Sydney Eat Street: Best rooftop bars and venues revealed
Shake off those winter blues and soak up the spring sun with the best rooftop venues across Sydney. We break down the best places to catch-up and enjoy that warm spring vibe.
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As winter gives way to spring, what could be better than enjoying some food and drinks from a beautiful vantage point high above the hustle and bustle.
Sydney Eat Street brings you the best rooftop venues in the city so you can sit back, relax and while away those sunny spring afternoons.
LADY BANKS ROOFTOP
With a panoramic view that stretches from the Sydney skyline to the Blue Mountains, the vantage point alone is worth a visit. Pair that with a vibrant and sophisticated setting, a diverse drink selection and Mediterranean-inspired menu and you can see why Lady Banks Rooftop has become a favourite destination for long lunches, sunset drinks, and all sorts of celebrations.
There’s a wide array of wines, beers, and cocktails – and they even blend their own rum. A popular pick is the Pretty in Pink Ketel One and Pink gin cocktail, which pairs perfectly with the local oysters, scallops and king prawns on the seafood platter. Linger longer with a bottle of Australian wine and a share plate.
BANKSTOWN SPORTS CLUB FLINDERS CENTRE, LEVEL 10, 25 RESTWELL ST, BANKSTOWN; LADYBANKSROOFTOP.COM.AU
TAPHOUSE
This popular Darlinghurst pub has returned refreshed, revamped and ready to welcome back visitors to the taps (20-plus ales), tunes and Chinese food, thanks to some love and attention from Applejack Hospitality (Forrester’s, The Butler, The Botanist).
The rooftop now has Sydney summer vibes, with a fresh white and marine blue palette. And the in-house talent, chefs Patrick Friesen (Queen Chow, Ms G’s) and Sam Ng, have created an epic Cantonese menu featuring egg noodles with crispy free-range pork belly and seasonal stir fries.
122 FLINDERS ST, DARLINGHURST; TAPHOUSESYDNEY.COM.AU
UNTIED
Break free from the dreariness of winter at this colourful rooftop oasis in the heart of Barangaroo. The eclectic menu features an array of share plates, ranging from tuna tartare to the grilled pig toasties, mains such as laksa-style mussels and pan-seared Atlantic salmon, and various plant-based dishes.
But it’s Untied’s drinks that have gained the most attention, specifically the two hours of bottomless Bellinis and a frosé machine with lolly station – a sweet deal from noon daily for $49pp.
LEVEL 4, EXCHANGE PL, 400 BARANGAROO, BARANGAROO; UNTIEDSYDNEY.COM.AU
CIRQ
Raise a glass to stellar sunsets and spring weather on the terrace of Crown Sydney’s award-winning rooftop bar, CIRQ. “CIRQ is the perfect place to enjoy an after-work snack or a pre-dinner drink, with the most magnificent views in the city at 26 floors high,” said Mark Holmes, the executive general manager of hospitality.
As winter slowly ebbs away Mark said he is thrilled to bring Sunset Cocktail Hour to CIRQ. “Guests can enjoy Spanish-style tapas and endless $2 Pacific oysters, as well as many crowd favourite drinks like the mini negroni while watching the sunset over the city. It’s a truly fantastic way to spend a Wednesday or Thursday evening”.
CROWN SYDNEY, LEVEL 26/1 BARANGAROO AVE, BARANGAROO; CROWNSYDNEY.COM.AU/BARS/CIRQ
JACKSONS ON GEORGE
Five years since it closed, Jacksons on George is set to reopen as a modern three-level pub, bistro, wine bar and rooftop terrace. It will have a public bar featuring pub food on the ground floor; Bistro George, a modern restaurant and late-night bar, on level one; and above that the Rooftop, which will have a dynamic cocktail list. and a menu similar to the public bar.
176 GEORGE ST, JACKSONSONGEORGE.COM.AU
WOOLLAHRA HOTEL
After recent refurbishments, Woollahra pub has reconnected with its 1930s art deco style to deliver a more refined version of this local favourite. The ground floor offers a refined take on the watering hole experience, while upstairs, there’s a variety of eating and drinking spaces, including an outdoor terrace with a vertical garden.
Up here, guests can dine on polished versions of popular Asian dishes such as Hiramasa kingfish sashimi, kingfish & prawn curry, and caramelised master stock pork belly, along with gourmet burgers, steaks, and more. A regular rotation of weekly specials includes Dumpling Mondays, Bao Town Tuesdays, Curry Thursdays, weekend Bottomless-Brunch sittings and live music on Saturday and Sunday. Keep an eye on their socials, as there’s always something going on at Woollahra’s local.
116 QUEEN ST, WOOLLAHRA; WOOLLAHRAHOTEL.COM.AU
ABOVE 8
Venture south of the city to this chic rooftop bar and lounge for an afternoon or evening session and enjoy the panoramic view along with classic and clever cocktails, boutique wines, and a variety of share plates and hand-stretched pizza.
If you’re hungry for more, there is also a full menu with dishes such as pan-seared barramundi, dry-aged black Angus sirloin, and glazed eggplant with black rice koji congee as well as a four-course set menu for $69pp—open most days from noon to 10pm.
TRAVELODGE HOTEL, LEVEL 9, 6 CROSS ST, HURSTVILLE; ABOVE8.COM.AU
SKY BAR
Situated atop Shell House, a multi-venue hospitality destination on the former site of the Menzies Hotel, this sophisticated CBD bar and lounge welcomes guests with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a sweeping view of the Sydney skyline (and an enviable vantage point for stunning sunsets).
It’s an ideal destination for after-work drinks, a tipple before dining at the hatted restaurant below, or to while away an evening over cocktails, notably their signature Sicilian and watermelon margaritas – and a selection of appetisers. There’s also a regular roster of live entertainment that includes DJs, acoustic artists and even Shell House’s own band.
37 MARGARET ST, SYDNEY; SHELLHOUSE.COM.AU
GREEN MOUSTACHE
Perched high above North Sydney’s urban landscape, this sun-drenched restaurant, surrounded by lush treetops and adorned with floral garlands, beautifully reflects the seasonally driven menu and botanicals-based cocktails list. With wicker chairs, pale woods, and muted green textiles, Green Moustache feels like a posh treehouse.
Chef Peter Fitzsimmons (Chin Chin) heads up the kitchen, creating lunch and dinner dishes that pair Australian favourites with international flavours, such as the chilli crab spaghetti and twice-cooked pork belly with sauerkraut and caramelised apples. A standout at Green Moustache is their weekend bottomless brunch, a two-hour session with a three-course set share-menu free, Archie Rose cocktail ons arrival, and free-flowing prosecco, rose, and pale ale. ($79pp with a non-alcoholic option for $69pp).
ROOFTOP, LEVEL 10/100 MILLER ST, NORTH SYDNEY; GREENMOUSTACHE.COM.AU
COOGEE PAVILION
Easily the most identifiable structure along Coogee Beach, Coogee Pavilion has had many iterations over the years – from an aquarium and baths in the late 1800s to a subpar backpacker haven in the 1970s.
However, in 2014, hospitality group Merivale saw its true potential, as they are known to do, and transformed it into a multi-venue destination with drinking and dining options ranging from a family-friendly restaurant and bar on the ground floor to the casual and refined restaurants on the mid-levels.
But Coogee Pavilion’s crowning glory sits on the top level, with four indoor-outdoor bars, wrap-around balconies, and a stellar beachfront view. Wednesday-Sunday, this adults-only area features food from Jimmy’s Chicken, an offshoot of CBD hotspot Jimmy’s Falafel, which focuses on mezze, wraps, and harissa-spiced chicken; Monday and Tuesday, it’s a reduced Vinnie’s pizza menu.
169 DOLPHIN ST, COOGEE; MERIVALE.COM
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