Sydney is a city with stunning views from almost every angle, making it the perfect spot for a solid smattering of gorgeous rooftop bars.
From a Palm Springs-inspired rooftop spot at one of Urban List's favourite Inner West breweries to a secret rooftop in the heart of the city, and a swanky hotel rooftop bar with views of Sydney Harbour, Sydney/Eora's rooftop bar game is strong.
Here are Urban List's picks for the best rooftop bars in Sydney right now.
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Jōji
388 George Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Joji | Supplied
Jōji is a Sydney CBD rooftop bar on top of the glitzy Cartier flagship store by the group behind Aalia, Nour, Ito and Henrietta, open until 2am nightly.
The late-night destination has a cocktail lounge, dining room and large terrace, and takes inspiration from Japan across its cocktail and food menus. Cocktails, skewered and hand-held snacks, and a boogie to one of the regular live DJs and vinyl selectors are in the forecast at this stunning rooftop spot that couldn't get more "Sydney".
Aster Bar
InterContinental Sydney, 117 Macquarie Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Aster | Supplied
There's always something special about sipping cocktails at a fancy hotel bar. Even more so when the rooftop bar features spectacular views of one of the prettiest harbours in the world. Aster Bar was a part of The InterContinental Sydney's $110 million renovation, with plush lounges in the hotel's signature blue and green and an opulent marble centre bar.
Expect breathtaking scenery 32 floors up, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and beyond.
The Bristol
81 Sussex Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: The Bristol | Steven Woodburn
Spanning five stylish storeys with a breezy rooftop bar seeped in sunlight and sweeping views, The Bristol is back and better than ever—with a dash of Mediterranean flair.
The rooftop terraces are the perfect hangout spot offering relaxed Greek bites like kalamaki (skewers) and strifto (wraps) filled with prawn saganaki, lamb, pork, and halloumi, alongside a curated wine menu, beers on tap, and classic cocktails with a twist.
Golden hour runs 4.30pm–6.30pm Monday–Friday with $15 margaritas and Aperol spritzes, plus $9 house wines and pints, while a rotating DJ lineup sets the tone Thursday–Saturday, with Sunday sessions slowly creeping into the summer roster.
Imperial Rooftop
35 Erskineville Road, Erskineville
Image credit: The Imperial | Website
If you're in need of a great night out The Imperial in Erskineville is always a great option, and the sprawling pub's rooftop bar, complete with a sparkling golden pizza oven helmed by The Pizza Bros has you covered from the cocktails to the tunes, entertainment and LGBTQIA+ friendly energy.
Imperial Rooftop does epic pizzas, and an extensive booze menu that offers an array of jugs and delish cocktails that’ll remind you of the good times and have you dancing well into the night.
Jacksons On George
76 George Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Jacksons on George | Supplied
Jacksons on George has entered a shiny new era as a three-storey dining and drinking precinct—complete with a Euro-style bistro, casual public bar, and beaming rooftop bar—all under the guidance of legendary Sydney restaurateur Maurice Terzini and Michael Broom's DTL Entertainment Group (DTLE).
Up on the rooftop there's an elevated menu with slow-cooked duck sausage rolls, Moreton Bay bug buns, spatchcock cotoletta, and burgers served on Martin’s rolls, alongside cocktails created by bar manager Sam Kirk and Re's Matt Whiley.
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Coogee Pavilion
169 Dolphin Street, Coogee
Image credit: Coogee Pavilion | Facebook
You only need to know the Coogee Pav queue's reputation to know this is one of the most in-demand rooftop bars in Sydney—and its oceanfront views are maybe the best from any Sydney rooftop bar.
The Coogee Pavilion Rooftop has loads indoor and outdoor areas to explore, a bunch of bars so you never wait long for a drink, Middle Eastern snacks care of Jimmy's Falafel, and an easygoing vibe that welcomes you for a casual drink or to kick on after a flashy meal downstairs at Mimi's.
The Glenmore Hotel Rooftop Bar
96 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Image credit: The Glenmore | Instagram
A gorgeous heritage pub that's been pouring cold ones for over 100 years, The Glenmore also happens to have a rooftop bar with pretty epic Sydney Opera House views and great vibes on weekends—she gets busy.
Head up to the rooftop bar to enjoy your drink or pub schnitty in the sunshine (or under the retractable roof if there isn't any). This spot's a great option to impress visitors to Sydney in a casual setting.
Four Hundred
36 Blue Street, North Sydney
Image credit: Four Hundred | Chad Konik
An ode to agave spirits, Four Hundred is a North Sydney rooftop bar and kitchen with a modern Mexican menu and cocktails crafted from tequila in a space inspired by the Mexican coastline.
Weekends kick off with DJs every Friday from 4pm, while Saturdays see an $89pp bottomless lunch take to the open-air space, offering flowing margaritas, mimosas, wines, and beers.
We’re Hosting An Italiano Event At Rocker Bondi For One Day Only
In partnership with
We chatted with the team on what's going down this 30 March.
Tell Us About Rocker
Our vision is simple—to gently rock between casual dining and bar, day and night, summer and winter, wine and cocktails, sandals and heels.
What Can We Expect On The Day Of The Party?
An unmissable sundowner session, featuring perfect-for-snacking charcuterie cones. These will showcase some delicious Sandhurst products, paired with Aperol spritzes and top-notch tunes. We look forward to welcoming everyone through our doors for what is set to be the perfect way to round out the weekend.
How Do You Find A Slice Of La Dolce Vita Around Sydney?
You’ll find us soaking up the sun and surf in North Bondi, followed by taking a short stroll up to Rocker sandy feet and all, where we’ll be dining on our fresh antipasti spread.
Learn more here.
Panorama Bar
The International, 25 Martin Place, Sydney CBD
Panorama Bar is the top level of Sydney CBD dining destination The International. The stylish spot follows the curving terraces of its iconic Harry Seidler-designed building with lounge areas for groups, fire pits surrounded by lounges, and room for dancing to the regular DJ programming.
The menu lists polished snacks like a popcorn lobster roll with togarashi, skewers of char siu pork belly, and scallop ceviche with green chilli, radish and sesame crackers, and bevs include easy-drinking favourites, a slushie selection (Pina Colada and Tommy's margarita), freshly juiced whisky apples, and large-format sharing cocktails.
Cirq
Crown Sydney, 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: CIRQ | Website
Suspended above the sparkly waters of Barangaroo with spectacular views to the west and east of the city, Cirq is Crown Sydney's stunning rooftop bar and , at 26 floors up, it's the highest rooftop bar in Sydney. Indulge in fancy signature cocktails like a Pavlova Brulee Fizz while you snack on cheese or seafood towers, a caviar platter, or duck and mushroom truffle empanadas.
This is a special spot to take in the sights and sunsets, like the Harbour Bridge as the sun dips beneath the Blue Mountains. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, drop in for the sunset cocktail hour, where signatures are $12 and oysters are just $2 a pop.
Nick & Nora’s
45 Macquarie Street, Parramatta
Champagne, cocktails, and canapes—nothing quite beats the glamorous and decadent post-prohibition atmosphere you’ll find at Nick & Nora’s. Located on the 26th floor of V By Crown, this Sydney rooftop bar was inspired by the fictional murder-solving duo Nick and Nora Charles from the 1930s detective story The Thin Man.
The cocktail menu reads like a novel with various cocktails taking inspiration from stock characters like The Femme Fatale and The Snitch. If champagne is your jam, there’s a bubbles bible with more than 50 different drops to choose from. If you want to channel your best Tony Montana, there’s also a cigar menu filled with Cuban cigars.
Jimmy's Rooftop
Level 4, 320 George Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Jimmy's Rooftop | Facebook
Surrounding the sparkling blue pool of the ivy precinct, Jimmy's Rooftop is a spacious and stylish Sydney CBD rooftop bar. There are poolside seats, booths and tree-side spots for groups, and a breezy Middle Eastern-inspired atmosphere.
The menu is slim but covers favourite picks from Jimmy's Falafel downstairs, with lamb kafta, charcoal chicken or eggplant wraps for a steal, fries, and pita chips with dips, and drinks start from $7 during the happy hour running 5pm–7pm, Tuesday–Saturday.
Zephyr Bar
Hyatt Regency Sydney, 161 Sussex Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Hyatt Regency | Supplied
Love a beautiful sunset and a G&T? Zephyr, the stunning bar set atop the Hyatt Regency in the heart of the city, is the spot to experience the best of both here in Sydney. With a second-to-none 180-degree view of Darling Harbour, the bar faces west, making this the perfect place to be as the sun sinks beneath the horizon.
This Sydney rooftop bar has an impressive list of signature cocktails to sip, including six signature gin spritz's (our favourite is the Mediterranean), premium concoctions made with top-shelf spirits like Hibiki Harmony and Laphroaig 10YO Spray, and soft serve ice cream cocktails, which are perfect on a hot afternoon.
Kasbah At The Strand
99 William Street, Darlinghurst
Image credit: The Strand Hotel | Supplied
The rooftop bar at The Strand Hotel is the final piece of the puzzle of the 100-year-old pub's recent renovation.
Reimagined as a multi-storey dining precinct, the ground floor is home to a Paris-inspired bistro, but the rooftop bar, Kasbah, is where you want to head for a French/Moroccan experience and CBD skyline views.
Henry Deane
Hotel Palisade, 35 Bettington Street, Millers Point
Image credit: Destination NSW
It's pretty hard to miss Hotel Palisade—the grand heritage-listed pub peers over Barangaroo Reserve, Millers Point, and Sydney Harbour and is an absolute gem if you want to soak up uninterrupted Sydney Harbour Bridge views.
Henry Deane is the pub's rooftop bar spread across two floors. Signature cocktails include the Agave Love, with Olmeca Altos tequila and Vida mezcal, and the Go Slow Man, with Appleton signature rum, JM Agricole, curacao, orgeat, lime, and honey, and there's a short but sweet menu of delicious bar snacks designed to be shared.
Harper Rooftop Bar
Kimpton Margot Sydney, 339 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD
A poolside rooftop bar for cocktails, Mediterranean-inspired snacks and urban views atop the Kimpton Margot Sydney, Harper is the largest open-air rooftop bar in Sydney’s CBD.
Decked out with a beach club atmosphere with colourful pod seating, communal long dining tables and lush greenery by the hotel’s sparkling pool, Harper is a sanctuary among the CBD skyline. The drinks list is a selection of playful and premium summer favourites, with slushie cocktails including friesling (frozen riesling), a build-your-own martini station, and award-winning wines, and a seafood-heavy Mediterranean menu.
Babylon Rooftop And Garden Bar
188 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Babylon | Instagram
Babylon is an enormous 800-seat CBD rooftop bar and restaurant perfectly styled to feel like an ancient dining metropolis complete with views of the city skyline. Boasting a huge booze menu with over 250 whiskeys, 400 Aussie spirits, and 300 bottles of wine, you’re going to need a moment to take your pick.
Food-wise, Babylon slings meze, gozleme, and pide that will have you salivating. Chicken wings with harissa marinade, Turkish tabbouleh, and mint yoghurt are a favourite among the crowd.
Taphouse
122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst
Image credit: Taphouse | Supplied
Beloved Darlinghurst pub Taphouse had a major refresh in 2023, and its breezy rooftop is better than ever, and now has an epic menu of Cantonese cuisine. Sip on a brew from one of 20 taps or order up a fresh cocktail or wine in the space with a fully retractable roof and fresh blue-and-white palette with whitewashed furniture and linen umbrellas giving Euro summer vibes.
The Rooftop At Quarryman's Hotel
214-216 Harris Street, Pyrmont
Image credit: Quarryman's Hotel | Instagram
This open-air terrace is forging all the blush-pink vibes, cacti and views. This rooftop bar rocks an apple cider slushie (yes hello, new fave summer drink) packed with all the cracked ice and a special housemade syrup to give it another punch, and there are all your pub classics and a few cheeky cocktails on the cards.
Now check out
Main image credit: Jacksons on George | Tom Ferguson
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