Best Cocktail Bars in Sydney

Tipping its cap to old-school American cowboys, Shady Pines Saloon is a low-lit basement bar famed for its whiskeys, craft beers and sarsaparilla. Often hailed as one of the best cocktail bars in Sydney, this place is an absolute must if you're craving a signature sip. Its eccentric decor includes vintage taxidermy, an antique bar and plenty of trinkets. Visit for date night or a casual, yet cool, drink with friends and check out the likes of the Lottie Deon, made with gin, lillet blanc and watermelon, or the vodka and pink grapefruit-based Pink Star, for $25 each. 

When it comes to cocktail bars in Sydney CBD, there's nowhere quite like this. Set up and run by pals Sebastian Soto, Charlie Lehmann and Dardan Shervashidze who all have a penchant for deadly libations, Ramblin' Rascal Tavern is an underground bar with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. Donning blood-red carpeted flooring, exposed brick walls and fairy lights, it offers a cosy nook for enjoying some quality sips, and it's no wonder Dave Grohl is a fan. Drinks include Gettin' Figgy Wit It ($24), made with cognac, Pedro Ximenez sherry, and Apple Bottom Chai ($24), a lime and academia orgeat delight. 

Earl's Juke Joint is a fantastic watering hole, thanks to its feel-good vibes and New Orleans-leaning aesthetic. Lit up with golden dangling lights, sporting old photographs fixed to the walls that, together, provide an environment that's not too dissimilar to neighbourhood USA bar, this Newtown drinking den plays a toe-tapping soundtrack for sipping natural wine, craft beer and signature creations which frequently reinvent old classics. That's That ($22) is a thirst-quenching gem, featuring watermelon and habanero distillate, and the Zunga Zeng ($22) is a rum-based tipple that's bound to leave you wanting another thanks to its delicious tiki spice. 

Blending tropical and Twin Peaks influences, Jacoby's Tiki Bar is one of the quirkiest cocktail joints in town. Stop by for unique interiors like multicolour spherical light fixtures hung in dangling nets, low ceilings and alternative artwork, and stick around for the menu of reinvented concoctions that's won the spot Australian Bartender magazine's rum bar of the year, two years in a row. Get excited about the Damn Fine Coffee, which is a coconut water-laced espresso martini, and the Navy Frog, made with St. James Agricole, Rhum JM XO and grapefruit. 

Promising fresh cuts and handcrafted cocktails under one roof, The Barber Shop is one unique drinking den in Barangaroo. The award-winning cocktail bar has been voted Australia's best gin bar four years in a row and boasts over 700 varieties of the sort from across the globe. It can be found behind a hidden silver door of a barber shop on York Street, fronting dark green walls, industrial lighting and a glossy, white-tiled bar. Get stuck into bespoke mixes that showcase a variety of flavours, from the floral to the fruity. The Monarch is a cabbage-infused Hickson House Classic Dry and pear-infused Tio Pepe delight, while the Sun Kiss features Tempus Fugit crême de banane, lemon and absinthe.

The Lobo is renowned for its rum-laced concoctions and chic interiors, making it one of the best cocktail bars in Sydney CBD. Named after the famous Cuban sugar baron Julio Lobo, it transports you to the sun-soaked streets of Havana accompanied by a salsa soundtrack, rattan furniture and ever-buzzing atmosphere. A top team of mixologists are on hand here to whip up imaginative creations that include the likes of a white negroni daiquiri, made with suze, lillet and orange bitters, a fire-fuelled Old Grogram and a mezcal-based Sour Dispute which includes black walnut bitters and a dash of egg.

Searching for the best cocktail bars in Sydney with a view? Smoke should be firmly on the list thanks to its modern tipples inspired by the New York and LA drinking scene paired with waterside scenery. The chic space can be found at Barangaroo House with intimate, candle-lit tables and bursts of greenery. Picture this: you'll get to guzzle signature sips like the pineapple and makrut lime coconut-flavoured Caught In The Rain, or Vertigo, made with cacao bitters, while tucking into a selection of next-level snacks like tuna belly crudo or sourdough flatbread with truffle honey and ricotta. 

Zeta Bar is a slinky drinking den with a flower-adorned secret garden that's mastered the art of theatrical cocktails. The exclusive rooftop is the perfect spot for after-work drinks in the city with sunset views. The 5pm to 7pm happy hour is a major draw, where you can find a negroni and a vermuttino for $14 each. Every day you can expect a menu of Instagram-worthy concoctions, like the non-alcoholic Turkish Delight, made with cranberry, rose syrup and the sweet itself, or the gin and bergamot-based Como Martini. Its bar snacks are worth delving into too, with the wagyu beef sliders and hell's chicken wings with blue cheese sauce being hard to resist.

If you're on the lookout for the rooftop cocktail bars Sydney has to offer then you're going to love this gem. Slims Rooftop is a must-visit as it combines a panoramic cityscape with handcrafted cocktails and kitsch furnishings. This place is so much more than just a pretty face, although it doesn't hurt to have cute coral-pink parasols, checkerboard flooring and potted cacti planted about. Signature drinks at this haunt include the Million Dollar Mermaid (£20), featuring lychee liquor and blue curacao, and the whisky-based Aspen Sour ($21). Pair your tipple with some sashimi tacos or salt and pepper squid and you're away. 

There are very few cocktail bars as stunning as Bar 83. Found at the top of Sydney Tower, the rotating CBD bar, which happens to be the highest in the city 83 floors above street level, offers guests a luxurious experience complete with amazing views and modern decor in the form of neon pink fixtures, gold mushroom lamps and ruby red and white pod-style chairs. You'll discover scrumptious libations in the form of an Old Bull Reverie ($25) made with Bourbon whiskey infused with prosciutto, and a Midnight Frog ($28) featuring coffee and chocolate-infused tequila. The bar food is far from shabby either - perhaps caviar and oysters will tickle your fancy, or a tempura zucchini flower. 

One of the best cocktail bars Sydney has to offer is also one of its most secretive. Nestled away off the beaten track, Old Mate's Place offers visitors the chance to sip on a range of artisanal creations against a backdrop of rich leather furnishings, draping vines and vintage bookshelves, or on the suntrap rooftop terrace. Downstairs is Old Love, a tiki bar inspired by all things rum, offering you the chance to choose between innovative botanical concoctions and tipples served in crazy cups. And as for food? Hearty nibbles is where it's at, with Philly cheese steak and deli meats on the menu. 

The Soda Factory can be found behind the guise of Bobby's Boss Dogs and a 50s Coke machine. Don't be fooled though, as this place carries on the American diner vibe, with neon-covered walls, interactive murals and a menu of classic diner dishes alongside boozy soda floats. This place guarantees a great night out with live music and DJ sets on the regular. Get excited about classic tipples like negronis and pornstar martinis for around $20 each, or branch out to its signature concoctions that include Bright Idea ($22) made with rose syrup and served in a berry smoke lightbulb, or the gin and egg white-based Butterfly Effect ($22).

Saga Bar is a dreamy date night haunt, bringing together globally inspired cocktails with tropical decor that has serious Indiana Jones vibes. Enter through a tomb-style door to find an oasis complete with statues, waterfalls and hanging plants. Alongside its staple menu items, the Surry Hills spot promises a weekly rotation of new concoctions, so you'll never have the same experience twice. Our favourites include the Boulevardier, featuring Buffalo Trace bourbon combined with campair and a house rosso vermouth blend, and the Pearl Of The Six-Armed Goddess, made with Gosling black seal rum and absinthe.

Dean & Nancy On 22 can be found high above the city skyline offering some of the best cocktails around. The space oozes glamour and natural light thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows, grand piano and black marble tables surrounded by sleek, leather seats. Its signature cocktail list 'Above The Clouds' includes creations like Watermelon Sugar High, containing Fords Gin, Aperol and honeydew melon, and the tequila and burnt lime agave-based Space Taco. You can also enjoy an elevated classic here too, like the house caviar martini, or a Haku martini.