Best rooftop bars Sydney
There’s no better way to toast to summer in the Harbour City than from one of its sun-soaked rooftop bars. Here are 12 of the best.
Sydney has its fair share of major attractions: the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, the plethora of beaches that extend from Palm Beach down to the Shire. If you find yourself in the Harbour City over summer, soaking up the precious sunshine should be your number one priority — something best done with a tipple in hand.
With a skyline known around the world, naturally, the best place to view it is from up above. With land at a premium, it’s no wonder the city has seen a surge in rooftop bar openings. Yes, expect to shell out a little bit more for your favourite spritz, with the list of bars below, we assure you that the view makes it well worth it.
Sky Bar at Shell House
High above the beating heart of Sydney’s CBD is Sky Bar, located inside the award-winning Shell House complex. The open-air space is built around the 400-tonne heritage Shell House Clocktower, and offers panoramic views of the surrounding high rise. Spectacular by day, the rooftop bar is equally enchanting when illuminated by the city lights at night. Enjoy a world-class wine and cocktail menu, alongside seasonal snacks and nibbles including Australian classics like Sydney Rock oysters, all the way up to an Oscietra caviar and mascarpone cream, chickpea socca.
Location: 37 Margaret St, Sydney, 2000.
Views: The iconic Shell House clocktower, as well as views of the Sydney CBD.
Top tipple: Nothing beats a fresh ‘Clooney Tunes’ centred around George Clooney‘s own tequila, Casamigos Reposado.
Aster at InterContinental Sydney
There’s no shortage of showstoppers at the new-look InterContinental Sydney, but one hot spot steals the limelight. For the first time, the Circular Quay hotel has opened its rooftop bar to the public, giving visitors and locals the opportunity to take in spectacular 270-degree views of the glistening harbour with a cocktail in hand. This is the place to bring out of towners with limited time to explore the city; they’ll be able to see the Sydney Opera House, Museum of Contemporary Art, Royal Botanic Gardens and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in one fell swoop. The signature list has been developed by bar director Behzad Vazir, who confesses his goal is to make Aster on par with the great hotel bars of the world.
Location: Level 32/117 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
Views: All of Sydney’s best landmarks including the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Luna Park and back over towards the eastern suburbs.
Top tipple: The Eclipse, Aster’s version of the Old Fashioned.
Terrace Bar at Little National Hotel
Little National Hotel is located just above Sydney’s Wynyard Station, and perched on top of that is their best-kept secret for their hotel guests: Terrace Bar. Adorned with string lights, plush banquettes and plenty of plants, the outdoor area is a hideaway from the noise and bustle of the city — making it a perfect place to grab a quiet drink amid a day of sightseeing or shopping. Open for hotel guests only at this point, guests can make use of the indoor and outdoor space, and the nearby Lounge’s central firepit for cooler evenings.
Location: 26 Clarence St, Sydney, 2000
Views: Sydney CBD
Top tipple: Simple is best at the Little National Hotel so take your pick from their selection of well-made classics.
The Glenmore Hotel
This Sydney institution has just celebrated its 100th birthday. Boasting 180-degree views of Sydney Harbour over towards the Opera House, The Glenmore Hotel has one of the best rooftops in the historic district of The Rocks. It is one of only a handful of pubs left in the Rocks that dates back to before the Second World War. However, it can fill up, fast — make sure you book early to avoid any disappointment.
Location: 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks, 2000
Views: The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and Circular Quay.
Top tipple: The venue’s signature drink, Dead Man’s Handle, balances tequila with aperol, lemon and almond syrup.
Kiln at Ace Sydney
Although not technically an open-air rooftop bar like the others on this list, Ace Sydney’s top-floor, glass-wrapped restaurant and bar delivers a different kind of dining experience. Perched 18 floors above Wentworth Avenue in Surry Hills, it has panoramic views of the city and eastern suburbs, as well as an outdoor atmosphere thanks to a retractable glass roof.
The view is hardly the main attraction though. Helmed by rising star chef-partner Mitch Orr (of CicciaBella and ACME) Kiln follows Orr’s off-kilter approach to the menu, incorporating Italian, Japanese and Southeast Asian flavours, then brought to a new life with traditional woodfired cooking. It also has a long, lavish list of cocktails, curated by P&V‘s Mike Bennie. Think natural wine under every cork, as well as a stellar Japanese berry highball cocktail.
Location: 53 Foy Lane, Sydney 2000.
Views: Central Station, Centennial Park and the Inner East.
Top tipple: Any one of the original cocktails is worth a try at least once, or just go for the unbeaten, crisp flavour of a Resch’s.
Henry Deane at Hotel Palisade
Henry Deane — the rooftop bar that occupies the top two levels of Hotel Palisade — is the jewel in the crown of the beloved Millers Point watering hole. The heritage-listed pub is at the heart of the once-industrial shipbuilding district, a history reflected in its design from the ground up. The views are truly unobstructed and offer a prime position to look out at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Lower North Shore — a vantage point so good that you’ll understand why it was built to lodge travelling British engineers that were involved in the construction of the bridge.
Location: 35 Bettington St, Millers Point, 2000.
Views: The Sydney Harbour Bridge, as well as Greenwich and the Lower North Shore.
Top tipple: A view like this warrants Champagne; try the Louis Roederer Brut Premier.
Strand Hotel
The century-old Strand Hotel in Darlinghurst has just emerged from a multi-level restoration, which includes a new rooftop bar and 17-room hotel. Expect DJs and live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as a French-inspired cuisine like corn gruyere croquettes served alongside their signature cocktail, The French Tart. To keep things fair, the outdoor area is available for walk-ins only, so we recommend getting there early to secure the best spots — and the best view.
Location: 99 William St, Darlinghurst, 2010
Views: East Sydney, William Street and the Sydney CBD.
Top tipple: You can’t look past a classic Martini.
The Royal Hotel Paddington
Nestled in the heart of the inner-city enclave of Paddington is the recently-renovated Royal Hotel. It’s just one of the 242 pubs known “The Royal” across Australia — although this establishment arguably leads the pack for views. Aperol-hued umbrellas, dapper hedges, and nautically-themed cushions make this a popular option for a drink in the sun. As one of the tallest (not to mention oldest) buildings in the area, it has some of the best views in Paddington.
Location: 237 Glenmore Rd, Paddington, 2021
Views: From its vantage point in Sydney’s East, enjoy views back towards the city or back out over towards the headlands.
Top tipple: If you feel like royalty up the top, go for a Paddington’s Prince cocktail.
Slims Rooftop at Hyde Park House
Slims Rooftop is one of the largest in the city, with impressive views over Hyde Park and across East Sydney. In the right light, its pastel pink umbrellas and blush-tinted planters bathe the area in a soft rosy glow. If you feel like a dance come summertime, there will be plenty of daytime tunes — as well as a bookable ‘Brunch Club’ that takes place over the weekend.
Location: 47-49 William Street, Darlinghurst, 2010
Views: Slims overlooks Hyde Park enjoys delightful westerly sun in the afternoon.
Top tipple: Drinking in the sun with plenty of space is made all the better at Slims with an Aperol Spritz in hand.
The Dolphin Hotel
A Surry Hills staple, The Dolphin Hotel’s rooftop is a classic for a reason. Splattered with spray paint, it‘s one of the coolest places in Sydney to enjoy a pizza and a beer. With a refreshing list of cocktails and a knock-out wine list courtesy of the Icebergs Group, it’s easy for a lunchtime reservation to stretch well into the evening.
Location: 412 Crown St, Surry Hills, 2010
Views: Look inwards to the abstract paint work, or outwards to the buzzing hub of Crown Street.
Top tipple: Eating pizza and pasta in the sun pairs best with a medium-bodied, even chilled, red wine. Go for an Italian varietal like the Sangiovese or the Gaglioppo.
Coogee Pavilion Rooftop
Far from the inner-city bustle of many of the hot spots on this list, Coogee Pavilion’s rooftop bar is well worth a visit after a day at the beach. Inspired by an overgrown botanist’s laboratory, the rooftop has all sorts of vines and greenery extending above and around its many nooks and crannies. Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired dishes soundtracked by weekly DJs and a range of fresh fruit-driven cocktails like lychee martinis and watermelon margaritas, The Coogee Rooftop is great at any time of the day — or after an extravagant feast at Mimi’s, just one floor down.
Location: 169 Dolphin St, Coogee, 2034
Views: Coogee Beach.
Top tipple: The Watermelon Margarita.
East Village Hotel
With expansive views of the nearby city, and a retractable roof, as well as fans to cool you down, the East Village Hotel Terrace is ready to host you for a rooftop drink no matter the weather. An easy-going and breezy terrace, with around 13 drinks sticking on a permanent menu. Beyond that, you‘ll find four cocktails which will rotate monthly, with each rotation drawing inspiration from a themed holiday. Check in with the team during summer to see what’s on the menu for your visit.
Location: 234 Palmer St, Darlinghurst, 2010
Views: Towering over much of Darlinghurst, from the terrace enjoy the view back towards the Sydney CBD including the Centrepoint Tower in all its glory.
Top tipple: Check with the staff for the latest iteration of the rotating cocktail menu.
What is your favourite rooftop bar in Sydney? Join us in the comments below.