The Best Happy Hours in Sydney for an After-Work Tipple

A refreshing beverage is one of Australia’s most revered traditions, and we Sydneysiders certainly have it lucky with our choice of city hangouts. An affinity for a good deal means plenty of our favourite bars and restaurants offer a string of purse-friendly combos, so it’s time to get across them. 

To help whittle down your options, we’ve compiled a list of the loveliest pubs and bars in Sydney for you to visit and indulge in while keeping your credit card on the right side of the red. These are the best happy hours in Sydney right now. Bottoms up!

The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: CBD & Inner Suburbs

Island Radio

How’s this for a happy hour! Island Radio is offering half-price drinks, from lunch to dinner, every Sunday. There will be a rotating list of cocktails, wine and beers up for grabs that start at a breezy $7. We’re talking strawberry yuzu spritz for $10 and Negronis for $12.

Wunderlich Lane, Redfern

Pelicano

Breeze through hump day with a Wednesday booking at Pelicano. Sip on $12 Aperol spritzes and $8 Peronis whilst you chow down on $25 unlimited pizzas, all whilst soaking up golden hour on the alfresco terrace with a soundtrack of old school tunes. Perfection.

Wednesdays, from 6pm

33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point

Armorica

This 150-seat Parisian Brasserie pays homage to the city of lights, embracing the timeless charm of classic French dining, with that certain je ne sais quoi that only the French know how. Armorica also serves a sophisticated happy hour offering for those in the know – the ‘Six Til 6’ deal includes $6 glasses of rosé and selected charcuterie items for two hours every day of the week – c’est bon!

Daily, 4pm to 6 pm

490 Crown Street, Surry Hills

Shell House

We’re always looking for an excuse to pop into Shell House and you won’t find one better than this. This popular multi-level venue has deals on deals. Head to Menzies Bar for $10 martinis and lobster rolls (4 to 6 pm) or Sky Bar for $15 margaritas. Fancy a negroni? Clocktower Bar is serving them up for $15. 

37 Margaret Street, Sydney 

Jane

The Australiano happy hour at Jane has been a longtime favourite with locals. Drinks start at just $8 and are paired perfectly with a bunch of snacks on offer all under $16. We’re talking $3 oysters, $8 kingfish rillette and $12 dirty highballs. 

Sitchu Tip: The lamb dumplings with saltbush are out of this world.  

Monday to Thursday, 5pm to 6pm

Thursday to Sunday, 4pm to 6pm

478 Bourke St, Surry Hills

Alfie’s 

The good news about Alfie’s exceptional happy hour is that you can hit up one of the most-loved restaurants of the moment for under $20, daily. Score a hot chip spit roast beef butty for $17 and a selection of bevvies for bargain prices. We’re talking $16 Alfie’s martinis, $8 gin and tonics, $10 wines and $3 Butcher of Beer cans from The Grifter.

Daily, 4 to 6 pm 

Shop 2, 4-6 Bligh Street 

ArmsLength 

With a generous two-hour window, Armslength’s happy hour has something for everyone. House wine, beer and Four Pillars G&T’s will set you back $8 a pop whilst you can score a spritz, margarita or gin sour for just $12. Grab a jaffle for $12 or score a tap beer or house wine with it and it’ll only cost you an easy $15. 

Every day, 4 to 6 pm 

7 Kellett Street, Potts Point 

The Stinking Bishops

As far as happy hour specials go, this one is pretty fab. The Stinking Bishops Cheese O’Clock special offers a cheese and wine pairing experience during happy hour, and a sweeter sentence has never existed. You’ll dine on a selection of curated cheeses paired with matching wines for only $40pp. Bargain!  

Tuesday to Friday, 5 to 6 pm 

Shop 5 63-71, Enmore Road, Newtown 

Cardea

For the most chic happy hour in Sydney, it’s got to be Cardea. Come happy hour, Cardea takes 49% off their entire drinks menu!  Soak up that deliciously decadent ambience for a fraction of the price.

Wednesday to Friday, 4 to 6:30 pm, Saturday, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Shop 3, T3.01 300 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo 

Morrison’s

Morrison’s has redefined happy hour in the city with complimentary snacks! Indulge in $10 Negronis and Aperol Spritz or $7 gin and tonics, house red and white, or lager. You’ll also be treated to a selection of rotating complimentary snacks, ranging from cheeseburger sliders to house-made sausage rolls. 

Monday to Friday, 4 to 6 pm 

225 George Street, Sydney

The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Inner West

The Erko 

The only thing better than a happy hour is a happy weekend. The Erko serves the happiest of these with $12 mini martinis and $2 oysters on Saturday and Sunday. Bargain. 

Saturday and Sunday

102 Erskineville Road, Erskineville  

The Alex

Merivale gem The Alex is a popular heritage hang-out spot slinging pub classics, great tunes, local art and hoops in the backyard. It also does an excellent happy hour. You can get $7 house beers, wines, and spirits, plus $14 Aperols and $16 Tommy’s margs from Monday to Friday.

Monday to Friday, 5 to 7 pm

35 Henderson Road, Alexandria 

The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Lower North Shore

The Stoned Crow

With buckets of rustic charm, The Stoned Crow doesn’t have to try hard to earn its effortlessly cool stripes. With exposed brick walls and hanging foliage, this hip hangout is a trendy oasis on the northern side of the Harbour.  And its happy hour is equally as impressive. Running Monday through Friday, punters can nab $6 house wines, spirits and pints. 

Monday to Friday, 4 to 6 pm

39 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest

The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Sutherland Shire

FIOR

We adore a happy hour that includes dining deals and drink specials. Feel fancy at FIOR while you sip on a $12 FIOR spritz, $8 house wine, $7 pale ale, or $8 G&Ts. The sunny balcony is perfect for $2 Sydney rock oysters, $8 crumbed scallops, and $20 Mafalde Corte. 

Monday to Thursday, 5 to 6 pm, Friday to Sunday, 4 to 5 pm

752-756 Kingsway, Gymea 

The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Northern Beaches

Busta

Manly’s buzziest Italian joint, Busta, offers a delightful aperitivo hour on the weekends. Think $10 spritzes, $3 oysters, and $5 snacks that are perfect for sharing. Go for the bargains, stay for the good vibes. 

Weekends, 4 to 5 pm

10 Pittwater Road, Manly 

Harbord Hotel

Freshwater’s favourite watering hole, the Harbord Hotel, does a weekday happy hour that’s hard to beat. Sip on $7 house wines, beer and spirits or $12 margs while soaking up the Vitamin D in their sundrenched courtyard, moments from the beach.  

Monday to Friday, 4 to 6 pm

29 Moore Road, Freshwater 

Corretto 

With a perfect sunset position overlooking Dee Why Beach coupled with $12 cocktails, $7 house wines, $8 schooners, $10 pint and a snack menu, Corretto’s cheeky combo draws in a sizeable crowd. This arrangement is complemented by weekly specials from steak night to 50% off cocktails on Friday afternoons. 

Daily, 3 to 6 pm

24 The Strand, Dee Why 

Loving our picks of the best happy hours in Sydney? We’ve also rounded up our favourite romantic bars and the best pubs for those heading off on a date.