Overview
The daily grind can really wear you down. Luckily, you don't always have to join the rat race on the commute home every day — you could have a few drinks instead. One major bonus of working in the CBD is that heaps of Sydney's top-notch bars put on some serious drink specials — many of which can be enjoyed every day, even on the weekend. You just have to know when to go.
We've rounded up our top picks of the CBD happy hours that you can hit up as soon as you finish work. There are tinned martinis, slushie margaritas and sloe gin cocktails — and nicely matched snacks like oysters, tacos and cheese plates a plenty. Grab your colleagues — or rally your mates that work in the area — and sink a few after work this week.
Kitti Gould
CONTINENTAL DELI BAR BISTRO CBD
The CBD's shrine of canned stuff is giving you even more to love with the launch of its brand new happy hour. The bar is offering its version every Monday through Friday from 4–6pm. Both food and drinks are available at discounted prices — however, the menu will change regularly. At the moment, you can expect the bar's signature tinned cocktails priced at two for $20, along with house beer for a fiver and house wine for ten bucks. The snacks are on special, too, with piquillo peppers in romesco sauce, sardine toasts with Pepe Saya butter, and mortadella and gruyere croquettes going for just $6 each. If you're looking for something more substantial, you can also get a bowl of bucatini carbonara for $20.
KITCHEN BY MIKE
Kitchen by Mike has launched its own CBD happy hour this month, but this one is Aussie as. Available every Tuesday through Friday from 4–6pm, the all-Australian drinks list spans locally made beers and wine for $5 and G&Ts for $10. Other cocktails are $10 each, too — at the moment, that includes the Ozi Negroni (West Winds gin, Adelaide Hills vermouth and Applewood Distillery amaro). Eats are discounted, too — you can get bread and olives for five bucks, or more substantial snacks like crispy prawns and cheese toasties for ten. You won't be disappointed.
MAYBE SAMMY
The team behind Surry Hills mainstay Maybe Frank opened this opulent, 50s-inspired cocktail bar earlier this year — and it's fast becoming an after-work go-to in the CBD. Now, it's launched a mini martini hour. From 4.30–5.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, Maybe Sammy is shaking and stirring mini martinis, negronis and irish coffees for just $5.50 bucks a pop. While you sip your fancy (and cheap) bevvies, grab some Italian bar snacks to nibble on — think gooey burrata, Cantabrian anchovies and smoked paprika hummus, along with the requisite plates of cheese and charcuterie. And, once the hour is up, you can still nab mini versions of the bar's classic tipples for just a tenner all night.
BABYLON ROOFTOP & GARDEN BAR
If the warm weather isn't enough to coax you out of work on time, Babylon's new aperitivo hour might. From 4–6pm weekdays, the rooftop bar is serving up $10 "pocket sized" (that is, 60ml) cocktails. Choose from two classics — a negroni and a gin martini — and two house specials: a prosecco, rhubarb and lemon concoction or one with gin, Lillet Blanc, black tea sherbet and absinthe mist. Plus, you can go even cheaper with Campari sodas and Amaro Montenegro sodas just five bucks.
MATTEO DOWNTOWN
This CBD bar is a destination for several reasons — one is its lauded head chef Orazio D'Elia (Matteo Double Bay), and another is its dedicated mozzarella bar. But our favourite thing about this sister venue is its weekday aperitivo hour, which runs from 4–6pm. The Italian cocktails are still $15, but every single drink order during happy hour comes with a selection of complimentary snacks from the kitchen. Plus, wines on tap are $7 and domestic craft brews are just $8. And, in true Italian fashion, Once you've ordered, be sure to nab a seat at the outdoor terrace, which is primed for people-watching.
Cole Bennetts
RESTAURANT HUBERT
While Sydney tends to have more Italian aperitivo hours than the French version, there are a few places championing the beloved apéro — and one of the best is Restaurant Hubert. Its version of happy hour lets you try out the subterranean restaurant without breaking the bank (or waiting for a table for two hours). Available Monday to Saturday from 4–6pm, the aperitif menu features cheap eats and drinks, including $5 G&Ts, $10 negronis and $5 glasses of house wine. Plus $10 burgers, $5 croque monsieur and $5 parfait, too. Just be sure to get in early, as it's a busy spot, and even busier during happy hour.
FRANKIE'S
If you're looking for a serious party atmosphere to accompany your post-work drinks, look no further than everyone's favourite late-night dive bar and New York-style pizza parlour. The crew at Frankie's is known to have a raucous good time on the daily — and it's matched by a daily happy hour, available from 4–6pm. During these hours, pizza slices, house beer, wine and spirits are all just $4 a pop. Stick around for the regular rotation of live acts, with genres spanning metal, rock, hip-hop and 80s vibes. Fair warning — you're more than likely to turn up to work a bit dusty the next day.
EL LOCO AT SLIP INN
This Mexican cantina-style pub is known for its kitschy décor, tacos and some pretty strong margaritas — along with its amazing happy hour specials, which run six days per week. For starters, you can nab $6 schooners, house wines and house spirits, and $7 pints from 5–7pm, Monday through Saturday. Tuesdays get you $5 tacos all day and night, too. Take your snacks and drinks out into the expansive courtyard, complete with colourful flags and plenty of group seating — perfect for these warmer evenings ahead.
Since I Left You
SINCE I LEFT YOU
CBD courtyard bar Since I Left You has remained an inner city oasis for the CBD masses for a few years now. It especially caters to its city workers, first during the day with its new tuckshop lunchtime offering with comfort eats like mac 'n' cheese toasties and schnitty sangas under $15. Then, later on, come back around for the bar's lateish happy hour — Monday to Thursday, the bar serves up $12 cocktails from 8–10pm. It's quite the way to wind down the work week on the cheap.
Trent Van Der Jagt
THE MORRISON BAR AND OYSTER ROOM
The Morrison is a regular go-to for its longstanding $1.50 oyster hour, which happens every Wednesday between 6–7pm. But the oyster room also offers a daily happy hour, with $6 house wine, beer and spirits on from 5–7pm every single day — making Wednesday an extra happy one at The Morrison. If you stick around through 8pm, you can also snag $12 espresso martinis each day.
Jasper Avenue
THE ROOK
York Street's rooftop bar The Rook serves up classic happy hour drinks: $5 house wine and tap beer, along with ten-buck spritzes. The best bit is that it's on offer six days per week: Monday through Saturday, 4–6pm each day. It's the perfect excuse to leave work early.