Best Bars In Sydney At The Moment

Do you want to know where to find the top clubs in Sydney? If you're looking, you can stop right here. Everything you need to know about the greatest bars in town is included in this blog post. We know all the best spots, from hip rooftop joints to underground speakeasies. That being said, why delay? If you haven't yet, you should get started checking out the top bars in Sydney right away.

The bars in Sydney are often the highlight of any night out. There is a plethora of options, making it challenging to narrow down your choices. Use this guide to locate the top bars in Sydney, Australia, that cater to your specific preferences. You can have a good time with your pals or wow your date, because this place has everything you might want.

Best Sydney Bars Right Now

There has never been better opportunity to demonstrate your support for the bars, pubs, and clubs that make up the lifeblood of our city, as the hotel industry has showed remarkable tenacity in the face of adversity.

Get out there, whether it's to your regular haunt or a far-flung destination worth the trip, and remember to be kind to the employees, pay attention to safety, and be flexible about the rules and laws that may be in place. Things are always changing, so please double-check the information with the venue or on their social media before making the trip.

This revision is slimmed down to the essentials: what the bar is, why we like it, and any insider advice we have for improving your experience there. But in the end, if it's on our list, it's a winner in our book, and we hope it is in yours as well.

Time Out DRINK ranks the top bars in Sydney, from up-and-coming spots to venerable watering holes known for their excellent drinks. We prioritise quality over budget and are open to exploring a wide range of options as long as they meet our criteria of fun, flavour, atmosphere, originality, and value. This is why you can park your car in a CBD laneway full of mezcal next to a European-style deli selling cocktails in cans, a distillery, a brewery, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Cantina OK

At the end of the a service alley, slightly far from the CBD's hustle, gold light flows out onto the asphalt. Somewhere in the background, you can make out the faint aroma of lime, the clatter from Boston shakers, and also the presence of potential danger. Cantina OK has been serving up good, clean, sort of illegal fun in Sydney, fueled by mezcal and supported by one of the city's smartest bar workers since it opened in February of this year. The Cantina is always hopping, with a minimum of 20 patrons present from the time the rolling door opens at noon until it shuts at midnight, no matter the day of the week.

Cantina carves out a special place for itself in a time when numerous bars are able to stock their shelves with rare & obscure drinks by specialising in mezcal. Cantina OK is the second restaurant by Alex Dowd, Jeremy Blackmore, and Alex "Happy" Gilmour, who were all involved in opening Tio's Cerveceria. Here, both the emphasis and the dimensions are more constrained, and Gilmour is free to indulge his voracious cravings for agave-based liquor by making frequent purchasing trips to distant Mexico.

Everything in this bar transports you to the heart of the industry, from the attractive travel-book style menu to the personnel who were trained by Gilmour before consolidating their expertise by visiting the actual factories where the goods are produced. There is no preaching, however if you ask, the staff will explain the different types of agave used in the process, such as papalome and vicuishe, and how they are aged through glass or cowhide. They will also tell you stories about the Oaxacan mezcaleros who harvest under the full moon, the bulls who haul the tahonas, and the suitcases full of bottles smuggled thru the customs.

Shot glasses (for sipping) will be filled with the wicked, wild, and beautiful stuff (some grassy, most floral, some scorching, most smoky), and the meal will be tempered with plates fresh mango and dragonfruit, perhaps, sliced to order and dusted with chilli salt then served with such a lime cheek.

The staff has some serious depth perception and can also mix a killer Margarita. A 50/50 mixture of tequila and mezcal is poured over water shaved by an arm Nepalese ice machine in a coupe dusted with flaked salt; the resulting drink is tart, invigorating, and dangerously drinkable due to its unparalleled texture. Consequently, it's safe to assume that they're capable of handling the fundamentals, too.

La Salut

As far as Sydney wine bars go (and the munchies aren't bad too), the bar has been set pretty darn high by the people that brought australia, Love, Lilly Devine, Ragazzi, and Dear Sainte loise. Their newest business venture is a laid-back bar with a Catalan theme.

Jointly owned by the Love Tilly Organization and the people_, a recently formed hospitality and lodging group, La Salut was established in 2016. (helmed by Paul Schulte and Andrew Taylor). Embedding the vivacity and colour of Catalonia inside the middle of Redfern is the goal. The 40-seat restaurant has a trendy industrial vibe thanks to its polished concrete and warm earth tones.

While in Rome (or Catalonia), it's not a terrible idea to begin with a drink from the large selection of vermouths that the wait staff will recommend. To let you pick your own experience, we serve our fortified wine over ice alongside three anchovy-stuffed olive and a mini bottle of sparkling water.

Although La Salut is primarily a wine bar (there is a bottle shop in the space formerly occupied by the pokies room), you should come here with an empty stomach. Located in what used to be the hotel's sports bar, this eatery makes excellent use of its limited area by serving up delicious, albeit primarily canned, bite-sized food. But don't feel cheated; Europe and, more lately, Sydney as a whole, have realised that some of life's best things require fewer embellishments and also more can openers, like a plate of smoked mussels served with a sprinkling of salted chips, dusted with paprika. The idea at La Salut is not so much overeating as grazing; a relaxing evening consuming a few high-quality appetisers while we savour a glass of wine (or bottle). A tray of jamón ibérico, a clean Spanish-style pork leg, is enough to make anyone lose track of time, but if you're looking for something closer to a religious experience, try the less-popular paletilla iberico, a hardworking shoulder snip that melts on the tongue the second it touches the palate.

Big Poppa

Located on the lively Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Big Poppa's is a late-night restaurant and bar that has won multiple awards. Guests may enjoy nightly hip hop music, an extensive drink menu, and a menu stocked with modern Italian cuisine and gourmet cheeses from 9 p.m. till 3 a.m.

Big Poppa's welcomes all kinds of people. Instead, individuals of every age flock there to enjoy the excellent wine, tasty fare, and lively music. The weekdays (Monday through Wednesday) are often more laid-back, while the weekend festivities really heat up on Thursday (with Friday and Saturday being the busiest party nights).

The restaurant's bar is located above, but patrons are encouraged to make the trip down the narrow stairs to Big Poppa's bar for the whole experience. It's the perfect place to sip a glass of red wine while listening to pulsating music and taking photos in front of the Notorious B.I.G. flooring mural for your social media feeds.

Grab a seat between 5 and 7 p.m. for Aperitivo, when you can get select drinks for $10 and rotating nibbles like Brillat-Savarin with panes carasau and blood orange marmalade or crostini wit nduja, buffalo mozzarella, and pickled vegetables for just $5 and $10, respectively. If you have a Biggie-sized appetite, the restaurant's full menu is available both on the first and second floors. Don't leave without ordering a bowl of a lamb pappardelle. One must have it on every visit to Big Poppa's!

Bartolo

The inspiration for Bartolo came from a wish for a place to get fantastic, daylong drinks that were not too heavy to be consumed with the restaurant's upscale Italian fare and wine list.

All the drinks are low is ABV (Alcohol by Volume) are based around sherry or martini, with spirits frequently making up the smaller percentage of the drink. This allows diners to sample a variety of libations while they eat.

Seasonal menus feature six distinctive cocktails as well as Bartolo's take on certain traditional drinks with a twist, including the Riberry Negroni, which features local Australian ingredients, or even the Bartolo Martini (have one and see what all the fuss is about!).

Bartolo is loved by people of all ages because he is kind and friendly. Sit down at the bar and enjoy a front-row view while your cocktail gets implemented. Are you hungry? Order some snacks while you sip or walk to the restaurant section if you’re craving something more substantial (the whole food menu is available throughout the venue) (the full food menu is available throughout the venue).

Bartolo is a sunny and cheerful place during the day. As night falls, they encourage you to make yourself at home behind closed curtains and mellow lighting. No of the hour of day, Bartolo’s has the food, beverages and services to make every visit somebody to remember.

Easily accessible by foot, Central Station, and Oxford Street are all within easy walking distance from Bartolo, which is located on the lively Crown Street in Surry Hills.

Kittyhawk

Kittyhawk is a popular bar that serves out excellent cocktails and memorable occasions to a large number of customers. The facility, themed after the 1944 liberation of Paris, combines old-world allure with cutting-edge design and delectable fare.

Kittyhawk is ideal if you plan on making a night of it in Sydney due to its convenient location near the city's main transportation hub, taxi stands, and other popular destinations. They make an effort to embrace people of different backgrounds and cultures. Soulful blues, with touches of jazz & French swing, will be playing, so come on in and relax with your favourite drink on any given night. The people of Paris are rejoicing because of the city's recent freedom.

Usually, the week is relaxed from Monday to Wednesday nights, and then things speed up as the saturday approaches. On Fridays, the bar sees a high volume of customers for their "after work" beverages. On Thursdays, they have a free live bands night with a variety of bands playing jazz, swing, and blues.

To reserve a table for a group of 9 or fewer, visit their website. You'll get treated like a king or queen with the VIP treatment you'll receive at your table in the Lounge. Your hostesses will take care of your every need without you ever having to leave your seat, including fulfilling your requests for food and drink. The bar area area and the Conservatory (when it is not reserved for functions) offer self-service bar options for those who like it. Each night of the week, walk-ins are welcome.

In addition to a wide range of wines and beers on tap and in bottles, the bar's speciality is in the creation of inventive cocktails. Rum and rye are the house spirits, and the large cocktail menu features a rotating selection of old-fashioned drinks made with both. No worries if that's not your thing; just ask one of the helpful bartenders or hostesses for recommendations. You can find anything from a light and refreshing drink to a heavy and drunken one among their cocktail menu. You’re certain to find something that you like.

Hickson House Distilling Co.

Hickson House is a new waterfront watering place brought to you by the same hospitality masterminds who brought you two among Sydney's cosiest bars, The Duke of Clarence and The Barber Shop. Now open is the newest multipurpose establishment to join the ranks of distilleries, bars, and restaurants.

Hickson House, located among the girders and soaring brickwork of a former Saatchi garage & Saatchi, is part operational distillery and part destination cocktail bar (the location of many infamous warehouse parties). The menu features dishes prepared using ingredients produced from inside the state, while the bar stocks more than 600 different types of alcohol.

Mikey Enright & Julian Train, the company's co-founders, have been fixtures here on Sydney bar scene for almost eight years as co-directors of Barrelhouse Group.

Weaving the requirements of a full-scale distillery and a sizable bar area into what is essentially a one-of-a-kind history warehouse is a task that Train says they have enthusiastically accepted.

The lads are throwing their full weight around, having recruited former Manly Spirits icon Tim Stones. Stones will be selling barrels of their own whisky, aperitifs, brandies, or other speciality spirits in addition to their bespoke selection of Hickson Road Gin.

To try these concoctions, pull up a chair at the main bar, which is decked out in dark polished wood and accented with French blues bar stools to represent the venue's waterfront setting. The High & Dry Bar, located on the restaurant's mezzanine, is a cosy spot to enjoy a drink and some food with a great view of the entire dining area.

Keep an eye out Hickson House's socials for forthcoming events, including intimate distillery experiences, tours, and private dinners.

The slow-roasted chicken porchetta in juniper jus & mint gremolata ($75) is a highlight of the botanically themed cuisine. Treat yourself to a sinful ($15) slice of our gin and mango pavlova.

Find a bottle (or two) that you like at the off-license liquor store and enjoy it at home after supper.

Old Mate’s Place

Among the many great bars in Sydney, Old Mate's Place is where we'll begin our tour. One of Sydney's best-kept secrets, once you've made your way up the 4 flights of stairs, you'll understand why. You’ll be welcomed by polite staff, who would also offer a seat inside or upstairs. The best bar in all of Sydney is up on the roof, so head that way. Spend some time in the glow of the evening sun while sipping on a cocktail, beer, wine, or all three.

Little Felix

The Little Felix seems to be the Roaring Twenties-themed watering hole you didn't know you wanted. Due to its cramped quarters, this establishment is better suited for a romantic evening than a night out with friends. This pub in Sydney serves both classic cocktails and a wide variety of original drinks. There is also an irresistible snack selection available.

The Baxter Inn

Just At Baxter Inn, should you request a top-shelf cocktail, your bartender might actually have to climb a shelf to serve it. The Sydney bar's wine and liquor selection is as reflective as a stained glass window. If you're looking for premium liquors or well mixed cocktails, look no farther than the Baxter Inn. The Clarence Street bar Baxters has a reputation for being among the best in Sydney's central business area.

PS40

PS40's bartenders are more akin to crazed chemists. The two of them got together and came up with a cocktail menu that pays homage to all sorts of international celebrations, from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day. For the sober partygoers among us, they also serve non-alcoholic beverages. As winners received Timeout’s 2020 Bars of the Year Award, you’ll would like to check that Sydney bar out and for yourself.

Bulletin Place Bar

If you're in Sydney and you're not sure what and how to drink but you're willing to try anything, you should head to Bulletin Place Bar. They stock a vast selection of drinks, and their cocktails are always expertly made and taste fantastic. This circular quay bar was conveniently located near the train station in case things become too crazy.

The Wild Rover

There is no sign on the door of the Wild Rover, making it seem like they do not wish to be found. So after you've located the entrance, please accept this as an exclusive invitation. The Wild Rover is among Sydney's best hidden cocktail bars, with delicious drinks including their tap beer, wine, and signature cocktails. If you're feeling peckish, try one of their freshly baked lamb sausage buns.

The Lobo

There are approximately two hundred and fifty carefully selected rums, both domestic and foreign, to sample at The Lobo, a rum bar. Banana trees and rattan seats dominate the decor at The Lobo, making it feel like you've stepped into a Caribbean resort in the middle of Sydney. Here, the bartenders are proud to show off their skills, so be prepared for a performance. It's one of the greatest Sydney bars in food because there are so many tasty nibbles to sample.

The Cumberland

How you get inside The Cumberland just makes it among the top bars in Sydney. Their level of secrecy is so high that you have to descend a spiral staircase that goes right through a refrigerator before you can be seated at a table. As visually gorgeous as the venue's decor will be, the cocktails will be too. If you're from the mood for a light snack, the antipasti will hit the spot.

Conclusion

From trendy new hangouts to classic bars with a long history of serving up refreshing beverages, Time Out DRINK has compiled a list of the best bars in Sydney. They are willing to spend more on experiences that exceed their expectations in terms of fun, flavour, atmosphere, uniqueness, and value. Treat your staff with respect, prioritise their safety, and demonstrate flexibility when it comes to enforcing rules and regulations. Since its opening in February of this year, Cantina OK in Sydney has been providing patrons with nice, clean, sort of illicit fun, courtesy of mezcal and one of the city's most astute bartenders. It is the follow-up venture from the team behind Tio's Cerveceria: Alex Dowd, Jeremy Blackmore, and Alex "Happy" Gilmour.

Employees share tales of the Oaxacan mezcaleros who harvest at night, discuss the various types of agave used, and describe the ageing process (in glass or cowhide). The lunch is balanced off with dishes of fresh mango and dragonfruit. the shots are full with the wicked, wild, and gorgeous stuff. Margaritas, made with tequila and mezcal, are another speciality of the bartenders here. The Catalan-themed pub La Salut may be found in Sydney's hip Redfern neighbourhood. The Love Tilly Organization and the people_ own it; they are an up-and-coming hotel and hospitality corporation.

The stylish industrial decor and tasty (albeit mostly canned) small plates are just two reasons to visit this eatery with only 40 seats. If you want to lose track of time, all you need is a plate of jamón ibérico, a clean Spanish-style pig leg, but if you want something closer to a religious experience, try the paletilla iberico. Located on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, the award-winning Big Poppa's serves as a late-night restaurant and bar. From 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., patrons may enjoy hip-hop tunes, a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, and a menu featuring contemporary Italian fare and artisanal cheeses.

Big Poppa's bar is located below the restaurant, but diners are encouraged to take the steep staircase for the whole experience. The need to pair the restaurant's high-end Italian cuisine and wine list with lighter, all-day cocktails motivated Bartolo to open his own bar. There are six different cocktails that change with the seasons, plus some twists on classic drinks that Bartolo has created.

Content Summary

1. This blog post has all the information you could possibly want about the best bars in town.
2. You should immediately begin exploring Sydney's finest watering holes if you haven't already.
3. Sydney's nightlife centres around the city's bars.
4. To find the best bars in Sydney, Australia, that suit your tastes, use this guide.
5. Please verify all details with the venue or on their social media pages before making the trip, as they are subject to change at any time.
6. We think highly of everything that made our list, and we hope you do too.
7. From trendy new hangouts to classic bars with a long history of serving up refreshing beverages, Time Out DRINK has compiled a list of the best bars in Sydney.
8. Since its opening in February of this year, Cantina OK in Sydney has been providing patrons with nice, clean, sort of illicit fun, courtesy of mezcal and one of the city's most astute bartenders.
9. Every day of the week, from the time the rolling door opens at midday until it shuts at midnight, the Cantina has at least 20 customers.
10. Cantina distinguishes itself in a market saturated with bars selling unique and unusual liquors by focusing solely on mezcal.
11. Alex Dowd, Jeremy Blackmore, and Alex "Happy" Gilmour, the same people responsible for the success of Tio's Cerveceria, have opened a new restaurant called Cantina OK.
12. Here, the focus and scope are narrower, giving Gilmour the opportunity to satisfy his insatiable thirst for agave-based booze with regular excursions to distant Mexico.
13. There is no preaching, but the staff will gladly tell you about the papalome and vicuishe agave they use and how they are matured in glass or cowhide if you ask.
14. The drink is made by combining equal parts of tequila and mezcal with water shaved by an artisanal Nepalese ice maker and served in a coupe sprinkled with flaked salt; it is tangy, refreshing, and highly palatable due to its exceptional texture.
15. The people of Sydney have raised the bar pretty darn high with the likes of australia, Love, Lilly Devine, Ragazzi, and Dear Sainte loise when it comes to wine bars (and the munchies aren't bad too).
16. Their most recent business endeavour is a Catalan-themed lounge.
17. La Salut was founded in 2016 and is co-owned by the Love Tilly Organization and the people_, a newly formed hotel and lodging group.
18. The aim is to incorporate the energy and colour of Catalonia into the heart of Redfern.
19. The restaurant, which seats 40 people, exudes a hip, industrial air with its polished concrete and warm earth tones.
20. You should come to La Salut on an empty stomach despite the fact that it is predominantly a wine bar (a bottle shop has opened in the area that was originally the pokies room).
21. This restaurant, housed in what was once the hotel's sports bar, makes great use of its compact space by offering tasty, if largely canned, bite-sized meals.
22. At La Salut, we don't recommend stuffing ourselves silly so much as enjoying a leisurely evening of nibbling on some excellent small plates and sipping some fine wine (or bottle).
23. Big Poppa's is a late-night restaurant and pub that has won several honours, and it is located on the exciting Oxford Street in Darlinghurst.
24. From 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., patrons may enjoy nightly hip hop music, an extensive beer selection, and a menu of contemporary Italian fare and artisanal cheeses. People from all walks of life are welcome at Big Poppa's.
25. Instead, people of all ages congregate there to enjoy the great wine, delicious food, and exciting atmosphere.