Where to Find the Best Oyster Happy Hours in Sydney Right Now

Today, oysters are synonymous with elite dining, but this wasn't always the case. They were once a common feed for the lowly masses, easily plucked and shucked from riverbanks and craggy shores. In Sydney, oysters have been harvested for thousands of years, long before the arrival of European settlers and longer still before the advent of fine diners and shallot mignonettes.

So it's fitting that during this current moment of soaring interest rates and cost-of-living concerns, oyster happy hours are popping up all over Sydney, once again making this seafood treat accessible for all. From fancy cellar doors to come-as-you-are boozers, here are some of the best spots to find bargain bivalves in the Harbour City right now.

Half-Price Oyster at The Hook

One of the hottest openings of the year, Kings Cross oyster and piano bar The Hook, has revived some of the yummiest retro recipes that were all the rage for oyster lovers in the 70s and 80s, including oysters kilpatrick, with crispy hunks of bacon and a punch of tabasco; mornay, with a bubbly topping of cheese; and Rockefeller, with a toasted hat of breadcrumbs and an aniseed lick of Pernod liqueur. Every Wednesday to Sunday, between 5–7pm, you can enjoy these half price, or served simply — fresh on the half-shell — with a classic mignonette or few drops of ten-year-old Laphroaig single malt.

Handpicked Wines Oyster Flight

At Handpicked Wines' Chippendale cellar door, visitors can enjoy freshly shucked oysters paired with curated wine flights, complete with a range of regionally expressive drops, edible floral garnishes and an array of condiments. A $3 oyster special, allowing diners to explore a variety of wine and oyster combinations, is available every Sunday between 3-5 pm until the end of the year.

1$ Oysters at Bat & Ball Hotel

Steven Woodburn

After receiving a renovation and a whole new vibe courtesy of a gaggle of ten hospitality veterans, Redfern's Batt & Ball Hotel reopened to the public in late August. Aside from a magnificent schnitty, the uber-cool boozer is also offering a buck-a-shuck deal every Saturday. That's right, you can get your fill of oysters for just $1 a slurp but we suggest you get in early — at such a bargain price, they sell out quick.

Oyster Happy Hour at The Rover

This former Surry Hills speakeasy is far easier to find these days, and that's a very good thing. Not only is the whisky bar serving up the best burger in Australia (and the ninth best in the world), it's also offering $2 oysters every night from 4–6pm. While you might be more accustomed to washing down your slurps with a glass of bubbles, we recommend a peaty scotch as your chaser — the smoke and soil offers the perfect foil for the briny trickle of a freshly shucked oyster.