The Best Spots in Sydney for Sundowners When You're Not By the Beach

We hope the trend of hotels opening up their rooftop bars to the public is one that is long-lived indeed. The jaw-dropping vistas seen from the Intercontinental poolside bar are the same as those enjoyed by Princess Diana, George W. Bush (and his entourage of 300) and Sir Elton John, in its former life as the Ritz Carlton. Well, if it’s good enough for those guys. And here’s a sneaky tip – if you can’t wait until sundown for a sip, they’re doing Moet & Chandon brunches through the summer. Did someone say staycation?

The new Palace Central is just the ticket for an entertaining drinking experience. The cocktail-style bar area offers views over Chippendale, where you can have a tasty tipple from their well-curated drinks list. If you think this is just a little bar in a cinema, think again – there’s even a beer hall with over 40 brews! This 13 screen complex is licensed too, so you can take said drink into the flick with you once the sun goes down. If you’re feeling peckish before or after the film, you can either duck into the Central Park food headquarters, take a trip down nearby Spice Alley, or nibble on a charcuterie or cheese board right where you sit.

From the unassuming entrance on Victoria Street in Potts Point, you’re likely to be surprised by this bright, botanical wonderland that says summer every way you look. Nab a seat on the terrace for an alternate view of the city skyline and settle in to watch the sun go down over the inner east. For a taste of the season, order a Tropic Like It’s Hot or Melonade cocktail, a carafe of rose sangria, or munch on one of the zesty salads by head chef Amber Doig that draw on Ibero-American flavours.

If you want to watch the sun set on the inner west, plant your butt in the narrow neighbourhood courtyard of Corridor. These legends offer $5 pints and $10 cocktails during the week, and do a mean dip plate and get-in-my-belly halloumi, along with optimal drinking grub like burgers and pizza. There’s also street-side seating on King, where the people watching is as sweet as the aperitifs. Summer cocktails include the Spottie-Ottie-Raspbaliscious and The Beachcomber’s Zombie, a tiki style tipple with flavours of apricot, pineapple, lime and passionfruit. We’d die too for that kind of summer sauce.

Come for the Watermelon Margarita and stay for the skyline sunsets. Since this Darlo darling had a revamp, it’s been charming more than just eastside locals. The third-floor breezy rooftop overlooks treetops and terraces and is the perfect place for sipping on a rose, prosecco or even a zesty orange wine. Grab some shade under yellow and white striped umbrellas, and imbibe in a mango margarita or a Darlo Daiquiri (a level up on the original with strawberry and lime). But mostly you’ll be wanting to drink in the dusk, which on this lofty deck, you’ll be taking straight up.

This two-floor cocktail bar above the Hotel Palisade sure has one expansive view over Sydney. Wherever you park your booty in the venue – be it on the blush pink leather lounges, rattan seat or outdoor deck chairs – you’ll be graced with a soaring view. This grand bar is named after the Palisade Hotel designer and, at over 100 years old, it’s a local icon worth raising a glass t. If you’re feeling adventurous, order up a Bartender’s Potion “no questions asked” or take a swill salute to the warm weather with a No Way Frose or a Sun-Kissed Spritz.

This somewhat hidden rooftop bar was a welcome addition for the thirsty workers of Barangaroo. And who wouldn’t want to kick back on a sunny post-work afternoon with one of their signature cocktails like the Captain Starlight, Flamin’ Galah or Summer Sangria? Settle into a booth or pull up a bar stool, order some share plates – think barramundi tacos, tempura veggies or boneless fried chicken – and let the day wind down as you do. If it’s really balmy, consider taking the elevator to the rooftop, as the stairs might turn you into a sweaty mess before you even begin your cocktail cooldown.

Hacienda presents you with an experience that will delightfully confuse the senses. On the one hand: you’re drinking rum-infused cocktails in a Cuban and Miami inspired bar. On the other: you have a front-row view of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. With the combination of hanging foliage, leafy interiors and sparkling harbour views, there’s really no better place to be on. Order some Cuban finger food and sip on sundowners like the Don Juancho, Pina Princessa or Te Amo.

The Cannery — and indeed the whole Rosebery dining precinct — is on the up, but the hottest seat in the village on a nice day (quite literally) is the Stanton & Co. deck. Order up jugs and carafes of cocktails, pull up a seat under a stylish Mediterranean umbrella, and request some tasty snacks from the team behind Riley Street Garage and Surly’s. Once the sun has set, you can head inside to close the day with one of the best Aussie-Japanese feeds around.

This venue is far from any old rooftop. Located above Mosman Club, it offers extraordinary views of, well, everything: the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the heads and the city skyline. And you can gaze at them all while immersed in greenery. Interior designers Pony Design Co have transformed the main space into a greenhouse-inspired oasis, which also has a kitchen garden, cultivated by Adrian Baiada, the man responsible for Acre‘s urban farm. Grab a G&T from the gin bar or a glass of something pink from the rosé bar and watch the sun set over the city from the north side of the harbour.

Restaurants began sprouting in the waterfront mega precinct of Barangaroo in 2015, but few have been as anticipated as the curved, architectural wonder that is the multi-level Barangaroo House. At ground level is House Bar, which spills onto the walkway via a green terrace and offers a casual waterside vibe and drool-inducing vertical spit. The middle floor houses the sophisticated Bea, where Head Chef Cory Campbell brings his unique style to a menu led by homegrown ingredients. At the apex where the building and sky meet is Smoke, a sleek bar that overlooks Darling Harbour. Although it’s more casual than Bea below, you can still make bookings. Order the fried smoked brisket doughnuts, a martini made with sea urchin brine and perhaps a wine from 400-bin wine list and watch the sun go down over the water.