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The Best Bars in Sydney Right Now
From micro mezcal den Caintina OK! to new suburb gems like Meadow in Cronulla, these are the best bars in Sydney right now.
Sydney’s best bars range from micro mezcal mecca Cantina OK! to subterranean CBD wine bar Letra House and prohibition cocktail haunt Palmer & Co. Add boundary-pushing newcomers like Super 44 in Enmore and Cronulla’s Meadow, and you have a scene worth working through. Curated by Sitchu’s editors, this ever-evolving edit points you where to sip, whether you’re after gin, jazz or both.
- The Best New Bars in Sydney
- The Best Wine Bars in Sydney
- The Best Hidden Bars in Sydney
- The Best Late Night Bars in Sydney
- The Best Gin Bars in Sydney
- The Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
- The Best Jazz Bars in Sydney
- The Best Dog-Friendly Bars in Sydney
- The Best Cocktail Bars in Sydney
- The Best Waterfront Bars in Sydney
- The Best Whisky Bars in Sydney
- The Best Romantic Bars in Sydney
- FAQs About the Best Bars in Sydney
The Best New Bars in Sydney
Super 44, Enmore
Designed to reflect a holiday find, Super 44 is Mucho Group’s (Cantina OK!, Bar Planet) latest gem. With black-and-white tiled floors, hand-painted signs and various Mexican memorabilia scattered throughout, the aesthetic sets the tone. The menu carries it through, with just about every take on the margarita you could want. There’s the signature citrus-forward variation that bursts to life with zesty finger lime; there’s a dedicated spicy section ranging from mild tingles to a full-blown kick; and there are plenty of surprises in there, too, like the avocado and dragonfruit creation.
Suburb: Enmore
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Late night, Date night
Meadow, Cronulla
From the team behind Cronulla favourite Bobby’s, Meadow is a music room, bar and bistro designed for everything from lazy long lunches and aperitivo hour through to cocktails, DJs and late nights. The venue pairs European-inspired bistro plates with a sharp wine list, classic cocktails and live music that evolves throughout the day. Expect raw tuna with bergamot, baked rigatoni vodka sauce, cheeseburgers with café de Paris butter and jazz-fuelled afternoons, all wrapped up in a warm, sunset-toned space.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Date night, Locals
Jude’s, Potts Point
Jude’s old-world glamour aesthetic is just the ticket for a girls’ night out. Tucked beneath Penny’s Hotel on Bayswater Road, this cosy space comes complete with 30 seats, a disco ball, velvet lounge chairs and floor-length suede curtains. The cocktail list was crafted by a Michelin-star bartender and leans hard into retro-inspired serves (we’ve got eyes on the lychee-meets-spicy-margarita hybrid and a liquid nitrogen martini). It’s walk-in only and open until 3am Monday-Saturday, so it’s perfect for those ‘let’s see where the night takes us’ plans.
Suburb: Potts Point
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Late night, Cocktail lovers, Weekend plans
Explore the full edit of Sydney’s best new bars.
The Best Wine Bars in Sydney
Letra House, CBD
Discreetly located beneath beloved pasta bar Palazzo Salato, Letra House is a late-night wine bar with a superb by-the-glass offering. Swing by pre- or post-dinner and feast on Spanish tapas and sip Southern European wines. Keep your eyes peeled for any wines denoted by an angel denoting female producers.
Suburb: CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Date night, Late night
Bar Copains, Surry Hills
This neighbourhood wine bar is the kind of place you come for a glass and linger long into the evening. The wine list revolves around Australian and French drops, with a particular highlight on less traditional wines. As for food, it’s no afterthought. The menu is just as big a draw, with seasonal and locally made snacks paving the way for delicate share plates and larger mains.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Weekend plans, Group dining
Gildas, Surry Hills
Sister of world-renowned Firedoor restaurant, Gildas is a relaxed Basque-inspired snack and wine pairing heaven. Providing plenty of moodily lit corners for long overdue catch-ups, guests are encouraged to start small and see where the night takes them. Your night might move from Gilda’s and a Barossa Valley rose, and end with a red from Ribera del Duero and a slice of burnt Basque cheesecake.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Locals, Date night
Explore our full edit of the best wine bars in Sydney.
The Best Hidden Bars in Sydney
The Cumberland, Manly
This Manly bar takes tradition seriously and requires a sharp eye to locate. Your journey begins in a laneway deli from which a fridge door and a spiral staircase will transport you to a subterranean speakeasy. Explore The Cumberland’s extensive 250+ whisky selection and round out your evening with a charcuterie board and some Spanish fare.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Weekend plans, Date night
Earl’s Juke Joint, Newtown
With its old-school butcher facade, Earl’s Juke Joint is hiding in plain sight. Make it past the door, however, and you’ll be initiated into a New Orleans-inspired bar, complete with ambient lighting, eclectic tunes and laidback staff. A weekend dance floor guarantees a jovial atmosphere after dark.
Suburb: Newtown
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Date night, Weekend plans
Palmer & Co, CBD
For lovers of prohibition-era speakeasies, Palmer & Co sets the scene for an evening of secret sips. The brick-vaulted basement is low-lit and the walls covered in 1920s paraphernalia and photographs. Regular live music, covering soul, jazz, Motown and rock ‘n’ roll, adds to the overall vibe. Pair your highroller cocktail or glass of whisky with a 3 cheese jaffle or Palmer & Co’s classic garlic bread.
Suburb: CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Weekend plans, Date night
Explore our full edit of the best hidden bars in Sydney.
The Best Late-Night Bars in Sydney
Bar Planet, Newtown
For creative cocktails and an energetic ambience, it’s straight to Newtown’s playful martini bar Bar Planet. From the talented minds behind Cantina OK!, you can expect whimsical interiors with a cosmic bent and a concise yet diverse cocktail offering. Martini enthusiasts are encouraged to put their own creativity to the test with Bar Planet’s ‘Martini How You Like It’ offer.
Suburb: Newtown
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Late night, Cocktail lovers, Locals
Pleasure Club, Newtown
Pleasure Club encourages late nights, indulgent nights and wild nights. A haven of live music and experimental cocktails, the brief is ‘sensory’. There’s always something fun going on, whether it’s the entertainment program, ‘adult happy meals’ or themed cocktail menus.
Suburb: Newtown
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Late night, Locals
Bar Conte, CBD
Slink onto a bar stool, a cosy nook or a private dining room and ready yourself to sample the most expansive Negroni menu in Sydney. An expansion on Conte’s original bar in Surry Hills, this CBD institution will have you fed and watered until the wee hours. Sip your way through Bar Conte’s huge selection of Italian vermouths, bitters and amari, before tucking into plates of antipasti and homemade pasta.
Suburb: CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Late night, Date night, Group dining
Explore our full edit of the best late-night bars in Sydney.
The Best Gin Bars in Sydney
Poor Toms, Marrickville
One of Sydney’s OG gin distilleries, you’ll find Poor Toms tucked away within a classic Marrickville warehouse. Sip their house-made creations whilst snacking on pizza and indulging in the community atmosphere that has been honed for over a decade. Since their inception, they’ve branched out into vodka and amaro if you fancy something else.
Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Locals, Weekend plans
Gin Lane, Chippendale
For gin served every which way, head to Gin Lane in Chippendale’s Kensington Street. Gin enthusiast Grant Collins is behind the concept and is responsible for the wild, wacky, yet always delicious creations being stirred up behind the bar. Theatrical and inventive, the cocktail list will keep you occupied for hours. A recent partnership with Chef Nelly Robinson means you can now sup on British comfort food, from pork pies to fish finger sandwiches, whilst you sip your G&T.
Suburb: Chippendale
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Date night, Weekend plans
Explore our full edit of the best gin bars in Sydney.
The Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
Lady Banks Rooftop, Bankstown
Panoramic views of the Sydney skyline, a daily happy hour and snacky bits galore are all on offer from Lady Banks Rooftop, one of Sydney’s biggest rooftop bars. Located atop Bankstown Sports, the location is convenient and the drinks reasonable.
Suburb: Bankstown
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Date night, Outdoor dining
JŌJI, CBD
Sitting pretty atop Sydney’s flagship Cartier store, JŌJI feels that little bit extra. A wrap-around balcony offers glittering views of Sydney city, whilst fresh nigiri and maki keep tummies happy. As for drinks, expect creative cocktails inspired by Shibui (simplicity), Wabi Sabi (imperfection) and Datsuzoku (creativity).
Suburb: CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Japanese
Best For: Date night, Weekend plans, Late night
Royal Hotel Paddington, Paddington
This beloved local pub’s open-air rooftop has an energetic vibe year-round, with views extending out across the city. Its corner position on the Five Ways offers plenty of action to be observed, whilst a menu of pub classics and elevated snacks caters to the peckish.
Suburb: Paddington
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Weekend plans, Group dining, Budget-friendly
Explore our full edit of the best rooftop bars in Sydney.
The Best Jazz Bars in Sydney
LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
This eclectic bar is no stranger to a jazz night. Hosting live music 6-7 nights a week, many of the gigs taking place revolve around jazz, blues and soul. Whilst the onus is on the music, you can also source yourself a pizza, cheese board and glass of wine to go along with your tunes.
Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, Locals, Weekend plans
The Old Fitz, Woolloomooloo
The Old Fitz has a historic charm that lends itself perfectly to an afternoon of Jazz. As luck would have it, their Jazz afternoon falls on a Sunday at 2pm, just in time for a weekend roast. Kick back amongst the classic interiors and settle in for a serenade.
Suburb: Woolloomooloo
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: French
Best For: Locals, Date night, Wine lovers
Explore our full edit of the best jazz bars in Sydney.
The Best Dog-Friendly Bars in Sydney
OTiS, Leichhardt
This neighbourhood institution welcomes one and all, and that includes well-behaved four-legged friends. Punters are actively encouraged to bring their dogs, who will be greeted with treats from behind the bar. For the humans, plenty of natural wine, craft beer, share plates and arguably Sydney’s best cheese toastie, complete with seven different cheeses, await.
Suburb: Leichhardt
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Dog-friendly, Locals, Wine lovers
The Winery, Surry Hills
The laneway garden of The Winery in Surry Hills beckons one and all, including four-legged friends. Soak in the sun or the crisp evening air under the fairy-light-strewn courtyard and enjoy one of thirty wines available by the glass.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Dog-friendly, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Dogs are welcome in the outdoor laneway space. It’s important to note this area is walk-in-only and subject to availability.
Explore our full edit of the best dog-friendly bars in Sydney.
The Best Cocktail Bars in Sydney
Cantina OK!, CBD
This micro mezcal mecca is one of Sydney’s smaller bars, yet one of its best. Championing small-batch agave and tequila, you can bet your bottom dollar they’ve got the humble marg perfected. The secret? Hand-shaved ice and hand-pressed limes.
Suburb: CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, Cocktail lovers, Late night, Locals
Maybe Sammy, The Rocks
A regular on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, Maybe Sammy is a go-to for Sydney’s cocktail enthusiasts. The vibe is hotel bar, which includes the art deco interiors and premium service. On top of fresh spins on the classics, you’ll find vintage champagnes and Australian beers.
Suburb: The Rocks
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Date night, Visitors, Locals
The Best Waterfront Bars in Sydney
Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Bondi
Equally as iconic as the ocean pool itself, this Bondi institution is famed for its spaghetti vongole and No.8 cocktail. Soak in views of the ocean over sundowners paired with a hatted menu and a buzzing ambience.
Suburb: Bondi
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, Special occasion, Waterfront
Beach Bar Promenade, Bondi
This easy breezy walk-in bar plonks you right on the edge of Sydney’s most famous beach. The all-day menu takes you from snacks through to plates, platters and pizza, whilst the drinks menu leans into classic cocktails, spritz of every kind and a NSW-driven wine list.
Suburb: Bondi
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Waterfront, Outdoor dining, Group dining, Cocktail lovers
Explore our full edit of the best waterfront bars in Sydney.
The Best Whisky Bars in Sydney
Jolene’s, CBD
This Nashville-inspired whisky bar is at once an homage to the drink as well as beloved country star Dolly Parton. In the proper Southern tradition, you can expect a back bar stocking over 150 whiskys — some usually very hard to come by in Australia — along with some of the best live music in town.
Suburb: CBD
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Group dining, Cocktail lovers, Late night
The Doss House, The Rocks
Distilling the character of Sydney’s historic The Rocks district into an ambient drinking den, The Doss House has whisky hounds covered. On top of premium, rare and old drops, the whisky menu features bottles from all over the world. They also host masterclasses for those looking to dive a little deeper.
Suburb: The Rocks
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, Special occasion, Group dining
Need To Know: The Doss House hosts regular live music nights, including weekly trad sessions and music by candlelight.
The Best Romantic Bars in Sydney
Love, Tilly Devine, Darlinghurst
This alleyway wine bar is rife with cosy corners, checking each of the date night boxes. With 300 varieties of wine on offer, enthusiasts can enjoy a particular emphasis on natural wines. As for food, it’s all about snacking with a Euro twist.
Suburb: Darlinghurst
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Date night, Wine lovers, Late night
Apollonia, CBD
Mysterious and seductive, Apollonia has all the makings of a perfect date night bar. Low lights, moody sandstone walls and an extensive negroni list. The menu is divided into acts, just like a playbill, so you can settle on the mood and go from there.
Suburb: CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, Late night, Cocktail lovers
Explore our full edit of the best romantic bars in Sydney.
FAQs About the Best Bars in Sydney
Sydney’s best bars span mezcal dens, wine rooms and rooftop hideaways. Cantina OK! serves hand-shaved-ice margaritas from a tiny CBD space, while Maybe Sammy in The Rocks sits on the World’s 50 Best Bars list for its Art Deco-inspired cocktails. For wine, Bar Copains in Surry Hills pours Australian and French drops, and Icebergs in Bondi pairs its No.8 cocktail with ocean views. Newcomers like Super 44 in Enmore and Meadow in Cronulla show the scene keeps expanding. Sitchu’s editors update this edit regularly as new openings earn their place.
Sydney has a knack for tucking bars out of plain sight. The Cumberland in Manly hides behind a laneway deli’s fridge door, opening onto a subterranean speakeasy with 250-plus whiskies. Earl’s Juke Joint in Newtown sits behind an old-school butcher facade, revealing a New Orleans-inspired bar with a weekend dance floor. In the CBD, Palmer & Co channels prohibition-era glamour from a brick-vaulted basement, complete with 1920s paraphernalia and live soul, jazz and Motown.
Sydney’s rooftops make the most of the city skyline. Lady Banks Rooftop, atop Bankstown Sports, is one of the largest, with panoramic views, a daily happy hour and reasonably priced drinks. In the CBD, JŌJI sits above the flagship Cartier store, pairing glittering city views with fresh nigiri and cocktails inspired by Japanese design principles. Over in Paddington, the Royal Hotel’s open-air rooftop offers an energetic, year-round vibe with pub classics and views across the city from its Five Ways corner.
The CBD packs in some of Sydney’s finest. Cantina OK! is a micro mezcal mecca serving perfected margaritas, while Bar Conte pours the city’s most expansive Negroni menu alongside house-made pasta until late. For hidden charm, Letra House is a late-night wine bar beneath Palazzo Salato, and Palmer & Co channels prohibition-era glamour from a brick-vaulted basement. Prefer a view? JŌJI sits above the flagship Cartier store with cocktails and fresh nigiri, while Apollonia delivers moody, seductive date-night vibes and an extensive Negroni list.
If you’re after a boogie, Sydney bars deliver. Earl’s Juke Joint in Newtown has a weekend dance floor that guarantees a jovial atmosphere after dark, set within a New Orleans-inspired space of ambient lighting and eclectic tunes. Also in Newtown, Pleasure Club encourages wild, indulgent nights with live music, experimental cocktails and an ever-changing entertainment program. Down in Cronulla, Meadow shifts from lazy lunches to cocktails, DJs and late nights as the day evolves. Each pairs a lively atmosphere with great drinks well into the evening.
Looking to uncover more of the city’s best venues? Be sure to click through for our ultimate Sydney travel guide.
