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If you ever want to feel on top of the world (and, unlike Katy Perry, can’t afford a rocket trip to space), you can ride an elevator to the top floor of the Shangri-La Sydney, home to Blu Bar. With its unbeatable views, this swish cocktail bar is one of Sydney's best sky-high spots – and trust us when we say you need to be there to experience the magic.
We’re seated in the corner of the bar with an expansive view of commuters trickling home over the illuminated Sydney Harbour Bridge, and ferries winding their way in and out of Circular Quay. While we’re windowside (and it really is spectacular), all seats in the bar either have a view of Sydney Harbour below, or the striking skyscrapers of Barangaroo.
Cocktails here come in tiers: there are your classics like Cosmopolitans and Espresso Martinis (around $25), signature cocktails of the hotel like the fruity Star Cluster with Amaro Montenegro and orange juice, or The Dreaming Earth with gin, dessert lime and Shangri-La honey (around $28) and then there’s the top-shelf stuff like the Quantum Forum with Macallan 12 Year whiskey, Chambord, peanut butter and jelly ($55).
Cocktails may be more expensive than a wine at your local, but for the experience and those views, we reckon it's worth it.
Did you notice how honey is a common ingredient featured in those tipples? That’s because Shangri-La produces it itself – there’s even urban beehives on the hotel’s rooftop. And it’s not the only ingredient the hotel sources locally. Micro greens that add flourishes to the bar plates come from a local who grows them in a Barangaroo carpark and cycles them over to the hotel. How’s that for urban eats? Native ingredients like finger lime also make a feature on our oysters.
You could fill up alone on the bar plates offered at Blu Bar, like spanner crab pasta and karaage chicken, or you could keep the party moving next door at Altitude – the views are just as incredible. The whole floor also specialises in what could be one of Sydney’s chicest high teas (the booked-out weekends go to show).
Whether you’ve got a special occasion coming up, or you’re just looking for a chance to dress up, you might want to add Blu Bar on 36 to your hit list. Chin-chin!
Find out more here.
Address: 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW 2000
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