30 of the best bars in Sydney right now

Maybe Sammy 

Where: The Rocks 

The only Sydney bar to make it onto the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars list, Maybe Sammy is inspired by the infamous Rat Pack entertainers of the 1950s and 60s. With an elegant colour scheme of pastels, green and gold, and waiters wearing pale pink dinner jackets, it really feels like Frank Sinatra could drop in any moment for one of their theatrical cocktails. 

Maybe Sammy, The Rocks

Cantina OK! 

Where: CBD 

Taking the concept of ‘small bar’ to new levels, Cantina OK! has space for just 20 drinkers (standing room only). Hidden at the end of a delivery lane, it used to be a garage but is now one of the city’s most famous nightspots. It specialises in the Mexican spirit mezcal, crafted into colourful cocktails or served straight up. 

Cantina OK! - Credit: Nikki To

Pleasure Club 

Where: Newtown 

The first bar in Newtown to be granted a 4am license in more than a century, Pleasure Club is all about psychedelic lighting, loud music, dimly-lit booths and good drinks. The subterranean space was once an X-rated video store and you’ll find lots of cheeky nods to the past – like the signature Pleasure Story cocktail. 

Pleasure Club, Newtown - Credit: Parker Blain

Old Mate’s Place 

Where: CBD 

You’ll have to climb more than 100 steps to reach Old Mate’s Place, but the burn will be worth it. This hidden rooftop oasis is the place for a relaxed beer on a Sunday afternoon or a night of chic cocktails overlooking the city. (For something different, head down to the basement for sister bar Old Love’s and some fun with a tiki twist.) 

Old Mate’s Place, Sydney CBD

The Library Bar 

Where: CBD 

This secret bar on the rooftop of the State Library is one of the city’s best kept secrets. Aptly named The Library Bar, it has panoramic views of the Domain and harbour from a raised observation deck. Both the drinks and food focus on local producers, with Sydney craft beers on top, NSW wines and small batch spirits. 

The Library Bar, Sydney

Bar Planet 

Where: Enmore

An out of this world experience awaits at Bar Planet, where intergalactic decor sparkles with neon lights and glow in the dark galaxies. The martini is the star here – the team has created their own ‘infinite spirit’ with Marrickville distiller Poor Toms and they’ll whip up this classic in ways you’ve never imagined. 

Bar Planet, Newtown - Credit: Nikki To

Dean and Nancy on 22 

Where: CBD 

Effortlessly glamorous, Dean and Nancy on 22 is inspired by New York cocktail bars of the 1960s. The sleek black, gold and marble interiors complement the glittering skyscrapers outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Stick with a classic cocktail or branch out with something unique from the ‘world of dreams’ menu. 

Dean and Nancy on 22, Sydney CBD 

Bar 83 at Sydney Tower 

Where: CBD 

Sydney’s highest bar sits 83 floors up, making for spectacular views across the city. Decked out like a retro airline lounge, Bar 83 brings a touch of 70s glamour to your night out. If you can tear your eyes away from the floor-to-ceiling windows, the cocktail menu is equally impressive. Or splash out with a magnum of champagne and a bump of Beluga caviar. 

Bar 83 at Sydney Tower, Sydney CBD

Nick & Nora’s 

Where: Parramatta 

This art deco rooftop bar is unlike anything else in Western Sydney. Nick & Nora’s (named after the crime-solving couple from The Thin Man novel) is styled as a modern day speakeasy brimming with vintage charm. The enormous cocktail menu is divided into sections like The Bon Vivant and The Hollywood Starlet, and you can even drink fizz from a delicate glass shoe.

Nick and Nora's, Parramatta

Jacoby’s Tiki Bar 

Where: Enmore 

Sydney’s first dedicated tiki bar, Jacoby’s is the place to go for flaming drinks and kitsch tropical decor. The colourful menu is filled with fun cocktails like the Zombie, the Rock Lobster and Caribbean Rum Punch – and don’t be surprised if your drink comes out in a coconut or a carved stone head. 

Jacoby's Tiki Bar, Enmore

Smoke  

Where: Barangaroo 

Sitting on the top floor of the distinctive Barangaroo House building, Smoke has a native-flower filled terrace with incredible views of the waterfront below. It’s one of the few bars in Sydney that offer table service, so you can sit back and admire the sunset without having to line up and order your next drink. 

Smoke, Barangaroo

Stitch Bar 

Where: CBD 

One of Sydney’s original small bars, Stitch opened in 2011, tucked away behind a faux tailor’s shop and down a grand staircase. It’s inspired by New York’s late night diners, it pairs a classic drinks menu with American dishes like hot dogs, burgers, tacos and jalapeno poppers. 

Stitch Bar, Sydney CBD

Papa Gede’s 

Where: CBD 

Set down a cobbled laneway in the city, Papa Gede’s is named after a voodoo saint and inspired by the complex cultures of New Orleans and Haiti. That means flaming tiki cocktails, plenty of candles and some slightly spooky décor. There’s also a dedicated absinthe menu with some varieties packing a huge punch at 80% alcohol. 

Papa Gede's Bar, Sydney CBD

Dulcie’s Kings Cross 

Where: Kings Cross 

The 1930s was a golden age for Sydney, a time of artistic, intellectual and social change. Dulcie’s pays homage to the era and its Bohemian spirit. Relax on a plush velvet sofa, order a Quandong Cosmo and enjoy the entertainment, ranging from live music and burlesque performances to life drawing classes and erotic fiction nights. 

Dulcie's Kings Cross, Potts Point

Uncle Ming’s 

Where: CBD 

Go down the stairs and step into 1930s Hong Kong at Uncle Ming’s. The moody red lighting, wafting incense and posters of vintage Asian pin up girls set the scene. The theme carries through to the cocktails and the food menu (dumplings, prawn toast, Takoyaki and more), plus there’s a huge range of whiskies from Asia and beyond. 

Uncle Mings, Sydney CBD

The Waratah 

Where: Darlinghurst 

The Waratah is a laid-back neighbourhood bar that celebrates of all things Australian, from the wine list and small-batch local spirits to the lamb cutlets and fairy bread ice-cream sandwich. The drinks menu changes regularly and the whole concept will be structured around a region, like The Daintree in Far North Queensland or NSW’s Northern Rivers. 

The Waratah, Darlinghurst - Credit: The Waratah

Jangling Jack’s Bar and Grill

Where: Potts Point 

This narrow speakeasy is deceptively spacious – if you don’t score one of the most popular stools along the bar, keep going to the leather-lined booths at the back. Jangling Jack’s Bar and Grill doesn’t follow any particular theme, but aims to be the kind of bar you can come back to every week for phenomenal drinks and moreish meals. 

Jangling Jack’s Bar and Grill, Potts Point - Credit: Jangling Jack’s Bar and Grill

Employees Only 

Where: CBD 

Inspired by the pioneering New York bar of the same name, Employees Only brings a sophisticated elegance to late night drinking and dining. A stylish refuge tucked beneath the busy streets of the city, you can sip exquisite cocktails, enjoy a steak until 2.30am and even get a tarot card reading from the resident psychic. 

Employees Only, Sydney - Credit: Yusuke Oba

Since I Left You 

Where: CBD 

A tiny industrial space in the city has been transformed into the charming Since I Left You (SILY to the regulars). The outdoor courtyard is the place to be – colourful murals, lush plants and twinkling fairy lights make for the perfect after work retreat. 

Since I Left You, Sydney - Credit: Since I Left You

The Lobo 

Where: CBD 

The Lobo is all about rum – there are more than 300 varieties on the menu from all over the Caribbean and Central America. The name comes from Cuba’s last sugar baron Julio Lobo and the whole bar feels like a Havana country club with rattan chairs, banana palms and flamingo tiles. 

The Lobo, YCK Laneways

Centro 86 

Where: CBD 

Set behind a fire door behind Pitt Street, Centro 86 is an edgy underground cantina that wouldn’t be out of place in Mexico City. The specialty is tequila and it’s used in everything from a margarita to an old fashioned. The music is on theme too, so expect to dance the night away to bossa nova and Latin rock. 

Centro 86, Sydney CBD - Credit: Dexter Kim

Earl’s Juke Joint 

Where: Newtown 

From the outside, Earl’s Juke Joint looks like an unassuming suburban butcher. But inside, it’s a New Orleans-style saloon serving up natural wine, craft beer and excellent cocktails. The bar is named after legendary drummer Earl Palmer, so expect loud music and a heel stomping good time. 

Earl’s Juke Joint, Newtown - Credit: Earl’s Juke Joint

The Cumberland 

Where: Manly 

With an entrance hidden behind a fridge door inside a tiny bodega-style deli, The Cumberland feels like a genuine speakeasy from the days of prohibition. Drinks follow the theme, with a whole list of boilermakers (a combination of beer and whisky) and cocktails like the Mary Pickford. Snacks are Spanish leaning, with olives, tinned seafood, deli meats and cheese. 

The Cumberland, Manly

Double Deuce Lounge 

Where: CBD 

The name comes from a 1989 Patrick Swayze movie, but Double Deuce Lounge is pure 1970s chic – think lots of mustard and brown, vintage Playboy posters, and French onion dip served with Jatz crackers. Make sure you snap a selfie in the ‘kissing booth’, a cosy space with a furry wall. 

Double Deuce Lounge, Sydney - Credit: Double Deuce Bar

Apollonia 

Where: CBD 

Taking up the basement level of the epic, four-storey Hinchliff House, Apollonia is named for the ill-fated wife of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. It’s the perfect fit for a dark Sicilian drinking den carved directly into the sandstone and fitted out with lots of marble, brass and gold. Cocktails are named after famous Italians and there’s a rotating selection based on the season. 

Apollonia, Sydney - Credit: Apollonia

Stowaway Bar 

Where: Freshwater 

Freshwater’s first small bar, Stowaway Bar brings a bit of nautical/New York cool to the Northern Beaches. It opened in 2013 and has been packed with locals and visitors alike ever since. The margaritas are zesty, the pizzas are crisp and the music is loud. Guaranteed good times. 

Stowaway Bar, Freshwater - Credit: Stowaway Bar

The Doss House 

Where: The Rocks 

Built in the 1840s, The Doss House has a colourful history. It’s been a bootmaker, boarding house, doctor’s surgery and even an opium den – today it’s just a very good whisky bar. The original sandstone walls, fireplaces and tiny courtyards create an intimate atmosphere that’s perfect for sipping whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Japan, America and beyond. 

Couple in the courtyard at The Doss House, The Rocks

Tio’s Cerveceria 

Where: Surry Hills 

Sydney’s favourite Mexican dive bar, Tio’s has been serving top notch margaritas since 2011. The drinks menu is short and sweet, and the only food is their signature spicy popcorn or chips and guacamole (though you can order in from nearby restaurants). The decor is unashamedly over the top, with fairy lights, Catholic shrines and plenty of knicknacks. 

Tio’s Cerveceria, Surry Hills - Credit: Nikki To

Bar Conte 

Where: Surry Hills 

The world’s first dedicated negroni bar, you’ll find more than 30 versions of this classic Italian cocktail on the menu at Bar Conte. It also has Sydney’s best collection of Italian vermouths and bitters, plus rare amari spirits. For the full Italian experience, visit on weekdays from 4pm for a traditional aperitivo. 

Bar Conte, Surry Hills - Credit: Bar Conte

Tokyo Bird 

Where: Surry Hills 

A little slice of Tokyo’s izakaya nightlife hidden in the backstreets of Surry Hills, Tokyo Bird specialises in Japanese whisky, grilled meats and good times. Service is always excellent – premium whiskies come with a hand-chipped ice ball sculpted by the bartenders, the cocktails are exquisite and the team will make you feel like there’s no one else in the room. 

Tokyo Bird, Surry Hills - Credit: Tokyo Bird