Overview
Darlinghurst's Sunday roast and craft beer specialist The Taphouse is expanding — upwards. The heritage-listed pub known for its expansive list of brews, sunny courtyard and hearty food offering has opened a new rooftop bar with a focus on inventive cocktails to complement the city views.
Located two storeys above The Taphouse, Elm Rooftop Bar overlooks the bustling streets of Darlinghurst. The space embodies the classic alfresco setting with an abundance of leafy vines and hanging plants soaking up the sun beside you. The retractable awning also promises shelter from the elements on less favourable days, meaning Elm is open rain, hail or shine.
Unlike the bar's beer-loving downstairs counterpart, Elm's drinks menu is all about variety. Owner Joshua Thorpe even goes as far as to describe the rooftop as "an outdoor cocktail and seltzer oasis". On the cocktail list you can find a variety of juice-based cocktails including the High Passion, a gin and passionfruit liqueur creation topped with freshly squeezed cucumber juice, or Elm's take on the bloody mary made with basil-infused vodka.
Jess Brown
If you haven't jumped fully on board the hard seltzer craze quite yet, Elm is a great place to start, with a wide-reaching selection of the buzzed-about drink on offer. Alongside the cocktails and seltzers, quality selections from The Taphouse's beer list will also be brought upstairs, with over 20 local craft beers available on tap, as well as a range of wines including orange drops poured by the glass.
For those on the hunt for an afternoon snack in the sun, a variety of share plates can be ordered, from fish tacos with spicy tartare and southern-fried cauliflower bites, to selections of cured meats and cheeses – although there's nothing stopping you from making a cameo on the rooftop for a drink before heading back downstairs for a beloved Taphouse roast.
Find Elm Rooftop Bar at Level 2, 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst from 5pm–10pm Thursday, 12pm–10pm Friday and Saturday and 12pm–9pm Sunday.
Images: Jess Brown