with a supply of beer, wine and cocktails to wash it all down. The nearby 4 Pines is micro-brewery with its own on-site brewing.

A profusion of intimate new bars are opening in the Sydney's laneways and inner city suburbs. Discover an unsual tipple - there's a wide collection of dark spirits from around the world. Enter Stitch bar through a shop front on York Street that's filled with sewing materials and machines. You'll find a a staircase that leads you down to the cool basement bar. A retro haven of cosmopolitan kitsch and faded granny glamour, Grandmas is your home away from home where you can kick back and relax, but keep your eye's open - there's no street signage. Gardel’s Bar located above Porteno in the city is the Argentinean barbecue hotspot and offers you a unique cocktail experience with an Argentinean twist. Mille Vini in Surry Hills is ideal for fine wine and delicately sized food offerings.

If you're after something less sophisticated, then wind your way up three floors of fun at Zanzibar in Newtown. Cocktails and beer varieties are plentiful at the rooftop bar.

Don't miss these food and wine experiences in Sydney

Ash Street Cellar Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
The Ash St Cellar is an elegant, Parisian-style bar in a quiet laneway behind the well known Ivy Bar. Sommelier Frank Moreau presents a range of inter...
www.merivale.com.au/#/ivy

Additional Information

View details
Cruise Bar Restaurant and Events Sydney City, Sydney, The Rocks
Cruise Bar is a stylish yet relaxed waterfront bar with some of the best views in Sydney.Located at the Overseas Passenger Terminal on the western sid...
www.cruisebar.com.au

Additional Information

View details
Sydney Opera House Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Experience Sydney Opera House - one of the world's most creative and busiest performing arts centres and greatest triumphs of modern architecture. Spe...
www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Additional Information

View details
Goldfish Sydney City, Sydney, Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo
Goldfish, a stylish cocktail and lounge bar is located across from the world famous Coca-Cola sign in Kings Cross. Opened in September 2008 and over t...
www.thegoldfish.com.au

Additional Information

View details
The Loft Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Inspired by a Moorish Casbah and evoking the ambience of a bygone era, The Loft is a sophisticated and stylish cocktail bar perched on the waterfront ...
www.theloftsydney.com

Additional Information

View details
The Star Sydney City, Sydney, Pyrmont
Sydney's one-of-a-kind entertainment venue, The Star, was officially reopened in September 2011. The $870 million transformation of Star City includes...
www.star.com.au

Additional Information

View details
Cherry Bar Sydney City, Sydney, Pyrmont
At Cherry, move to house, lounge, afro beats, electro jazz and reggae DJ mixes. Champagne cocktails and a gorgeous skyline backdrop. Be all you want t...
www.star.com.au

Additional Information

View details
Rock Lily Sydney City, Sydney, Pyrmont
Rock Lily is a live music bar which showcases the best Australian music acts, plus features a number of international performers. It also boasts one o...
www.star.com.au/rocklily

Additional Information

View details
Jacksons on George Sydney City, Sydney, The Rocks
Jacksons on George is only a few minutes walk from The Rocks, Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House and many major Sydney hotels. With five bars across fo...
www.jacksonsongeorge.com.

Additional Information

View details
Marble Bar Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Built in 1893, the Marble Bar remains one of Sydney's most loved live music bars and a haven of Victorian excess.The Marble bar has been a superb...
www.marblebarsydney.com.a

Additional Information

View details
ArtHouse Hotel Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
The School of Arts Building, dating back to 1836, now houses the most unique bar in Sydney, The ArtHouse Hotel. A dynamic space, reflecting the splend...
www.thearthousehotel.com.

Additional Information

View details
Bootleg Bar and Italian Food Sydney City, Sydney, Potts Point
Inspired by the intimate, neighbourhood venues of downtown New York and Berlin, Bootleg Bar and Italian Food is a low-lit space with an honest, season...
www.bootlegbar.com.au

Additional Information

View details
Crown Hotel Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
If you are homesick for your local pub try the Players bar. With a 24 hour menu, TAB and gaming room facilities it is sure to fill the void. The bout...
www.crownhotel.com.au/

Additional Information

View details
Albion Place Hotel Sydney City, Sydney, City Centre
Albion Place Hotel is in the centre of Sydney’s Entertainment Precinct. The hotel boasts a great range of boutique beers on tap including Little...
www.albionplacehotel.com.

Additional Information

View details
The Argyle Sydney City, Sydney, The Rocks
The Argyle - The latest hip, New York / London styled underground warehouse entertainment complex in The Rocks Sydney, comprising of five bar concepts...
www.theargylerocks.com

Additional Information

View details