Best Rooftop Bars Sydney 2026: 22 Skyline & Harbour Picks

Sydney has one of the world’s best rooftop bar scenes. Since the 2020 lockout-law repeal, the city has added dozens of new sky-high cocktail venues — joining heritage favourites like Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House, the Glenmore Hotel rooftop in The Rocks and the Aster Bar at Intercontinental Sydney. This complete guide to rooftop bars Sydney covers 22 of the city’s best skyline and harbour-view drinking destinations, with 2026 cocktail prices, dress codes, signature drinks, opening hours, and the best rooftop venues for sunset, after-work and late-night drinking.

01Rooftop bars Sydney at a glance

02About Sydney’s rooftop bar scene

Rooftop bars Sydney offers cluster around three main locations: the CBD high-rise hotels (Intercontinental, Hyatt Regency, Crowne Plaza), the harbour-edge venues (Barangaroo House, The Glenmore, Hotel Palisade), and the beach-suburb destinations (Bondi Icebergs, Coogee Pavilion). Average cocktail price: AU$22–32. Most rooftops require a smart-casual dress code; some at premium hotels enforce smart attire.

03Best CBD rooftop bars Sydney

Smoke Bar (Barangaroo House rooftop)

Rooftop cocktails at Barangaroo. Smoke Bar is the rooftop on level 2 of Barangaroo House, 35 Barangaroo Avenue, with skyline views and sunset sessions. The signature smoke-infused Old Fashioned (AU$28) is the cocktail to order. Opening hours change through the week, so check the current times on Barangaroo House’s site. Dress is smart casual, a little dressier in the evening.

Aster Bar (Intercontinental Sydney level 32)

270-degree harbour panorama from 32 floors up. Aster Bar sits in the Intercontinental Sydney’s heritage Treasury Building hotel with sweeping views from the Royal Botanic Garden to Bridge Street CBD. Signature drink: Golden Hour (Never Never Triple Juniper Gin, turmeric, citrus, AU$26).

Blu Bar on 36 (Shangri-La Sydney level 36)

Panoramic harbour views from level 36. Blu Bar on 36 is the cocktail bar at Shangri-La Sydney, 176 Cumberland Street in The Rocks, looking out across Sydney Harbour. Cocktails AU$26–32; smart attire enforced.

Joji

Sydney’s newest rooftop opening. Joji is a Japanese-inspired CBD rooftop with a chic cocktail lounge, dining space and open-air terrace. It stays open latest on Saturdays, until 2am; Thursday and Friday close at 1am, Wednesday at midnight and Sunday to Tuesday at 11pm. Cocktails AU$24–30.

Taylor’s Rooftop (The Republic Hotel)

Open-air CBD venue. Taylor’s Rooftop sits atop The Republic Hotel with city skyline views, stellar cocktails, great wines and wood-fired pizza from the rooftop oven. Cocktails AU$23, spritzes AU$19.

Panorama Bar (The International)

Elevated above Martin Place. Panorama Bar is a glamorous-but-informal CBD rooftop with garden terraces and CBD skyline views. Seasonal cocktail menu. Cocktails AU$24–32.

Zephyr (Hyatt Regency Sydney)

Darling Harbour-side rooftop. Zephyr on level 12 of Hyatt Regency Sydney has Darling Harbour and CBD views with padded couches for sunset watching. Cocktails AU$22–28.

04Best harbour-edge rooftop bars Sydney

The Glenmore Hotel Rooftop (The Rocks)

The most-photographed Rocks rooftop. The Glenmore Hotel rooftop has stunning Opera House and Harbour Bridge views from a heritage pub setting. Smaller than the hotel rooftops but with a more local, friendly atmosphere. Cocktails AU$20–28.

Hotel Palisade Rooftop (Millers Point)

Heritage pub rooftop with the original Henrietta-Holding-the-Bridge view. Hotel Palisade at Millers Point has Sydney Harbour Bridge views and an excellent gin list. Cocktails AU$22–28.

Hickson House Distilling Co. Rooftop (Walsh Bay)

Closed for now. The Hickson House Bar & Kitchen in Walsh Bay’s Metcalfe Bond Stores is closed until further notice while the building’s fire-safety compliance is sorted out, and distilling is moving to Marrickville. Check Hickson House’s site for reopening news before you plan a visit.

Cafe del Mar Sydney (Cockle Bay Wharf)

Beach-club vibe on the harbour. Cafe del Mar at Cockle Bay Wharf has marina and skyline views with day-beds, sunset DJ sets, and a small but high-quality cocktail menu. Cocktails AU$22–28.

05Best beach rooftop bars Sydney

Coogee Pavilion Rooftop

The Eastern Beaches’ best multi-level rooftop. Coogee Pavilion is housed in the heritage former Coogee Swimming Baths and has an open-air rooftop with city skyline views to the north and Pacific Ocean to the east. Cocktails AU$22–28; walk-in friendly midweek.

Bondi Icebergs Bar

The most-photographed Bondi rooftop. Bondi Icebergs Bar sits above the famous ocean pool with Pacific surf views. The cocktails are AU$24–30. For dinner, check live availability on Icebergs’ booking page before you settle on a date.

Hotel Bondi

Heritage Bondi pub. Hotel Bondi, at 178 Campbell Parade, has a bistro, bars and a beer garden across the road from Bondi Beach. Cocktails AU$20–26.

Pacific Bondi Rooftop

Bondi rooftop venue with Pacific Ocean views. Cocktails AU$22–28.

Pilu at Freshwater (rooftop deck)

Northern Beaches’ best rooftop deck. Pilu at Freshwater has a smaller rooftop deck overlooking Freshwater Beach. Cocktails AU$22–28.

06Best Inner West rooftop bars Sydney

Jacobys Tiki Bar (Enmore)

Tiki bar on Enmore Road. Jacobys Tiki Bar is at 154 Enmore Road, Enmore, a tropical-themed bar and the place for a Mai Tai. Cocktails AU$22–28.

The Bank Hotel Newtown Rooftop

Heritage pub rooftop. The Bank Hotel in Newtown has a multi-level pub with a rooftop deck overlooking King Street. Cocktails AU$18–24.

The Marlborough Hotel Newtown

Smaller heritage pub rooftop with live music. Cocktails AU$18–24.

07Best Eastern Suburbs rooftop bars Sydney

The Burdekin Hotel Rooftop (Oxford Street)

Heritage Art Deco pub rooftop. The Burdekin has a small rooftop with Oxford Street and inner-east skyline views. Cocktails AU$20–28.

The Tilbury Hotel Rooftop (Woolloomooloo)

Garden rooftop bar. The Tilbury has a leafy rooftop garden with great cocktails and shareable plates. Cocktails AU$20–26.

The Imperial Hotel Erskineville (rooftop deck)

Queer-friendly Erskineville pub rooftop. Cocktails AU$18–24.

08Sydney rooftop bars by occasion

Sunset cocktails

Smoke Bar (best skyline sunset), Cafe del Mar (Cockle Bay sunset), Coogee Pavilion Rooftop (Eastern Beaches sunset), Hotel Palisade (Harbour Bridge silhouette sunset).

Date night

Blu Bar on 36 at Shangri-La (panoramic harbour views from level 36), Aster Bar Intercontinental (270° harbour from level 32), The Glenmore Hotel Rooftop (intimate heritage setting), Bondi Icebergs Bar (Pacific surf view).

After-work drinks

Joji, Taylor’s Rooftop, The Lobo (a basement bar on Clarence Street), The Burdekin. All CBD-accessible and casual.

Special occasion

Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House, Blu Bar on 36 at Shangri-La, Aster Bar Intercontinental, Panorama Bar at The International. Premium prices but unbeatable views.

Late-night

The Lobo (a basement bar open until 2am every night), Joji (until 2am on Saturdays), Jacobys Tiki Bar in Enmore (until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays), Smoke Bar (hours vary by day).

Group party

Coogee Pavilion (multi-level for large groups), Cafe del Mar (sunset crowds), Bondi Pavilion, The Bank Hotel Newtown.

09Sydney rooftop bars dress code

10How to find Sydney rooftop bars

• Sydney.com rooftops — Destination NSW’s official rooftop bar listing
• Broadsheet Sydney — Best curated reviews and openings
• The Urban List Sydney — Lifestyle-focused rooftop roundups
• Time Out Sydney — Best-of-the-week guide
• RotopGuide Sydney — Specialist rooftop bar guide
• Concrete Playground Sydney — Locals’ favourites
• OpenTable — For rooftop restaurants that also have bars

11Sydney rooftop bars timing

• Late afternoon: Happy hours at some heritage pub rooftops; times vary by venue
• Around sunset: The main draw at the harbour-view venues; the time shifts through the year
• Late night: Closing times differ from bar to bar, so check each venue’s hours before planning the last round
• Weekend afternoons: Beach rooftops (Bondi Icebergs, Coogee Pavilion) peak
• Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House: Rooftop sunset cocktails with skyline views; sunset comes earlier in winter than in summer
• Outdoor rooftops can close in bad weather — check the forecast before you go

12Sample Sydney rooftop bar crawl

The Sydney sunset crawl: 5pm Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House for skyline sunset; 7pm dinner at a’Mare; 9pm Blu Bar on 36 at Shangri-La for harbour-and-CBD city lights; 11pm Joji for late-night Japanese-inspired cocktails.

The harbour edge crawl: 5pm Hotel Palisade for Bridge views; 7pm The Glenmore Hotel Rooftop for Opera House nightscape.

The Eastern Beaches crawl: 4pm Coogee Pavilion Rooftop for afternoon swim + cocktail; 6pm Bondi Icebergs Bar for sunset; 8pm Pacific Bondi rooftop dinner.

13Sydney rooftop bars must-try cocktails

• Golden Hour at Aster Bar (Never Never Triple Juniper Gin, turmeric, citrus) — AU$26
• Smoke-infused Old Fashioned at Smoke Bar — AU$28
• Bondi Icebergs Spritz at Bondi Icebergs Bar — AU$24
• Aviator Tropical at Cafe del Mar — AU$24
• The Palisade Negroni at Hotel Palisade — AU$22
• Glenmore Spritz at The Glenmore Hotel Rooftop — AU$22
• Coogee Sunset at Coogee Pavilion — AU$24
• Mai Tai at Jacobys Tiki Bar Enmore — AU$22
• Joji Wagyu Negroni at Joji — AU$30

14Rooftop bars Sydney for events

Many Sydney rooftops host special events:

• Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks — ticketed rooftop events AU$300–800/person
• Vivid Sydney (May–June) — special programming at most CBD rooftops
• Mardi Gras (late February) — Oxford Street rooftops (Burdekin, Imperial) at peak
• Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race departure (26 Dec) — harbour-edge rooftop spectator viewing
• NRL Grand Final — sport-watching rooftops with big screens; nrl.com lists each season’s grand final date
• Mother’s Day / Father’s Day — booked-out at premium rooftops

15Sydney rooftop bars budget tactics

• Happy hour: Some heritage pub rooftops run cheaper cocktails early in the evening, so ask at the bar
• Wine by the glass: Often AU$12–18 vs AU$22+ cocktails
• Avoid Friday/Saturday cover charges: Some venues charge AU$15–25 cover on peak nights
• Take the lift: No charge for getting to hotel rooftops; you only pay if you stay and order
• Free harbour views from public spaces: Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Opera Bar (drinks AU$15–25)
• Beach rooftops generally don’t charge cover

16Frequently asked questions

17Plan more of your Sydney trip

For more on Sydney nightlife, see our deep dives on Sydney nightlife, the best restaurants in Sydney, waterfront restaurants Sydney, fine dining Sydney, and our overall top things to do in Sydney, where to stay in Sydney, luxury hotels in Sydney, and the Sydney transport guide.

18Helpful resources for planning your Sydney trip

For the very latest information on opening hours, ticketing and transport, the following official resources are kept up to date:

• Smoke Bar, Barangaroo House
• Sydney.com Rooftops
• Time Out Sydney Rooftops
• Broadsheet Sydney Bars
• Liquor and Gaming NSW

19Related Sydney guides

More on Sydney after dark:

• the full nightlife guide
• the city’s best bars
• the best cocktail lists in town
• dining on the water
• NYE on the harbour
• hotels in the city centre
• our Sydney food guide
• flat whites and coffee culture
• food tours and markets
• fine dining
• the Mardi Gras parade
• the January arts festival
• walking The Rocks