Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney For The Best Harbour Views

Are you looking for a reason to visit a rooftop bar? Rooftop bars are a great way to unwind, recharge yourself, & gear up your social battery. They are very different from a standard bar; they come with a stunning view, an elite crowd, impeccable customer service, & unmatched drinks. The vibe? Immaculate! Rooftop bars are the best place to spend your time & bring some fun on your weekends. 

Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney

Impressive skyline, water views, and a very pleasant climate equal Sydney! Not surprisingly, the city comes packed with great rooftop venues; where else can you sit back and enjoy some great summer drinks? Only in Sydney. And we have listed the 15 best rooftop bars in Sydney to help you have the best food with great views!

1. Bar Ombre Rooftop 

Address: Level 3, Alfred St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $24
Book your reservation at : https://www.barombre.com.au/ 

Ambience

Giving an edge to the tradition of TGIF, Bar Ombre Rooftop has changed the landscape of weekend plans & parties in Sydney. Known as one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney, Bar Ombre is recommended by many for its gorgeous terrace, which is filled with lush greenery, colour-popping interiors, & gorgeous sunset views stretching over the Harbour Bridge. 

Food & Drinks

This rooftop restaurant’s menu promises to get authentic Italian flavours to your plate. The menu will get you drooling over its options like fried Calamari, Prosciutto & Burrata, homemade cheese, pizza bread, anchovies and the obvious presence of pizza. The Italians have an inseparable wine and dine culture; you will always spot a round glass of wine, beer, or cocktail along with a dish on the table. By being religious to this tradition, the drink menu has a wide selection of Italian wines and Spirits like Mezcal, Tequila. Bourbon, and more. Bar Ombre is also very big on its events, with in-house DJs, live music, etc. It also has intriguing and eyebrow-raising events like “Bottomless Sundays”, which is solely made to pamper your taste buds with an Italian spread accompanied by some alcohol.

2. Republic Hotel & Taylor Rooftop 

Address: Level 3, Alfred St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $35
Book your reservation at : https://republichotel.com/taylors-rooftop/ 

Ambience

The beauty of a city is encapsulated in its skyline; Get ready to be smitten by one of the best bars with a view of Sydney's sunset. Taylor Rooftop is worth a visit to gaze over the outline of the city, but it isn't limited just to its breath-taking views. With the ambience of an open-air garden, you will be seated amongst a lot of greenery with some wind rustling through your face, making it a perfect place to unwind & enjoy. 

Food & Drinks

Taylor Rooftop is known to be one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney & a great hangout spot for sipping on some cocktails and mocktails on the weekdays. With delicious concoctions like Jalapeno Tequila, Pineapple, Citrus, Ginger, Agave, and Tajin in a cocktail cup or some sparkling rose & champagne, there is a drink for every occasion served. Taylor Rooftop also hosts a very clever menu that binds well with its cocktails & mocktails servings. You can find cocktail snacks like prawn tacos, roasted five spice chicken with coleslaw, cooked arancini, burgers & steaks to munch on. On the weekends, it's time for Taylor Saturdays! The entire place transforms into a party frenzy with a rooftop dance room to show off your groovy moves, live music, & international DJs in the house. An unparalleled enthusiasm like a Taylor Swift concert. 

3.  The Rook 

Address:  Level 7/56-58 York St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $40
Book your reservation at : https://republichotel.com/taylors-rooftop/ 

Ambience

The Rook is one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney that is built on the foundation of creativity & curiosity. Inspired by the looks of Italian gardens, this renaissance genesis will instantly teleport you to the beauty of Southern Italy on a rooftop terrace while sitting in Sydney. 

Food & Drinks

What’s on the Rocks at the Rook? This place is known for squeezing its creative juices into its cocktail menu. Some intriguing recommendations include Fear & Loathing, Hot air balloon, & Stiff Cloud, which are all a mix of balanced spirits, eclectic ingredients, & unusual bitters that makes each sip an art of mixology. To harmonise it further, the Rook has some flavour-matching selections like truffle fries, lobsters, soft shell crabs, & spicy burgers. Lastly, the Rook is exciting and eventful as it hosts many weekly shows. In short, it is one of the rooftop bars in Sydney that channels its creativity from its diverse menu, cocktails, ambience, and service. 

4. Old Mates Place

Address: Level 4/199 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $20
Book your reservation at : https://oldmates.sydney/ 

Ambience

The history of bars has been complicated since the start; it reached its peak of complexity by facing a complete ban in the 1920's giving birth to the concept of "speakeasies". To wrap it in a bow of words, it was a hidden bar in places like basements or back rooms where alcohol, good music and dance floors would set the scene. Even though this concept has faded, it left an impactful mark on today's modern bars' ambience, cocktails, decor, settings, etc. By trying not to erase this history and honouring it, Old Mates Place is one of the rooftop bars in Sydney that brings this to the limelight. Its 1920's ambience, rusty bookshelves, candles, and lush treehouse vibes offer a 360 view of Sydney's CBD and a speakeasy ambience. 

Food & Drinks 

The cocktails here are inspired by those times and include traditional beer, wine, & fancy cocktails. Along with this, it has an intimidating menu of food, out of which the favourite picked one is Philly Cheese Steak. 

5. Shelbourne Hotel Rooftop Sydney 

Address: Level 3/200 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $45
Book your reservation at : https://www.shelbournehotel.com.au/the-rooftop-gallery 

Ambience

The Rooftop, a Sydney rooftop bar located at the top of the Shelbourne Hotel best known as “Hamptons on a rooftop”, is a near replication of the sophisticated & chic area of Hamptons. By being original to the theme, Rooftop Sydney has given a summer-feel twist to its interiors; you will spot some umbrellas, hanging chairs, tropical palm trees, and chic high tables, complementing the stunning views of the Darling Harbour through its transparent floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Food & Drinks 

All this royalty is also reflected in their menu and choices of drinks. You can devour over some relishing feast like king prawns, Tasmanian salmon, summer melon salad, truffle mushroom arancini, or pop a bottle of sparkling champagne. By being one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney, it also tunes in some live music and events from time to time. Lastly, Rooftop Sydney is a little expensive for an affair, but  It isn’t wrong to put your feet in your favourite celebrity’s shoe for a day.

6. Babylon Rooftop and Garden

Address: Level 7/188 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $60
Book your reservation at :https://www.babylonrooftop.com.au/ 

Ambience

Alexander the Great would be in utter shock if he were to visit the Babylon Rooftop and Garden. Known as one of the best rooftop restaurants in Sydney, this entire place is influenced by the Levant's history, i.e., the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle Eastern region. Right from its imaginative attempt to create the vibe of Babylon in its ambience to its warm hospitality, there is no space for any complaints or food while dining here. 

Food & Drinks 

The food served at Babylon Rooftop is curated to evoke nostalgia for people who have grown up in Middle Eastern households or want to taste authentic flavours. Straight from the kitchen, you will be served classics like Hummus, Fattoush Salad, Babaganoush, Shish Tawook, & Baklava or interesting Chocolate tahini, caramel sponge, sesame, Turkish coffee ice cream for the sweet tooth. Even though alcohol is not a middle eastern integration, this place has a fine selection of cocktails, wine, & 200+ whisky offerings that complements the exquisite Middle Eastern cuisine. Lastly, being on the rooftop will also give you panoramic views of Sydney, making it one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney. 

7. Untied Sydney 

Address: Lvl 4/400 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $49
Book your reservation at : https://untiedsydney.com.au/ 

Ambience

Untied Rooftop Sydney is a beautiful representation of the Australian tropic's food, vibe, & environment. The rooftop's decor is bright and elegant, with lush plants and vibrant colours that mix laid-back attitudes with sophistication and quality. 

Food & Drinks 

Untied Sydney is known for their rewarding tropical cocktails and menu; you will find your way skimming through a lot of fruity punch drinks like Big Pineapple & find typical tropical delicacies like BBQ, Jerk chicken burgers, calamari, & prawns, which are enough to trick your brain into thinking you are soaking the sun in northern Australia. A fun element is that this place has its one & unique self-service Froze bar, i.e. a line of self-service machines that are filled with a wide variety of tropical flavour slushies like raspberry, white peach, grapefruit rosemary, blue hibiscus, mango lime, green apple etc. After filling them to the brim, you can also garnish them with candies like gummy bears to add some tangy & bittersweetness to your drink. You should visit this one of the "best rooftop bars in Sydney" on the weekends as you can be a part of their tasty brunch spread.

8. Green Moustache Rooftop Garden Bar & Restaurant 

Address: Rooftop, Level 10/100 Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060, Australia
Average Price: $40
Book your reservation at :https://www.greenmoustache.com.au/ 

Ambience

Another elegant addition to the best rooftop bars in Sydney, Green Moustache Rooftop Garden Bar & Restaurant is an all-day restaurant and bar with a magnificent rooftop garden stretching through the panorama views of North Sydney, reviving the spirits of Australian nightlife. With a not-so-conventional rooftop approach to its decor, this place has balanced the art of modernity & nature by having floor-to-ceiling glass windows for natural lighting & huge potted plants at every corner of the restaurant giving it a lush green makeover. 

Food & Drinks 

The love for nature proliferates into its delicious and seasonally sourced bold emphasis on Australian cuisine. For refreshments, there are cocktails with botanical influence & a premium selection of 275 bottles of premium spirits & liquor from around the world. In short, this indoor-outdoor rooftop space is a solid attraction and a must-visit rooftop restaurant in Sydney.

9. Zephyr

Address: Level 12/161 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $120
Book your reservation at : https://zephyrbarsydney.com/ 

Ambience

Zephyr is a premium Sydney rooftop bar situated atop the five-star Hyatt Regency Sydney, wrapped in a sleek and exclusive marine-inspired design and offers some magnificent waterfront views across Sydney's Darling Harbour. Sitting at a higher altitude, you would feel  gentle and soothing breezes reminiscent of its name. Top-notch and high quality is the key to dining experience at Zephyr.

Food & Drinks 

Zephyr does not only display its affection for luxury in its ambience but also in its plates; you can find some expensive taste dishes like Wagyu beef sliders, lobster popcorn, & Charcuterie boards that have small snackables like sausages, biscuits, cheese, deserts, etc. The rooftop bar features a variety of amazing cocktails like Mulled wine, Royal Margarita, Caramelised Pear Mojito, Century Sonic Negroni 3 month aged, etc. Each drink here is a promise to a good enlightening sensory experience. This is one of the rooftop bars in Sydney has been awarded Hotel Bar of the Year numerous years in a row.

10. Slims Rooftop 

Address: 47/49 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
Average Price: $50
Book your reservation at :https://www.hydeparkhouse.com/slims-rooftop 

Ambience

The icing on the cake is the golden hour views of this rooftop bar in Sydney. Hyde Park House has pink and orange rooftop vibes and spectacular views of Hyde Park and the CBD cityscape.it is surrounded by tropical flora and is open daily for lunch & supper. 

Food & Drinks 

As for the drinks, apart from classic wine, beer, and champagne, the menu is very inventive, and each drink has its personality. The cocktail menu is every mixologist's dream which includes margaritas, and Aperol spritzers, for a fruity punch; there are lychee concoctions. Slims Rooftop is one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney and the best weekend hangout spot. On Saturdays and Sundays, It exclusively hosts a brunch club that contains a lovely and fresh spread of Guacamole, Salmon Avocado Sushi, Beef Skewer Salad, Tempura Prawn, Chicken Katsu Sliders, & Fries, accompanied by a bottle of Bottomless Rose & Prosecco.

11. The Glenmore Hotel

Address: 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $30
Book your reservation at : https://theglenmore.com.au/ 

Ambience

Known to be one of the oldest and best rooftop bars in Sydney, The Glenmore Hotel will sweep you off your feet with its unparalleled panorama of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney skyline, and the Opera House. This three-level establishment is a modern and entertaining pub-style rooftop bar ideal for relaxed beverages and snacks in a casual but energetic setting. The entire place embodies an old colonial English style while mixing a contemporary & modern twist to its interiors.

Food & Drinks

For keeping your spirits high throughout the day or night, you can chug on a long list of options of beer like Eazy Hazy, Pacific Ale, & Pale Ale. Apart from beer, they also have some shiny cocktails to sip on under the presence of pleasant weather. For sober & foodie lads, the place has some good spread of seafood like Salt & Pepper Squid, Chicken Schnitzel, Lamb Shoulders, Poker Bowls, Burger, Gnocchi, etc. The food theme here is gastro-pub dishes i.e.  an easy to snack on the menu that goes well with cold chilled beers and cocktails. 

12. Zeta Bar

Address: Level 4/488 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $60
Book your reservation at: https://www.zetabar.com.au/ 

Ambience

Spend great weekend nights with live music that turns into a nightclub later that night. Zeta is one of the chic cocktail rooftop bars in Sydney famous for its outstanding drink menu. On the rooftop terrace of the Sydney Hilton, with great views of downtown Sydney and the Queen Victoria Building, this Sydney rooftop bar is themed around the beauty of gardens. Walking in, you would have entered the Garden of Eden with a lot of greenery & potted plants around. To add to its rooftop touch, Zeta Bar has included some modern interiors 

Food & Drinks 

The cocktails are incredibly innovative, quite expensive, and worth every penny; Get your high & experience the taste of happiness during happy hours with drinks with Monkey 47 Gin and Tonic, Black Forest Negroni, Turkish Delight Cocktail & Paradise cocktail. For giving your drinks some company, you can order some  Lobster Rolls, Tempura Prawns, Wagyu Beef Sliders, Chicken Wings, & Quesadillas. Ultimately it is one of the best rooftop bars  in Sydney for after work parties! 

13. Aurora Rooftop Hotel 

Address: 324 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Average Price: $30
Book your reservation at:https://aurorahotel.com.au/ 

Ambience

Aurora Rooftop Hotel is a three-story restaurant that is an entertainment venue for food, drinks, and games. This amazing Sydney Rooftop Bar is best for parties or simply catching up with mates for a few drinks. The Aurora Rooftop Bar, which is only open to the public on weeknights, is almost tailor-made for after-work drinks and sundowners, with live DJs frequently providing the perfect lounge ambience. They also have a good balcony view that overlooks central Sydney, giving off a good view with good food making it one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney. 

Food & Drinks 

Aurora Rooftop Hotel is also a cocktail and culinary delight; It has a light eating menu like Green Thai curry with steam rice, chicken burger, prawn linguine, & different sorts of pizzas. Apart from food, you can also savour over some Aurora signature & favourite cocktails like Watermelon Martini, The Godfather, Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri, & Old fashioned which will flush down your stress levels and give you a good high. 

14. Ivy Pool Club

Address:  Level 4/320 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Average Price: $40 
Book your reservation at: https://merivale.com/venues/poolclub/ 

Ambience

Find the LA glam meeting the Italian vibes in the heart of Sydney at the Pool Club. This is a Sydney rooftop bar and a diverse spot worth spending time on. The interior is inspired by Palm Springs in the 1960s. Visit throughout the day to enjoy the gorgeous rooftop pool, best known for pool parties & nights for shaking a beat, International DJ & loud music. You can take a pill to Ibiza here! 

Food & Drinks 

Ivy Pool Club is an Italian delight for your stomach; right from healthy salads, antipasti, pasta, & pizzas. The Ivy rooftop bar serves great well-crafted cocktails like creamy Coconut Batidos, Pina Colada, if you want to go extra fancy you can shake up & toast to some Champagne. Let’s toast to one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney 

15. Helm Bar & Bistro 

Address: Aquarium Wharf, 7 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Average Price: $60
Book your reservation at: https://www.helmbar.com.au/ 

Ambience

Helm Bar & Bistro is a multi-level establishment that serves casual dining and drinking directly in Cockle Bay's busy nightlife district. A Lower Deck has a beer garden, and an Upper Deck has a rooftop terrace with Darling Harbour views and a nautical style making it a Sydney rooftop bar for everything from a sunny brunch to harbour views. 

Food & Drinks 

It serves a fresh, diversified, modern assortment of food and drinks; it is known to be one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney, this place is a seafood paradise. Right from oysters, calamari, fresh prawns, crab pasta, & battered fish, lobsters, Helm Bar & Bistro will make you drool over its seafood goodness. Apart from this it has a regular bar menu snack like taco, pizzas, burgers & other aussie classics, but wait, this isn’t it!  This Sydney rooftop bar also has a good curated drink menu that fits like a glove with its menu. You can either order for wine, tap beers, or sip over a Margarita or Cosmo.

‍Sydney has breathtaking views, making it ideal for a rooftop bar and an open-air cocktail. While rooftop pubs were once limited in Sydney, there are now nearly enough to visit a new one every weekend in spring and summer. So grab your sunglasses or wear a party dress and show up at one of these best rooftop bars in Sydney! Also, check out this blog to explore a few other amazing bars in Sydney.