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The Best Bars in Surry Hills for a Swish Sip
From trendy rooftop bars to intimate speakeasies, these are the best bars in Surry Hills.
In the fashionable postcode of 2010, there’s always something going on. The best bars in Surry Hills range from El Primo Sanchez, the Crown Street tequila and mezcal bar where Margaritas come with free popcorn, to Bar Conte on Riley Street with more than 20 negronis, and Tokyo Bird’s whisky-led Japanese cool on Commonwealth Street.
Whether you’re kicking off a big night or settling in for a long one, keep reading; this is your ultimate guide to drinking in Surry Hills.
In This Guide:
Best Cocktail Bars in Surry Hills
El Primo Sanchez
If your idea of a perfect night involves free popcorn, loud music and the best Margarita you’ve ever had, El Primo Sanchez is your place. This lively Crown Street tequila and mezcal bar is an absolute Surry Hills institution, and some of Sydney’s best bartenders have cut their teeth here, so you’re in safe hands whether you’re ordering a classic Margie or letting them take you somewhere a little smokier with the mezcal list.
Sitchu Tip: The venue has a little hidden karaoke room, so if you’re feeling tequila confident and fancy a sing-song, definitely book in! There’s also a tequila passport you can get which basically acts like a personal logbook of what you’ve drunk before. It’s held for safekeeping by the staff so you can add to it whenever you visit!
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mexican, Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Late night, Group dining, Locals
Bar Conte
Attention all Negroni lovers! This popular Surry Hills bar serves up over 20 versions of the classic cocktail. Bar Conte‘s trademark bottle-green, brass-accented corner property in Surry Hills is not only stunning, it has a noble goal of bringing Italian aperitivo culture to Sydney. Alongside a Mexican negroni, amber negroni, barrel-aged negroni and the Roku Gin-spiked Samurai negroni – the menu also features a range of Italian and Australian vermouths, Italian wines and a rotating list of give European beers.
The menu, from co-owner and former Apollo sous-chef Steve De Vecchi, includes Appellation oysters with negroni dressing, rosemary focaccia and Sicilian classics like gnocchi Sorrentino and marinated eggplant caprino.
340 Riley Street, Surry Hills
Tio’s Cerveceria
An oldie but a goodie! Tio’s is a local institution and always a fun time. The bar is basically a shrine to the Mexican spirit, with over 120 varieties of tequila on the menu – many of which are hard to find in Australia. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned tequila drinker, it’s worth asking the bartenders to walk you through their favourites, which may range from a cocktail to a seriously smokey, rare mescal.
4/14 Foster Street, Surry Hills
Tokyo Bird
Tokyo Bird brings a touch of Japanese cool to Sydney. With a modest 60 seats, the vibe is intimate. You’re never away from the bartender’s attention so you’re always taken care of. The drinks are of course unquestionably world-class. Classic cocktails rub shoulders with an impressive whisky lineup. Go fancy with a premium whisky, served with an artisanal, hand-chipped ice ball. Meanwhile, the grub is equally tasty, with yakitori at the menu’s forefront. Grilled to perfection, you can enjoy a variety of skewers—from chicken to tiger prawn.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Japanese, Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Date night, Solo dining
Need To Know: Intimate 60-seat venue.
Best Wine Bars in Surry Hills
Good Pair Days
When this beloved online wine subscription service went IRL, people naturally celebrated. Good Pair Days now has a physical home on Crown Street with a wine bar and store that’s as easy and fun to navigate as the app itself. Curated shelves stacked with excellent drops, glasses poured to your exact palate, delicious bites and member perks to boot. Whether you’re a natural wine devotee or still figuring out what you like, the team here will point you in exactly the right direction.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Solo dining, Locals
Need To Know: Member perks available.
The Rover
Growing up and leaving their wild past behind them, The Rover (formerly The Wild Rover) has undergone a chic refurbishment. Reopening in mid-March 2022, The Rover has remained loyal to its Irish roots but with a sophisticated feel that would not be out of place in an NYC cocktail bar. Expect buttery prawn rolls, lamb sausage rolls, fish finger sandwiches and oysters from some of New South Wales’s best estuaries. Add to their strong whiskey offering will be a 50-bottle strong wine list packed with organic and bio-dynamic drops.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Gastropub
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Wine lovers, Group dining
Bar Copains
Think of Bar Copains as your friendly neighbourhood wine bar. With Copains meaning friends or in French, it’s the perfect place to catch up with your besties over a glass of vino. The wine list is a mix of natural and traditional drops with a few off-beat options thrown into the mix. And with chefs Nathan Sasi (ex-NOMAD, Mercado) and Morgan McGlone (Belles Hot Chicken) at the helm, the menu is small but mighty.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Group dining, Locals
White Horse
White Horse has easily been one of our favourite openings with an incredible set menu we recommend jumping on stat. But if you’re just in the market for drinks and snacks, you can head upstairs for impeccable iterations of both. Nestle into the cosy bar seats or head outside to the terrace. You’ll find plenty of wines by the glass, craft beers on tap and a cocktail menu inspired by fruity flavours. As for the snacks, think elevated eats in petite formats.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Gastropub
Best For: Outdoor dining, Wine lovers, Cocktail lovers
Gildas
Gildas pays tribute to the original pintxo, created in San Sebastian with just three simple ingredients – a guindilla pepper, an olive, and an anchovy. This classic Basque snack, which was founded by the owner and chef, Lennox Hastie, after his time spent in the foothills of the Basque country, was the inspiration behind Gildas. Here, you’ll be able to sip on rosés from the Barossa Valley and red from Ribera del Duero but it’s their collection of Sherry that’s well worth a dance on your tastebuds.
As the Gildas’ team explains, “Sherry is an incredibly versatile wine with food, and should be enjoyed in the true Iberian spirit – seated at the bar, surrounded by people, with shared, simple, delicious food.” Take your time exploring the menu and savouring the different expressions of the Sherry spectrum, from a delicate fino to the richer varieties.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Spanish, Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Solo dining, Group dining
Poly
The laidback industrial interiors match the menu at Poly where 20 wines by the glass, 10 sakes, and 8 cocktails, including the bar’s spin on a Negroni with a splash of tequila, make up the beverage offering. Unlike its sister venue, Ester, the food here is meant to be eaten with your hands.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Cocktail lovers, Quick bite
Lokal
This cosy and intimate bar offers up an impressive selection of wines from all over the world, with a particular focus on small-batch and natural wines. In addition to the excellent wine selection, Lokal‘s menu features a range of share plates and charcuterie boards, making it the perfect spot for a casual night out with friends or a romantic date.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar, Charcuterie
Best For: Wine lovers, Date night, Group dining
Best Surry Hills Pubs:
The Clock
It doesn’t get more Surry Hills than The Clock and for good reason! The Clock is one of Surry Hills’ best bars and come Friday night, this beloved destination is the place to be with its grand clock tower serving as a striking landmark, drawing in locals and tourists alike. You can expect a buzzing atmosphere, live music, an extensive drink selection and classic pub fare.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Group dining, Weekend plans, Locals
Forrester’s
Part-pub, part-pizzeria, Forrester’s is a guaranteed good time. On Riley Street, it has all the elements of a good pub: a lively vibe, trivia nights, bottomless lunches and a range of local and imported beers on tap. It ups the ante on the food side, with Neapolitan-style pizzas, and pastas that will truly hit the spot.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pizza, Pub fare
Best For: Long lunch, Group dining, Locals
The Cricketers Arms
Every neighbourhood needs a pub like The Cricketers Arms, and Surry Hills is very lucky to have it. This much-loved local institution has barely changed downstairs in decades, which is exactly the point. From the grungy little courtyard to the classic front bar and the rotating cast of locals, uni students and Surry Hills creatives, it all feels like the best kind of constant. Head upstairs to Chez Crix for French bistro vibes, or stay put downstairs for pool comps, jazz nights by the fireplace and a pint that doesn’t cost the earth.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Locals, Budget-friendly, Group dining
Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Bars in Surry Hills
The best bars in Surry Hills cover cocktails, wine and classic pubs. For cocktails, Bar Conte on Riley Street pours more than 20 versions of the negroni, while El Primo Sanchez on Crown Street is the go-to for Margaritas and mezcal. Tokyo Bird on Commonwealth Street pairs classic cocktails and an impressive whisky lineup with yakitori. Wine lovers should head to Bar Copains or Gildas on Albion Street, and for a pint, The Cricketers Arms and The Clock remain two of the suburb’s most loved pubs.
Bar Conte on Riley Street is one of the best cocktail bars in Surry Hills, particularly for negroni lovers, with more than 20 versions of the classic on the menu, including a barrel-aged negroni and the Roku Gin-spiked Samurai negroni. For something different, Tokyo Bird on Commonwealth Street serves classic cocktails alongside premium whisky poured over hand-chipped ice. Tequila fans are well looked after at El Primo Sanchez on Crown Street and Tio’s Cerveceria on Foster Street, which stocks more than 120 varieties of tequila, many of them hard to find in Australia.
Surry Hills has some of Sydney’s best wine bars. Bar Copains on Albion Street offers a mix of natural and traditional drops with a small menu from chefs Nathan Sasi and Morgan McGlone, while Gildas, also on Albion Street, is the place to explore sherry from a delicate fino through to richer styles. Lokal on Fitzroy Street focuses on small-batch and natural wines with share plates and charcuterie. Poly on Commonwealth Street pours 20 wines by the glass, and Good Pair Days on Crown Street matches glasses to your palate.
The Cricketers Arms on Fitzroy Street is a much-loved Surry Hills local with a classic front bar, a little courtyard, pool comps and jazz nights by the fireplace, plus French bistro dining upstairs at Chez Crix. The Clock on Crown Street draws a Friday night crowd with live music, an extensive drinks list and classic pub fare. Forrester’s on Riley Street is part pub, part pizzeria, with trivia nights, bottomless lunches and Neapolitan-style pizzas, while The Rover on Campbell Street offers a refined take on an Irish pub.
Several of the best bars in Surry Hills take their food as seriously as their drinks. Bar Conte serves Italian dishes from former Apollo sous-chef Steve De Vecchi, including oysters with negroni dressing and gnocchi Sorrentino. Tokyo Bird specialises in yakitori, with skewers ranging from chicken to tiger prawn. Gildas is built around the Basque pintxo tradition, while The Rover serves prawn rolls, lamb sausage rolls and oysters. Upstairs at White Horse, the bar menu focuses on elevated snacks in petite formats alongside wines, craft beer and cocktails.
Loved our wrap of the best bars in Surry Hills and are keen for more insider tips? Take a look at our edit of Newtown’s best bars, then check out our round-up of Sydney’s best set menus for under $150.
