Five Poolside Bars in Sydney Where You Can Have a Drink and a Dip
When the summer days are scorching, skip the beach in favour of a piña colada by one of Sydney's publicly accessible pool bars.
Don't want to queue in monstrous traffic jams to get to Bondi Beach on a scorching day? Need a drink and a swim, in equal measure? These inner-city oases will solve all your hot weather problems. Each and every one has everything you could need for summer — minus the sand and road rage. These pool bars — which are all accessible to the public, even if you're not staying at the hotel — have cocktails, beer, snacks, deck chairs, striped umbrellas, waitstaff and luxe swimming facilities. One even comes with inflatable flamingoes.
Plus, unlike most beaches, they're flood-lit into the night. Grab your togs and get swimming across the city.
LEVEL SEVEN, PRIMUS HOTEL, CBD
There was a time when the Primus Hotel's sublime pool bar was the exclusive domain of sleep-over guests. But the hotel must've felt a pang of sympathy for us, the mere mortal general public, because earlier this year it swung open the bars sky-high doors to the public. Now, between midday and 10pm, Monday to Saturday (and until 6pm on Sunday), you can catch the lift to the seventh floor for rosé spritzes, Veuve Clicquot and, to make sure you stay cool in and out of the water, cocktail popsicles. Executive chef Daniel Menzies is in charge of snacks and, around sunset, expect to hear from local DJs.
THE ISLAND, SYDNEY HARBOUR
The Island is a floating, European-style beach club that lets you pretend you're on holiday in the Northern Hemisphere, while watching the sunset over Sydney Harbour Bridge. The pool, accessible by a staircase, is a private, protected section of the Harbour. So, you can swim in the wild, without having to worry about sharks. To get on-board, grab a ticket online, which includes water taxi transfers to and from Double Bay, as well as a welcome drink. The Island is open most Saturdays and Sundays from 1–8pm — and for special events and gigs — throughout summer.
ROOFTOP, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, DOUBLE BAY
This secretive bar and pool affords some of the eastern suburbs' most beautiful views of Sydney Harbour. You'll find it on the rooftop of the Intercontinental, a swish five-star hotel in downtown Double Bay. The bar opens to the public between October and March, Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am until one hour after sundown. The summery drinks menu includes an extensive selection of spritzes and signature Champagne-based cocktails, including the Golden Glamour (with Moët, Navan vanilla liqueur, passionfruit). The only catch is that, to actually take a swim, you must stay the night.
POOL CLUB, IVY BAR, CBD
Ivy Pool Club wants to transport you to some luxe Italian location. And for the most part, it succeeds. It has an exotic wine list featuring drops from Tuscany and Friuli, Aperol cocktails and pizzas cooked in a poolside oven by Italian chef Vincenzo Biondini. If you want a bit of privacy, book yourself your own cabana, which comes with a dedicated waiter. Just know that Ministry of Sound takes over on Saturday evenings. We recommend heading in Tuesday to Friday — when $29 buys a pizza and a glass of wine — or aperitivo hour between 5 and 6pm, which means complimentary antipasti.
ATURA HOTEL, BLACKTOWN
It's a long way from the western suburbs to the beach — especially during the summer holidays — so thank the powers that be for Blacktown's Atura Hotel. The pool is pretty difficult to miss — it's usually dotted with bright pink inflatable flamingos and oversized beach balls. There are deck chairs for relaxing waterside too, but if you'd prefer to keep an eye on the action from afar, claim a table in the Roadhouse Bar and Grill, which is well-stocked with whisky and tasty morsels, including popcorn prawns and burgers. Those not in a rush should settle in for high tea.
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