Sydney Eat Street: Best rooftop restaurants and bars
As summer slowly ebbs away, bid it farewell from the vantage point of these rooftop restaurants and bars around Sydney.
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Elm Rooftop Bar
Elm Rooftop Bar is more local treasure than hidden gem. This heritage-listed pub, spread out over three levels, has long been lauded for its expansive craft beer selection — 60 on tap, with more than 400 on rotation throughout the year, plus an additional 100 brews in bottles.
Equally famous is chef Axel Chilton’s $25 Sunday Roast, but they’ve taken it up another notch with last year’s launch of Elm Rooftop Bar.
Unlike the main floor’s original 1920s decor, up top is a semi-industrial space, complemented by a sleek concrete bar, climbing ivy, hanging plants and an enviable view of Darlinghurst’s tree-lined streets and Centennial Park.
While craft beer reigns supreme downstairs, cocktails and hard seltzers are the go on the rooftop.
Along with that, Alex’s smokehouse menu, a selection of meat, vegetarian, and vegan dishes that he prepares in the onsite smoker, is not to be missed.
For the meat-free options, there’s the peach-smoked corn ribs, compressed watermelon “tuna” tacos, and apple-smoked brie, or for the carnivores in your crew, try a brisket hoagie — a slow-cooked brisket with a Texas-style rub, on a Japanese milk hot dog bun; or Chilton’s Andouille sausage — whole ground pork bellies and Cajun spices.
Finally, Monday Night Doggie Trivia is a must for those who can’t bear to leave home without their pup. Show up with your canine companion, and Elm will shout you a beer and set you up with $12 cocktails and $15 schnitzels.
— Level 2/122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst; taphousedarlo.com.au
Fratelli Fresh Grosvenor Place
Fratelli Fresh is taking its post “Italian Job” seriously — working hard to lure Sydneysiders back into the city, and the latest addition to the Fratelli family is taking that job seriously, quite literally as compared to its gregarious sister venues, the upscale Grosvenor Place venue is a bit more polished, well-suited to the nearby office workers and corporate clientele.
Taking over a premium position in the award-winning Harry Seidler building at Grosvenor Place, halfway between Martin Place and Circular Quay, the venue foregoes the brand’s usually bright and cheery decor for dark woods and gold fixtures; picture a two-martini lunch circa 1960, however the curved floor to ceiling windows, a noted feature of the architecture, adds an abundance of light which along with accents of Fratelli Fresh’s signature cherry red colour remind you you’re in familiar territory … it’s just been dressed up.
The place itself seats 250 and is split over two levels. A big draw is also the outdoor terrace with a cityscape view, a perfect place for those after-work happy hours, which is even more enticing as it runs for three hours (3pm-6pm) with enticing specials.
The overall menu is seasonally focused, with more refined food and drinks options such as Tuna tartare with horseradish and baby fennel or gratinated scallops with finger lime and pangrattato, which are unique to the Grosvenor location.
There’s also a larger range of small antipasti plates designed to share, house-made pasta, handcrafted sourdough Neapolitan-style pizzas and large plates including whole grilled fish, Bistecca Fiorentina, and daily specials.
The drinks list is more cocktails driven, with highlights that include the Fratelli Fresh Martini- chilli-infused Ketel One Vodka, passionfruit, vanilla, and lime, or the Grosvenor Spritz- Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, prosecco, tonic, and orange. Traditional classics but with Fratelli flare.
— Grosvenor Place, 118 Harrington St, Sydney; fratellifresh.com.au
Green Moustache
There’s never been a better time to go Green. The Green Moustache Rooftop bar and garden sits above high-rises and busy streets of North Sydney.
The lofty location and foliage-filled decor give the impression of being in a treehouse … a rather chic one with wicker chairs and cafe tables. There is lush greenery throughout, a seasonal produce-centric menu, and an array of botanically-based cocktails.
On Saturdays and Sundays to March 7, you can pretend that your little slice of serenity is along a beach in Mexico as Green Moustache will be serving special Patrón Tequila cocktails while summer DJs and live music plays in the background.
Try the Patrón Margarita or Paloma (an effervescent tequila-based, pink grapefruit cocktail) on arrival for $10, or purchase a drinks package that includes bottomless Patrón Paloma with grapefruit soda, Patrón Jalisco with blood orange soda, or Patrón Hacienda with lime soda, for $99 (all-inclusive brunch and cocktails).
There’s quite the hospitality pedigree behind this city-centre oasis: co-owner David Maisey (Merivale, Palisade Hotel) oversees the menu, while chef Peter Fitzsimmons (Chin Chin) heads up the kitchen, creating dishes that pair Australian favourites with international flavours such as the blue swimmer crab, wombok dumpling, lobster miso broth; twice-cooked pork belly with Vietnamese herb salad, or the king prawn spaghetti.
A popular option over the weekends is the Bottomless Brunch ($75), which includes a grazing board, Salt and Pepper Squid, Ligorio cavatelli pasta with smoked chorizo, and more. The price includes two hours of unlimited rose, prosecco, or pale ale.
— Rooftop, Level 10/100 Miller St, North Sydney; greenmoustache.com.au
Coogee Pavilion
The easily identifiable structure along Coogee Beach opened as an aquarium and baths in the late 19th century, then became the backpacker preferred Beach Palace Hotel until hospitality company Merivale picked it up in 2014.
True to form, they transformed it into something spectacular – though the stunning view over the beach may have something to do with it.
Spread out over three levels, the first having casual, family-friendly food options. Above that are dining establishments Una Mas and mimi’s, and will’s cocktail bar. And on the top floor, there are four indoor-outdoor bars and a wraparound balcony.
New to this upper area, though, is Jimmy’s Chicken, an offshoot of CBD hotspot Jimmy’s Falafel which will focus on mezze, wraps (all served with fries) and an all-new, charcoal chicken habibi combo which includes a whole harissa-spiced chicken alongside an assortment of sides. And the view.
— 169 Dolphin St, Coogee; merivale.com
Lady Banks Rooftop
It’s a good thing that it’s the largest rooftop setting in Sydney because as soon as you witness the panoramic view that stretches from the city to the Blue Mountains, Lady Banks Rooftop needs all the space it can get.
Its namesake is the Lady Banks Rose, a yellow and white cascading rose, which was itself named for Lady Dorothea Banks, wife of botanist and Bankstown namesake, Sir Joseph Banks. These colours are reflected throughout the venue.
It’s on the 10th floor of the Flinders Building, featuring timber-slatted high and low tables, festoon lights, floor cushions and a fire pit.
Soak up the sun while enjoying an array of share plates and maybe even a shared cocktail such as ‘The Usual Suspects’ (serves four), or vodka watermelon, basil and soda or Copper Giant, a rum punch suited for six.
Linger into the evening and admire the sunset while sipping one of the Lady Banks’ signature cocktails, or opt for Lady Banks Gin, their own gin stilled in conjunction with Archie Rose Distilling Co.
There are many small and large Middle Eastern-inspired share dishes, such as the mezze board with hummus and baba ghanoush and falafel with fresh flatbread.
For main-sized dishes, The Lady Banks signature 1.3kg ‘Pinnacle Tomahawk Steak’ is large enough for three to four people to share, as are the authentic wood-fired pizzas.
Plenty to share and plenty of space to share it.
— Bankstown Sports Club Flinders Centre, Level 10, 25 Restwell St, Bankstown; ladybanksrooftop.com.au
Babylon Rooftop
True to its namesake, this CBD rooftop bar, with its veritable garden of greenery, is a wonder to behold, but it’s the sumptuous Levantine food, a cuisine that embraces the many different flavours of the Middle East/Eastern Mediterranean region, that makes this place a real marvel.
For the full experience, book in for their Meze and Bottomless Mimosa brunch, featuring a selection of the chef’s favourite dishes (Saturday and Sunday, 11.30am-1pm, 90-min seating $68pp).
— Level 7/188 Pitt St, Sydney; babylonrooftop.com.au
The Glenmore
Established in 1837, The Glenmore once played host to coronial inquests, political assemblies, dancing and entertainment nights. So, it’s fair to say this hotel would have plenty of stories to tell, and there’s no better place than up on the rooftop where you’ll find undeniably one of the best views of Sydney Harbour.
But, of course, the vantage point isn’t the only draw to this historic venue; there’s also the $15 Margaritas (Monday-Friday, 4pm-6pm), $15.90 Steaks on Mondays, $10 burgers on Tuesdays, bottomless brunch on the first Sunday of every month. There are even the occasional Pilates sessions in keeping with the multipurpose history.
— 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks; theglenmore.com.au
MCA Cafe
Make your day one of discovery, starting off with a wander through The Museum of Contemporary Art, then up to the rooftop where you’ll find one of Sydney’s true hidden gems, the MCA Cafe and Sculpture Terrace.
The seasonal menu is as enticing as the artwork below, with items such as the Roast beef brisket sandwiches, Verdura bowls and spicy Korean chicken burgers. There are also dishes on the menu created in conjunction with Annandale’s Cornersmith Cafe X Picklery, a forerunner in sustainable food practices and an impressive, Australian-centric drinks list. (Daily, 10am-5pm)
— Museum of Contemporary Art; 4/140 George St, The Rocks; mca.com.au
IVY Pool Club
Leave the chaos of the city behind and ascend to the lavish rooftop pool at the top of the Ivy building, where you’ll be privy to the epitome of luxury with classic and contemporary cocktails, a polished wine list and sublime Mediterranean style food.
Whether you choose to soak up the sun on a poolside lounge or relax in the shade of a luxurious cabana, both will leave you feeling a world away from the busy streets below.
— Rooftop, 320 George St, Sydney; merivale.com
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Originally published as Sydney Eat Street: Best rooftop restaurants and bars
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