The 53 best rooftop bars in Sydney

Slims Rooftop is named after American socialite photographer Slim Aarons, though it could equally refer to the narrow stairs leading to rooftop — there’s a good amount of side-sashaying and waiting-on-the-landing as staff and patrons patiently wait to climb up or down the stairs. But don’t despair, because it’s a stairway to heaven. Slims is an open-air oasis with succulent plants and low walls, allowing for stunning views of the Art-Deco buildings on William Street and the glittery skyscrapers of the not-too-distant CBD. 

Sydney’s newest rooftop bar is a shimmering, Japanese-inspired showstopper in the CBD’s beating heart. Called Joji, this glamorous venue is perched above the Cartier flagship store in Sydney’s CBD, offering sweeping cityscape views. It’s the first bar from ESCA Group, the team behind Martin Place’s elegant Middle Eastern restaurant Aalia, Parramatta's pan-Asian spot Lilymu, pastel-pink Nour, and playful Japanese diner Ito. Featuring a sexy cocktail lounge, dining space and slick rooftop terrace, Joji is open until 2am most nights a week, so if you’re out and about (late) in the city, you know where to head. And don’t forget your Gucci.

Time Out tip: Hungry? Our fave thing on the menu is the scallop and bug sando – order that.

Old Mate’s Place is a chimera, combining the best of moody candle lit drinking with the surprise element of a sunny rooftop bar into the bargain. Clock off early to score a seat up amongst the potted plants and down Negronis and Jamaican beers in the late-evening light.

Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is packed on weekends as Sydneysiders come to enjoy Sunday Sessions with buckets of tiger prawns and an Aperol Spritz or two as the sun is setting. The rooftop offers stunning views of sparkling blue water and live music often plays late into the night.

Historic boozer Keg & Brew Hotel, found on the corner of Foveaux Street in Surry Hills, has a lot of things going for it. Its pub food offerings are a big step above average (the puffy, charred pizzas are our fave), and their happy hour (Mon-Thu, 5-7pm) pours beers and wines from $6.50. Plus, their spacious, lush rooftop is a cracking spot to while away an afternoon.

One of four establishments found at restaurateur Brett Robinson's CBD hospo hub Shell House, the Sky Bar is an Art Deco dream in earthy hues. The menu of cocktails and bar snacks is a streamlined affair, but with a surprising level of sophistication. While there are a couple of more substantial plates on offer, the majority of the eats are essentially bougie finger food. 

The White Horse in Surry Hills has recently undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation and is now home to a beautiful ground-floor restaurant, a chic cocktail bar, and a lush rooftop terrace. If you haven’t visited yet – giddy up!

Time Out tip: Downstairs is home to an excellent restaurant serving well-priced, delicious plates of food, with more than 20 bottles of wine for $100 or less. Score.

The latest iteration of The Bristol has dropped the “Retro” from its name, and though it nods to its past with a huge 250-person night club on the third floor, there’s nothing of the daggy drinking hole about this newly sparkling space. Set across five floors, the stunning venue is so much more than a pub – with a Mediterranean-inspired dining room, a moody, prohibition-style cocktail lounge, a sports bar and a disco ball-adorned night club. Though our favourite level is the sun-soaked rooftop, which feels like a Santorini fever dream.

The Panorama Bar – a glamorous rooftop oasis within the new multi-level Martin Place venue, The International – is now open. Located within the heritage-listed MLC Centre in the former Botswana Butchery site, The Panorama Bar is by the Shell House crew, and joins The Wine Bar and The Grill, a swish, fire-driven restaurant. With high-end drinks and snacks, a killer music line-up and vibey DJs – The Panorama Bar brings big city energy, kicking into gear when the sun sets.

This legendary boozer at Five Ways has been a Paddo locals' favourite for many a decade, but the roof still remains something of secret. If the climb to the top doesn't take your breath away, the skyline views certainly will. There are only a handful of seats up here, but if you're lucky enough to score one, we reckon it's the best place to watch the sunset in Paddington.

Time Out tip: The Royal has midweek meal deals, like $20 steak and chips on Wednesdays.

Found on top of the Strand Hotel in Darlinghurst, Moroccan and Mediterranean-inspired rooftop bar Kasbah offers sweeping views of the city skyline coupled with dreamy decor that takes cues from the colours and life of Marrakesh – think pastel lounges, vibrant tiles, Persian rugs and lush greenery. If that’s not saying sunset drinks, we don’t know what will.

Martin Place's tropical haven Cabana Bar may not technically be a rooftop bar, but it deserves an honorable mention for its sprawling open-air space and wrap-around terrace. With pretty pastel pinks, marble and gold accents, and lush greenery throughout, Cabana Bar channels holiday vibes, and we'll drink to that.

As you take the elevator up to the 26th floor above the modern Skye Suites apartment tower from the corporate-leaning Macquarie Street, Parramatta, it’s hard to imagine you’re about to enter a glamorous, Art Deco-style cocktail and Champagne bar. But as you step out, you launch into another world – it’s the world of Nick and Nora, the murder-solving, soirée-throwing New York duo from the novel (and films), The Thin Man.

The towering Quay Quarter Tower may not be your first choice for a post-work drink, but the French-inspired Martinez found within could change that. Boasting a great restaurant (be sure to try the bouillabaisse), Martinez also offers a wrap-around rooftop bar with vibrant splashes and views of the Harbour Bridge, serving up crowd-pleasing dishes and refreshing drinks.

Step out of the elevators on the 12th floor of the Hyatt Regency Sydney hotel into this open-air rooftop bar and you'll feel like you’ve stepped onto the deck of a superyacht, looking out over Sydney’s Darling Harbour, the peaks of the ANZAC Bridge, and all the way over to the start of the Parramatta River.

Time out tip: Zephyr Bar is a top spot for viewing the sunset, as it's one of the few harbourside rooftop bars with uninterrupted views of Sydney's west.

There are few views in Sydney that can rival the majesty of the harbour panorama from rooftop of the Glenmore Hotel down in the Rocks. It's always a good bet for when you have visitors from out of town and weekends get crowded, but we're just as keen on heading here on a Monday for a $19.90 steak and a quiet drink with mates.

The Sussex Hotel boasts one of the CBD’s biggest beer gardens, but we’ve got love-heart eyes for the rooftop, which is lush with plants and dotted with cherry-red and vanilla striped umbrellas. Located on the edge of Barangaroo, The Sussex is a sound option if you’ve just knocked off – or are on your lunch break – and feel like a Spritz or two in the sun.

The Lansdowne Hotel may be a haven for live-music buffs, but when the sun is shining, it's also a top place to sink a few beers on its retro-inspired rooftop, open Friday and Saturday. Sporting rainbow umbrellas, blue astroturf, and big wooden tables, the rooftop is an inner-city oasis where you can soak up the sunset over chilled drinks before heading downstairs for a gig.

Up on top of Hotel Palisade is a modern bar called Henry Deane, which is taking your after work drinks in the Rocks to great new heights, and we're guessing will be a hotly contested space for the New Year's fireworks displays.

Top-notch cocktails by expert shaker Grant Collins, impressive views over the QVB and a swish vibe is what you can expect from Zeta Bar, found within Sydney's CBD at The Hilton.

Time Out tip: The rooftop terrace is a lovely spot to knock back a glass or two of bubbles when the sun’s out, and if you come during happy hour (daily, between 5-7pm), you can snap up $15 cocktails, $12 wines and $10 beers.

Got plans this weekend? You do now. Bring your mate and come check out Harper Rooftop Bar. And guess what? Your dog is invited to come, too. Found on level seven of swish hotel Kimpton Margot Sydney, Harper Rooftop Bar reckons they are Sydney’s largest open-air rooftop bar, complete with fun and fruity cocktails and crowd-pleasing food by chef Luke Mangan.

The Butler's al fresco garden terrace has sweeping views of the entire city, providing the perfect backdrop to a night making your way through the extensive cocktail menu.

If the Tocky wasn’t already a treasured Glebe local for pub grub on a sunny Sunday, their rooftop terrace might have just sealed the deal. The pub underwent renovations in September 2023 to create a nook upstairs that is cosy, light-filled and offers prime views of Glebe’s lush greenery and the city’s skyline. 

Long-time Manly locals remember the OG Steyne like an old flame. These days, the heritage-listed hotel is sporting a new look and is nowhere near as grundgy as it once was, and Moonshine is now a thing of the past (RIP), but the rooftop – and those ripping views – remain.

With playful floral displays that are begging for a feature on the ‘gram and panoramic views of skyscrapers lit up in the twilight, you really might want to add rooftop bar Above 319 to your hit list. It also doesn’t hurt that an aquamarine infinity pool gazing out over Darling Harbour borders the joint. The cocktail menu is fun, and we don't just mean flavour wise. Expect your drink to arrive garnished with anything from sparklers to liquid nitrogen bubbles.

The Coogee Pavilion and its spectacular rooftop are making a serious play for our number one summertime haunt. Go here for cold-pressed juice highballs, tasty meats cooked over coals and the uninterrupted glory of the Sydney coastline.

George Street stalwart Jacksons on George has a fresh look and an ex-Icebergs chef at the helm. The multi-level venue houses a casual bar down below, and a charming bistro on level one. But when the sun is shining we're heading straight to the airy rooftop and taking a seat underneath the building’s architecturally striking veil (we reckon it looks like a wave). One Negroni, please.

Sydney can't get enough of rooftop bars. And we can't get enough of breweries. So it was only a matter of time before one of Marrickville's most beloved craft beer purveyors bit the bullet and brought this love affair full circle. Enter: Marrickville Springs, the '80s tropicana resort-style bar atop Philter Brewing in Sydney's Inner West. The airy sky-high bar is pretty in pink, with warm wooden bench seating and tropical plants galore.

Head up to level 32 of the InterContinental for a nightcap at Aster, a flash rooftop bar with some of the best views in Sydney. The Classic Negroni goes down a treat, though we’re not really here for the drinks. We’re here for the views. From the charcoal suede seats or the wrap-around bar outside, you can take in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, glittering city skyline and Royal Botanic Gardens all rolling below.

Time Out tip: You’ll need to book for Aster, and there’s a minimum spend, but for a special night, we reckon it’s worth it.

They guys behind the Greens and Acre Eatery have brought their green thumbs and cocktail shaking hands to a Mosman rooftop. The Fernery has views out over the harbour all the way to North Head, and they've brought urban farmer Adrian Baiada on board to build them an outdoor kitchen garden. 

It’s only once you’re sitting on the beautiful deck of this third-floor cocktail lounge that you realise that it was the missing piece of Sydney’s bar puzzle all along. The Solotel group went and made Opera Bar a suave sister in the form of Smoke – the crowning glory of Barangaroo House. Up here, things are strictly professional. You are greeted at the entranceway, shown to a seat, started a tab and possibly given a time limit until the next booking arrives (they do not follow the finders keepers rules here). 

Zanzibar has changed their name and changed up their offering. Don't worry, you can still get beers on the roof and late night party vibes are still strong on weekends, but in between they've revamped the drinks offerings, hosting wine and whisky dinners and given this multi-storey Newtown pub a bit of a spruce up.

The Cauliflower on Botany Road is a Sydney institution. They've jazzed up the interiors and opened up a rooftop rum bar upstairs. On the food front, all your classic pub grub is there for the taking, from your schnittys to your steaks and beer-battered barramundi. But they’re also pumping out more novel bites, nailing Asian, Caribbean and vegetarian briefs. Best of all, you can still get a cheap counter feed here thanks to daily food specials that won't break the bank.

This former bank is one of Oxford Street’s more revered and historic gay bars. The upstairs bar of this popular queer haunt is lounge-inspired, where designer lamps and mood lighting set a retro-inspired tone, all pretty swish. Further up, there's an awesome rooftop cocktail bar where you can watch the sun go down over the city. Rotating DJs, top-shelf drag shows, a standard selection of beers on tap and a creative cocktail list makes the Colombian a great spot to chill with friends (or take a walk on the wild side).

On the top level of the Shelbourne Hotel on Sussex Street you'll find the Rooftop, a Hamptons-inspired watering hole, with some of the best views of Darling Harbour in town. Think palms, hanging chairs and rattan lounges with a backdrop of blush and bashful sunsets, or dazzling blue skies through a retractable roof. Pizzas, bar snacks and salads will keep you fueled for another flute of bubbles.

The Burdekin is a skinny corner pub that has been guarding the entrance to Oxford Street since 1847, and it has added a rooftop bar to the mix. Standing five storeys up, this casual-chic watering hole is the only one of its kind on Oxford Street. Take in sweeping views of Sydney’s main drag for queer partying, stretching out to Hyde Park and to the Domain as you sip on original cocktails by the likes of the Back Ally, the Slutty Mermaid and the Pink Flamingo. 

We don’t need to tell you by now how much Sydney loves a rooftop bar, and the top floor addition to the East Village Hotel (previously the Darlo Village) is an A-grade, lofty drinking perch. Sure, if cardio isn’t your friend you may even find you have to take a breather at the second floor, but that’s not going to be a problem because that’s where they added the Athletic Club, a vintage sports-themed bar that has a very toffy, “I went to Eton during the Downton Abbey years” vibe about it. 

Like Narcissus staring adoringly at his own reflection, Sydney’s a city enamoured with its own good looks, hence our obsession with rooftop bars. The open-air, top floor bar is definitely the jewel in the Light Brigade’s rejuvenated crown. The old pub underwent extensive changes since the Bayfield family took ownership a few years back, and adding the top floor bar was a power move that makes the most of the pub’s prime Oxford Street location, with views stretching from Paddington clear across to the Coathanger. 

Applejack Hospitality, the crew behind Rafi, Taphouse and Bopp and Tone, and also behind this Southern Californian-style restaurant and bar. The sunny rooftop is the ideal place to smash quesadillas, ceviche, Margaritas and tacos.

It's everything you know and love about the Imperial – camp, glitz, glamour, disco, pop art and Queerdom in all its fabulousness – just one level up, with a more Italian-leaning menu and a glittery golden pizza oven. We vote yas. 

So what if it's on top of a Westfield? You're smack bang in the centre of the city, which makes this massive Middle Eastern rooftop bar, lounge and restaurant a handy option to keep in your back pocket after a long day of shopping or if you're in need an al fresco hangout for after-work drinks. Cocktails have clever Levantine twists (cumin seeds, Turkish coffee, baklava caramel) and there's a solid menu of modern meze to keep your stomach lined, including a wicked duck gozleme.

Don’t be a rookie and hang around at street level; instead, take your mate (or your date) to The Rook, a sky-high rooftop bar located on York Street. Here, you’ll walk through a daisy-themed archway entrance and into the airy rooftop space. A fun option for bottomless brunches, friend lunches, or after-work knockoffs, The Rook is also known for its gin tastings and seasonal cocktails.

The forces behind Salt Meats Cheese have turned their attention to the bar side of things, and Ombré is the result. There's somewhat of a shortage of rooftop drinking stops in and around Circular Quay, surprisingly, which makes this Italian-ish option all the more tempting... and so does aperitivo hour from 4-6pm all through the working week. 

Untied is a colourful rooftop oasis in Barangaroo’s sky. Expect tropical cocktails, a sun-dappled outdoor area and share-style dishes, including a solid selection of plant-based options. Plus, Untied offers bottomless frosé for $49 per person, which includes two hours of free-flowing frosé – and you get to serve it yourself (and try all the flavours). Round up your gang.

There’s something about being elevated and exposed to the elements that enhances a night on the tiles, so it's good news all round that the Republic Hotel has a rooftop bar called Taylors. If you head here around knock-off the place is packed with people who know what good tailoring looks like. This is the place to order up chilled glass tankards of Asahi, frosty Peronis or a crisp rosé.

Getting to the roof of this bar is like an Olympic event, but it's worth it when you get there. Make your way to the top of this tower and be rewarded with tooth-freezingly cold Peronis and great views over the big city canopy.

A friendly Newtown local haunt that is not much wider than its moniker suggests; they do long necks, local wines, a few craft beers, simple cocktails and a few snacks. Prized real estate is the chilled-out open rooftop overlooking the backstreets.

The Cross began reimagining itself in 2021, but Sweethearts is a reliable classic. Get the squad together, head up the seven flights of stairs and spend the afternoon necking Pimm's on tap and jugs of sangria. It's not only wines on tap here, but beers as well – come for the drinks, stay for the quasi beach-club-style atmosphere. 

Once a wizened watering hole for elderly gents and gig-goers spilling over from the nearby Gaelic Club, the Strawberry Hills is now more of as a hipster hideaway following a snazzy refurbishment and a late-night license that’s as rare as hen’s teeth. All the action is to be found upstairs out on the rooftop terrace that is open to the night sky.

A house of low and slow barbecue and bourbon has arrived in Sydney's north west, smoking up the Hillside Hotel’s rooftop. Pitmaster Brad Shorten is behind Fire and Brimstone, a barbecue spot inspired by America's deep south. Fire and Brimstone is open seven nights a week, and it's a first in, first served the brisket kind of affair, so get in nice and early because they shut up shop once they've sold out of meat.

Behind a somewhat austere stone facade, the Woollahra Hotel is all about abundance. It’s a pub, sure – but it’s a pub in Woollahra, a little pocket just off the tail end of Paddington and home to pretty terraces, tree-lined streets and one of the city’s highest median incomes. Walking upstairs from the main entrance leads you to a picture-perfect semi-outdoor terrace complete with a vertical living garden – fern fronds will gently brush you during dinner, like it or not – and an expansive, glass-walled dining space.

A Rocks landmark, the Orient Hotel has an outdoor courtyard perfect for summer drinking and serves bar food. It also has a restaurant situated on the first floor serving modern Australian cuisine in elegant surroundings.