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Burgers and bubbles at the Gidley
Photograph: Supplied

The best happy hours in Sydney

Our ultimate guide to the the city's finest booze and snack deals

Avril Treasure
Written by
Time Out editors
&
Avril Treasure
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We know the rising cost of living is on everyone's minds at the moment – it's on ours, too. But, as a champion for good times, good food, and good drinks here in Sydneytown, we also don't want to stay indoors each evening. So, we've done the hard yards and rounded up the very best happy hour deals here in Sydney, where you can snag a schooner for $6, snacks for $5 and cocktails for $10. It's fun you can feel good about. 

We say have a squiz, head out, and we hope you have a happy time at these happy hours. We sure have. 

After more fun for less? Here's our guide to the best free things to do in Sydney, the best op shops, and (of course) Sydney's best cheap eats.

Thirsty for more? Here are the best bars in Sydney right now.

The best happy hours in Sydney

  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Sydney

Yes, even fancy red-hued French restaurant Hubert has a happy hour. And it's very good. Head in early and sidle up at the bar from 5-6pm and you can order a glass of red, white or G&T for just $6, or a $12 Negroni. Plus, there's a killer bar snack menu, which includes $8 duck parfait, $10 cured sausages, $6 fried zucchini flowers and a $18 Normandy burger with dry-aged beef, gruyère cheese, dill pickle, and a special Hubert sauce. Yum. 

 

SoCal
  • Bars
  • Neutral Bay

Happy Hour at SoCal runs from 5-6.30pm, Monday to Friday and it's absolutly banging. Come for $12 frozen cocktail slushy specials, as well as $5 house beer, wine and prosecco. Plus, head there for Taco Tuesday and snag $3 tacos and $15 Margies. And then come again next week. 

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • The Rocks

Craft spirits distillery Hickson House Distilling Co has launched a hot booze offer right in time for the chilly weather. Come on down to the Rocks from Tuesday to Friday, 4-6pm, and snap up two-for-one cocktails on a range of their Seven Spice Cocktails, including the Pearl 2.0 Martini, the Carrotini (which comes with an actual carrot) and the Hickson Rd. Red Snapper, which is their take on a Bloody Mary.

  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Enmore
  • price 2 of 4

Head on over to Queens Hotel where you can snap up cheap drinks weekday from 5-7pm. We're talking $6 tap schooners, house wine and spirits. And if you needed any reason to stay out on the weekend, Queens also has a late night happy hour peddling $6 schooners, house wine and spirits from 10pm to midnight, on Fridays and Saturdays.

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  • Bars
  • Wine bars
  • Surry Hills

Surry Hills Basque-inspired wine bar and restaurant Gildas has a happy hour that we can get around. On Wednesdays and Thurdays from 5.30-6.30pm, enjoy $12 house cocktails and glasses of wine, and $12 off-menu special dishes. Oh, and $5 Gildas. We'll have ten, please. 

  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Sydney

You may have heard of the Charles Grand Brasserie, but did you know that right next door you'll find a European-inspired all-day dining café and bar aptly called the Charles? You'll want to know about it, because the Charles slings a pretty great happy hour. From Monday to Friday, 3-6pm, get a $10 mini prawn cocktail, $12 Southsides and Sidecars, and a $15 glass of Moet and Chandon Champagne. Plus, get the Charles club sanga with crisps and a beer for $25, Monday to Friday, noon-3pm.

 

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  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Camperdown

Score a burger and beer for $20, and a $10 Tommy's Margerita every Friday and Saturday night from 6-8pm at the Lady Hampshire. Booze and burgers are the ideal way to kick off a night, in our books.

  • Restaurants
  • Modern Australian
  • Surry Hills

This gem has teamed up with Rhubi Mistelle  – a Victorian-crafted rhubarb aperitif – on one of the happiest hours in town. Every weeknight from 5 to 6pm, and 4 to 6pm on weekends, enjoy $6 Rhubi and Sodas, $10 Jane Martinis, $6 wine and beer, plus $2 Sydney rock oysters, and $6 light bites such as duck croquettes, ebi prawn brioche toast, and Jane's take on the Gilda.

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You can lap up the finer things in life thanks to Bouillon l’Entrecote's happy hour. Located a few hundred metres away from Circular Quay, Bouillon l’Entrecote is serving guests a French happy hour from 4-6pm, Monday to Saturday. Come for an $8 G&T, $9 wines and beers, and $12 French Martinis and Negronis. And we know you'll want some snacks too. Enjoy $5 baguettes, $15 cheese plates, $8 salami, $15 jamon and more. We're hungry just thinking about it 

  • Restaurants
  • Greek
  • Bondi Beach
  • price 2 of 4

Bondi’s sunlit taverna Topikòs has a doozy of a happy hour. Seven days a week from 4-6pm, you can get your mittens on $8 beer and wine, plus $10 Margaritas, Palomas and Bellinis. And considering we're talking about Bondi, this is a red hot deal.

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  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Newport
  • price 2 of 4

Bask in the sunshine at the Newport, take in the stunning views over Pittwater and take advantage of their midweek happy hours. From Monday to Friday, 4-6pm, get a range of $6 tap schooners, house wine and spirits.

  • Restaurants
  • Modern Australian
  • Sydney
  • price 2 of 4

Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt’s CBD bistro and wine bar has a happy hour that is sure to entice you out during the week. From Wednesday to Friday, 4-5pm, enjoy $7 beers, $8 MCG Gin and tonics, and for a treat, NV Pertois Moriset 'Les Quatre Terriors' Champagne that you can snag for a steal at $88 per bottle. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Sydney

Coined the 'RP Hour', the establishment has just introduced a happy hour with a distinctly classy, Rockpool twist. It's on from 4 to 6pm, every Monday to Friday, in the Rockpool Bar. For $15, you can get your mitts on a chorizo hot dog with chimichurri and crispy onions and a fish po boy with salted chilli mayonnaise. Plus, for $12, you can order a Martini, an Old Fashioned, a Margarita or an RP Spritz. For $15, you can choose a glass from the ‘Sommelier’s Selection’ of sparkling, red and white wines. More of a beer person? Select beery bevs will set you back a whole $7. 

  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Surry Hills

Redfern’s Catalan-inspired wine bar La Salut has a pretty ace happy hour that we reckon you should hit up. Come for $5 tapas, $6 vermouth and $12 cocktails from 5-6pm Wednesdays to Fridays, and 3-5pm on the weekends.

 

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  • Restaurants
  • Modern Australian
  • Sydney
  • price 2 of 4

Bop on over to Bopp and Tone for happy hour, which runs from 4-6pm, Monday to Friday. Offers include $8 tap wine, $8 prosecco, and $8 bottled beers. Cheers. 

  • Bars
  • Surry Hills
  • price 2 of 4

Like the sound of $2 freshly shucked oysters from NSW’s estuaries paired with $10 Mini Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin and Mother of Pearl Vodka Martinis? Us too. Come along to this Surry Hills gem and get both on Tuesdays to Saturdays, 5-6pm.

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Avril Treasure
Food & Drink Writer, Time Out Sydney
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  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Paddington
  • price 2 of 4

You should come to the Paddington for its five-star rotisserie chicken. But we reckon you should also come for its happy hour, which includes $7 schooners, house wine, spirits, chicken bites and some cocktails, every Tuesay-Friday from 5-7pm. What's more, the Paddington also slings $15 cockails every Saturday night, 10pm to midnight. That's festive.

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  • Restaurants
  • Australian
  • North Sydney

Vibrant North Sydney restaurant and bar Rafi has a happy hour each Thursday, from 4-6pm. Head over for $15 cocktails and slashed beers, as well as to get down to DJs hitting the deck from 5pm. Want to be a part of a wine club but don't have endless cash? Good news: Rafi runs the Drop, giving you access to quality wines at a reduced price, with new vinos selected each week.

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Sydney

Nab $10 and $15 cocktails, as well as an impressive steak sandwich – made with the sirloin from the Bistecca alla Fiorentina – on Mondays to Saturdays, 6-8pm, at Bistecca. Is this Sydney’s best steak sandwich? Executive chef Pip Pratt reckons it could be. Go in and taste for yourself. Plus, score 30 per cent off select bottles of sangiovese.

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Avril Treasure
Food & Drink Writer, Time Out Sydney
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  • Bars
  • Surry Hills
  • price 1 of 4

This technicolour karaoke and sake joint is well known for boozy and blurry nights but did you also know it has one of the coolest happy hours in the city? Among the regular deals, you can get $1 dumplings and $7 spirits, wines, and house beers every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5-7pm.

 

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  • Bars
  • Sydney
  • price 1 of 4

No trip to the CBD would be complete without a bevvie on a rooftop bar, and the Rook is taking the squeeze out of your knockoff. They're offering $8 beers and wines and $10 Aperol Spritzs and Elderflower Spritzs from 4-6pm, Monday to Friday.

 

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  • Restaurants
  • Italian

Experience la dolce vita with this luxe aperitivo hour at Mode Kitchen & Bar. In true Milano style, you’ll receive a cocktail on arrival and get unlimited access to an antipasti buffet for $30. Experience the flavours of Italy during Mode’s aperitvo hours from 4-6pm on weekdays by booking here.

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  • Bars
  • Darling Harbour

Henley’s has an ace happy hour, which run from 4-6pm, Monday to Friday. Want an after work drink? Come for $8 wine, $10 pints, and $12 Spritzes. They also have weekly food specials, including $22 express lunches every week day and $20 parma night on Mondays from 5pm. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Steak house
  • Sydney
  • price 2 of 4

The Gidley’s American-style burger with two beef patties, melted cheddar, and house pickles is one of Sydney’s best. And now thanks to the Gildley’s Golden Hours, you can get your hands on the burger for $20 with any bottle of Champagne on the menu at a 30 per cent discount. The offer is available on Monday to Saturday, 8-10.30pm. Burgers and bubbles? Yum.

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Avril Treasure
Food & Drink Writer, Time Out Sydney
  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Surry Hills
  • price 2 of 4

This Bourke Street boozer has a $7 beer, wine and sparking happy hour from 4-6pm, Monday through Friday. You'll also find weekly cheap eats including steak, pasta and burgers, depending on which day you're in. 

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  • Bars
  • Surry Hills

Everyone should be friends with a Harry. And in particular, the the one in Surry Hills. The watering hole peddles a daily happy hour starting from 4-6pm, where you can get $6 beers, $8 wine and spirits, $10 cocktails and $5 snacks. And if you manage to get to the bar at 4pm on the dot on Fridays, Harry's will shout you your first beer. Just like a great mate would.

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Undergound live music and cocktail bar Tiva has a happy hour that's sure to make you happy. Found underneath the Charles Grand Brasserie and Bar, Tiva offers $12 Tommy's Margaritas, $15 glass of NV Moët and Chandon Champagne, or $99 per 750ml bottle, and $10 for Tiva’s Wagyu cheeseburger with fermented chillli. Twilight (happy) hour runs from 5-7pm, Wed-Fri, with live music usually kicking off from 6pm.

Shakespeare Hotel
  • Bars
  • Surry Hills

This reliable, cut-price boozer in Surry Hills is known for its generous and affordable pub food but they've also got deals on house beers, wines and spirits, and as well as slinging craft beers every day from 4-6pm.

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  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Sydney

Ever wanted non-stop antipasti plates? These sprawling Italian restaurants will serve you antipasti boards, cheap pizzas, $7 wine and beer, $12 cocktails, and a whole lot more every weekday from 3-6pm. Go forth and conquer. 

  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Collaroy
  • price 1 of 4

Collaroy is just far away enough from the city that it feel like a getaway. The air is salty, the sand is orange, and you may spot a migrating whale. We say come and spend a day at this beachside suburb, and then take advantage of the Collaroy's killer happy hour. Think $6 tap schooners, house wine and spirits, every day, from 5–7pm. Plus, $15 cocktails every Friday and Saturday evening fom 9-11pm. Staycation anyone?

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There’s a lot to love at Barangaroo’s Love Fish. Firstly, the casual seafood restaurant is located harbourside, right by the water. Plus, Love Fish has a happy hour, offering either a hot or cold seafood platter for two, paired with a bottle of riesling or rosé from Atlas, Clare Valley. It's all available Tuesday-Friday, 5-6.30pm. The best bit? All this bougie-ness will set you back $100. No more, no less.  

 

  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Sydney

The QVB's very own Champagne bar, Reign, is peddling one very bubbly happy hour. From Wednesday to Saturday 5-7pm, drop in for a $20 glass of G.H Mumm Champagne, a $12 glass of Mumm Marlborough sparkling, 
$12 Sofi Spritz
 and a $8 Young Henrys Newtowner. Clink clink. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Sydney

Found on the ground level of Shellhouse, Menzies Bar is very schmick. And now, thanks to a great happy hour, you can get a taste of the high life without the big bill. Think Mini Martinis and lobster rolls, both for 10 bucks, Tuesday-Saturday, from 4-6pm.

 

  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Lavender Bay

Off the booze? Head to French bistro LouLou for a non-alcoholic happy hour. Choose between the Jardin and Grove with Seedlip Grove, fresh apple, cucumber, citrus, soda and basil; or the Pear Tarte Tatin made with Seedlip Spice, poached pear, spice syrup, and citrus. Both sound delicious, and sans hangover. Get these for $12 from 3-6pm, Monday to Friday.

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