Imperial Up has been nominated for Best New Bar in our Best of 2018 awards. Like it? Vote for it right 'ere. 

Thanks to the Imperial's $6 million redevelopment, we can welcome Imperial Up to the Sydney rooftop scene. After being closed for nearly three decades, Imperial's top floor has been spruced up with a 200-person courtyard, a plethora of pop art and gold mirror covered pizza ovens. "Imagine a little Italian trattoria that loves disco and has a very cool lounge room," says co-owner Fraser Short. Think serious Studio 54 feels with artisanal eats, drinks and Andy Warhol vibes.

Menu-wise, expect Italian food with a touch of the Imperial's flamboyant flair. The lineup of stuzzichino, pasta and pizza features fried school prawns with bright saffron aioli, spaghetti ragu, pepperoni pizza and wagyu steak. Like downstairs sibling Priscillas, Imperial UP also has a strong list of vegan, gluten free and dairy free dishes. And — importantly — an extensive cocktail menu, which stretches from the classics through to colourful jugs of inventive drinks.

The space is fit for many occasions, the external rooftop and inside Carlotta's Lounge primed for after-work drinks, and Rosa Room and Carpriccio's Corner ready for intimate gatherings. Also on offer, Explore Yourself Sundays, a weekly venue-wide gathering that gives everyone at Imperial a chance to embrace queer culture. And, keep an eye out for the highly anticipated Same-Sex Wedding Chapel coming sometime in early 2019.