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The Best Bars in Wollongong for a Cheeky Cocktail or Two
The best bars in Wollongong range from gin specialist Juniper to vinyl and wine haven Bar Lina.
This South Coast city is a bit of a nightlife capital, with the best bars in Wollongong covering everything from the dedicated gin bar Juniper to live music haven La La La’s. You can also expect to find cosy wine bars like Bar Lina and Pickled Poet, rum-fuelled fun at Scoundrel’s Rest and the food-forward Roy’s Restobar.
From speakeasies to lively rooftop bars, these are the best bars Wollongong has to offer. Cheers!
Best Cocktail Bars in Wollongong
Halfway
If you’re looking for a sleek late-night haunt, consider your quest complete. Halfway specialises in tequila, so you can rest assured they make a mean margy. Pair it with a delicious grazing board of charcuterie, and you’ve got the perfect evening.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Halfway runs a cut-price happy hour daily.
Juniper
Situated in the heart of the city, Juniper offers an intimate ambience that is perfect for a night out. With an impressive array of handcrafted cocktails, a carefully curated selection of gin and spirits, and knowledgeable bartenders, you’ll be as smitten as we are in no time at all.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Locals, Date night
Best Bars For Live Music in Wollongong
La La La’s
If it’s live music you’re after, La La La’s is the bar for you. This no-frills dive bar is mostly focused on tunes and entertainment, with a packed roster of artists and plenty of pinball and pool tables to go around. You can also pick yourself up some nostalgic bites with their $8 Chico roll and beer special.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Weekend plans, Budget-friendly, Locals, Late night
Need To Know: La La La’s is open until 2am on Saturdays.
Howlin’ Wolf Bar
The Howlin’ Wolf is the local authority on whisk(e)y and with a line-up of live music, you’re basically guaranteed a good night out here. Don’t worry, whiskey isn’t all that these guys get right — the cocktail list is definitely worth a look in too.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Locals, Date night, Cocktail lovers
Best Wine Bars in Wollongong
Pickled Poet
Situated within one of Wollongong’s charming coastal suburbs is Pickled Poet. Wine bar meets deli meets restaurant, this sleek spot is the place to go for grazing boards loaded with cheese, charcuterie and house-made lavosh. Those with an eye for design will appreciate the Mediterranean-inspired interior, combining curved lines and a warm colour palette. For an alfresco experience, ask for a table in the courtyard, where fairy lights and live music set the scene on a warm summer night.
Suburb: Thirroul
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Locals, Wine lovers, Date night
Bar Lina
Australian wine bar meets Portuguese taverna at Bar Lina. Lean into the warm interiors as you’re serenaded by vinyl, snacking on gilda and sipping on your libation of choice. Pop in for small plates and a glass of natural wine or stay all night with cocktails and a Portuguese feast.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Weekend plans, Date night, Wine lovers
Best Late-Night Bars in Wollongong
Night Parrot
As the name suggests, the good people at Night Parrot stay up late every day of the week to serve tipples to the bevvy of thirsty folk who stride through their doors. You can expect an exceptional wine list and zingy Asian-inspired street food.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Best For: Group dining, Locals, Cocktail lovers
Need To Know: Night Parrot is open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Scoundrel’s Rest
Scoundrel’s Rest offers a tropical escape in the heart of Wollongong, with exotic cocktails by the bucketload and a smorgasbord of Caribbean and street food-inspired bites. Expect plenty of rum and brightly coloured beverages, zesty energy and a fun lineup of regular events.
Sitchu Tip: One for the rum fanatics, Scoundrel’s Rest has a library of over 50 rums to try, many of which go into their signature mai tais, mojitos and pina coladas.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Keep an eye out for their regular specials that include the likes of $10 jackfruit curry and $10 tap cocktails.
Humber
Humber, a fun rooftop bar in Wollongong, takes its place among the city’s finest watering holes. With its stylish ambience and impressive drinks menu, it offers a haven for cocktail enthusiasts and craft beer lovers alike. You’ve got options for where to enjoy your goodies, with the rooftop providing the backdrop for a sunset sip or the laneway leaning into lazy Sundays.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Group dining, Locals, Weekend plans
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Roy’s Restobar
This weekend-only bar is proof that good things come to those who wait (until Friday nights). You can expect quality over quantity at Roy’s, with a concise one-page menu complementing the craft cocktails, skin-contact wines and local beers. As for food, it’s delicious morsel after delicious morsel, including the likes of daily crudo, house-preserved seafood plate, and whipped parmesan-topped pasta bake.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar
Best For: Wine lovers, Date night, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Roy’s is only open Friday and Saturday nights.
Ilu Ilu Bar
Ilu Ilu Bar is doing things differently, offering Indian tapas, street food and a host of mouthwatering cocktails to anyone looking for a tasty night out. Butter chicken fondue and green mango margarita? Heaven is a place on earth. Keep abreast of Ilu Ilu’s socials for details on their regular jazz nights and bottomless brunches, too.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Indian
Best For: Locals, Group dining, Cocktail lovers
His Boy Elroy
His Boy Elroy is a little laneway bar and burger joint that’s all about serving up burgers and brisket — think American South. Once you have ordered the Nashville Chicken burger and Colonel Elroy’s crunchy slaw, sip your way through the cocktail menu. Beyond the classics, you will find signature drinks like passionfruit-y Pretty Woman and the floral Bloom Fizz.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Pub fare
Best For: Quick bite, Cocktail lovers, Group dining
Pepe’s
One of the best places to soak up the fresh sea breeze in this beloved coastal town is Pepe’s. Serving up California cool, you can expect an extensive cocktail list, including a few fun frozen ones, alongside a Mexican-inspired menu.
Sitchu Tip: The sprawling alfresco deck is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon where you can score $12 margaritas between 3pm and 7pm.
Suburb: Wollongong
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mexican
Best For: Group dining, Cocktail lovers, Locals
FAQs About the Best Bars in Wollongong
Halfway, Juniper and Howlin’ Wolf are our picks for the best cocktail bars in Wollongong. Halfway specialises in tequila and pours a mean margarita, ideally paired with a charcuterie board. Juniper serves handcrafted cocktails alongside a carefully curated gin and spirits selection in an intimate city-centre setting. Howlin’ Wolf backs its whisky expertise with an extensive cocktail list and regular live music. For something more adventurous, Scoundrel’s Rest pours rum-heavy tiki drinks from a library of over 50 rums, while Night Parrot mixes cocktails until late on weekends.
Night Parrot and La La La’s are your best bets for a late one in Wollongong. Night Parrot stays open until 2am every Friday and Saturday, pairing an exceptional wine list with zingy Asian-inspired street food. La La La’s runs until 2am on Saturdays, with live music, pinball and pool keeping the energy up. Scoundrel’s Rest is another lively late-night option, known for its rum cocktails and regular events.
Bar Lina, Pickled Poet and Roy’s Restobar are the standout wine bars near Wollongong. Bar Lina blends an Australian wine bar with a Portuguese taverna, serving natural wine and small plates to a vinyl soundtrack. Pickled Poet, in nearby Thirroul, pairs its wine list with grazing boards of cheese, charcuterie and house-made lavosh in a Mediterranean-inspired space. Roy’s Restobar, open Friday and Saturday nights only, focuses on skin-contact wines, craft cocktails and local beers alongside a concise, food-forward menu.
For live music in Wollongong, head to La La La’s or Howlin’ Wolf. La La La’s is a no-frills dive bar built around tunes and entertainment, with a packed roster of artists plus pinball and pool tables. It’s also budget-friendly, thanks to an $8 Chico roll and beer special. Howlin’ Wolf combines regular live music with its whisky and cocktail offering, making a good night out close to guaranteed. Pickled Poet in Thirroul also hosts live music in its courtyard on warm summer nights, if you’re after something more low-key.
Juniper and Scoundrel’s Rest are both in the heart of the city — Juniper for handcrafted cocktails and gin, Scoundrel’s Rest for rum-fuelled tiki drinks. Nearby you’ll find Halfway’s tequila-led cocktails, Night Parrot’s late-night wine list, La La La’s live music and Humber’s rooftop. Bar Lina, Ilu Ilu, His Boy Elroy and Roy’s Restobar round out the city-centre options.
Loved our round-up of the best bars in Wollongong and looking for more local inspo? Head to our roundups of the best cafes and restaurants in Wollongong.
