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Museum of Contemporary Art in The Rocks
Photograph: Hamilton Lund; Destination NSWMuseum of Contemporary Art in The Rocks

The Rocks area guide

Restaurants, bars, shops and events in the Rocks

Written by
Time Out editors
,
Avril Treasure
&
Caitlyn Todoroski
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Tourist-friendly it remains, but the big news out of The Rocks is that it's no longer off-limits to locals. This historic part of Sydney and its famous cobblestones now cater to visitors of all tastes and ages. There are still high-class restaurantshistoric pubs, curio shops selling Australiana, and rustic cafés galore, but now local artisans also sell their independent wares from pop-up shops, troubadours busk from corners and burlesque performers set up their red-light delights in the many alleyways and coves.

Community gatherings are also plentiful – The Rocks' Friday weekend markets are thriving, and street festivals devoted to music, coffee, beer, light installations and more activate throughout the year. It's now common for culture vultures hitting the nearby Opera House and Walsh Bay theatres to wet their whistles, fill their bellies and fuel their conversations in The Rocks before and after shows. And why not? With zillion dollar views across the Harbour, ferry, bus and train connections close by and surprises around every corner, The Rocks is rocking once more.

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The Rocks highlights

A pub crawl through The Rocks

A pub crawl through The Rocks

The best spots for boozing in the Rocks are all located just a hop, skip and jump from each other, so make a day of it and try to collect them all.

The Rocks Weekend Markets

The Rocks Weekend Markets

Discover new and emerging talent along the cobblestone laneways where stalls offer a full range of artisan and handmade products.

Susannah Place Museum

Susannah Place Museum

This terrace of four houses built by Irish immigrants in 1844 tells the stories of the working families who called this place and this neighbourhood...

The best restaurants in the Rocks

Le Foote

Le Foote

  • 5 out of 5 stars

Every so often you visit a restaurant where everything just flows; moments pass by seamlessly, and you forget about the time, or how much you’ve eaten...

Luna Lu

Luna Lu

High-quality Australian ingredients abound on the contemporary Asian menu, with oysters from Merimbula, Mooloolaba swordfish, Queensland Moreton Bay bugs, and...

Quay

Quay

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 4 of 4

Fine dining no longer ascribes to the idea that indulgence requires being fed into a stupor, which is why you can safely opt for an elegant six courses at...

The Australian Heritage Hotel

The Australian Heritage Hotel

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4

The Australian Heritage Hotel strikes a comfortable balance between historic tourist stop, and a pub that hard-bitten Sydneysiders still want to...

Sake the Rocks

Sake the Rocks

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4

In an area more known for its beer swilling than cocktail drinking, Saké stands out. And it should – there’s some excitement to be found in...

Bay Nine Omakase

Bay Nine Omakase

Bay Nine Omakase is an intimate restaurant offering an omakase dining experience and a set menu. Diners can expect elegantly crafted bites...

The Squire's Landing

The Squire's Landing

  • price 1 of 4

The Rocks' Overseas Passenger Terminal houses a James Squire brewhouse in addition to its mix of bars, restaurant and cruise arrivals facilities.

Rosetta Ristorante

Rosetta Ristorante

  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4

The spacious dining room feels like the right amount of regal for this end of town, with its huge curved glass windows, brass lamps and blue velvet chairs.

Chi Chi

Chi Chi

Open for breakfast and your early morning caffeine fix, Chi Chi transforms later in the day into a buzzing bar and restaurant for a relaxed lunch and dinner.

Mode Kitchen and Bar

Mode Kitchen and Bar

  • price 2 of 4

Located within the Four Seasons Hotel Mode Kitchen and Bar is the luxe hotel's new dining spot. At the helm is head chef Francesco Mannelli, who's worked in...

The best bars in the Rocks

Maybe Sammy

Maybe Sammy

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4

The first impressions come hard and fast at the latest outing from the team behind Maybe Frank, tucked away on the fringe of the Rocks. 

Glenmore Hotel

Glenmore Hotel

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4

A lot of fuss gets made over the Glenmore’s unbelievable harbour views, taking in the majesty of the Harbour Bridge and hooking around past the Opera...

The Doss House

The Doss House

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4

Just like its past life as an opium dealership, a boot-making studio, a doctor's surgery, and a boarding house, the Doss House plays host to a stylish suite...

Hickson House Distilling Co

Hickson House Distilling Co

If anywhere in the city called for a gin distillery, surely it's The Rocks, our colonial ground zero, where quite a lot of the juniper spirit would have been...

Daintree Sydney

Daintree Sydney

  • 5 out of 5 stars

Daintree Sydney calls itself “a small bar with a big purpose”, adopting a holistic, sustainable model.

The Australian Heritage Hotel

The Australian Heritage Hotel

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4

The Australian Heritage Hotel strikes a comfortable balance between historic tourist stop, and a pub that hard-bitten Sydneysiders still want to frequent....

Grain Bar

Grain Bar

  • 4 out of 5 stars

Having a taste for fine Scotch, elegant Japanese whiskies and American drams doesn’t come cheap, unless you’re spending your Monday nights at Grain...

Fortune of War

Fortune of War

  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4

Fortune of War attracts old guys, regulars and folks who are after a no-nonsense pub with space to talk, rest those weary traveller feet and to quench that...

The Argyle

The Argyle

  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4

The pizza canteen dominates one side of the main room, with mismatched couches and comfy armchairs scattered opposite. Upstairs is all gloriously tacky disco...

El Camino Cantina

El Camino Cantina

  • price 1 of 4

If you’re in the party spirit, there are Margaritas on tap at El Camino Cantina, a brightly-lit, enthusiastically Tex Mex (emphasis on the Tex)...

Things to do in the Rocks

The Rocks Discovery Museum

The Rocks Discovery Museum

The Rocks Discovery Museum draws on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority's unique archival collection and tells the exciting story of the Rocks from the...

Lantern Ghost Tours

Lantern Ghost Tours

The ghosts of the Rocks’ heady past are still said to linger amongst the old buildings. Lantern Ghost Tours will take you to some of the most haunted...

Chi, The Spa

Chi, The Spa

Timeless elegance and classic luxury are what the Shangri-La Hotel is all about, and those values are held dear at Chi, the Spa on level two. 

Barrelhouse Cellars

Barrelhouse Cellars

Independent, craft producers with an Australian focus will are showcased at Barrelhouse Cellars. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming meet-the-maker sessions.

BridgeClimb

BridgeClimb

  • price 3 of 4

If climbing the Harbour Bridge is a should-see for visiting celebrities (Nicole Kidman, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Timberlake have all opted in for the...

Endota Spa Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Endota Spa Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

On level three at the Four Seasons Hotel you’ll find hotel guests and relaxation-seeking locals in six treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna, pool and...

The best hotels in the Rocks

Grain Bar

Grain Bar

This Sydney bar has one of Australia's biggest whisky collections – and an award-winning drinks creator at the helm

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Overlooking Sydney's historic Rocks area, Four Seasons Hotel offers free WiFi, a bar, restaurant, fitness centre and swimming pool. Situated in Sydney CBD...

Park Hyatt Sydney

Park Hyatt Sydney

At Park Hyatt Sydney guests can spend the day tanning by the heated pool and then treat themselves to a pampering session at the spa and wellness centre. For...

The best cafés in the Rocks

La Renaissance

La Renaissance

Head to this charming patisserie for some of the most elegant macarons in the city.  

Aslan Coffee The Rocks

Aslan Coffee The Rocks

  • price 1 of 4

This sister café of the OG St Peters outpost is all about showcasing coffee beans from Indonesia, with an aim to promote the coffee quality of our...

The Tea Cosy

The Tea Cosy

Feast on freshly baked scones, ribbon-finger sandwiches and a pot of loose leaf tea in this family-run Irish tea room, and pop into the shop for some imported...

MCA Café and Sculpture Terrace

MCA Café and Sculpture Terrace

  • price 1 of 4

Fuel your artventures, break up your tour of the galleries, or pop in for food and drink with incredible views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House.