Pretty Bars In Sydney

Stepping right out of a Mediterranean dream and hitting the roof of Pitt Street is Babylon, a stunning bar and restaurant in Sydney's CBD. At its core, it serves delicious Turkish food inspired by its founder's childhood memories, and the rooftop is themed around one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; the hanging gardens of Babylon. Decorated with fairy lights, various textures and bursts of hanging greenery, it's a great place to hang out all year round. Mezze such as crispy calamari and wood-fired cabbage kebab is served up top, alongside bespoke cocktails like Paradiso (lychee, passion fruit. lemon and rose) and The Oasis (Plantation pineapple, Malibu and blue curacao).

High above Sydney's skyline, you'll find some of the most creative and playful cocktails about, mixing mid-century decadence with modern touches at the most pretty bar in Sydney, Dean & Nancy On 22. As the sun hits the floor-to-ceiling windows and live music gets underway, gold-veined marbled tables are illuminated and the brass staircase dazzles - it's truly a jaw-dropping spot and a big hitter if you're on a date and looking to impress. Its drinks menu centres around various themes, with the current 'Above The Clouds' offering boasting the likes of the Ray of Light, made with Mitcher's Sour Mash and condensed milk, or the tequila-based Love Droplet. 

One of the most beautiful bars Sydney has to offer can be found at Hyde House on the edge of the CBD. It overlooks the park with striking views and is open seven days a week for food and drink. Rows of baby pink parasols and cool, grey sofas line Slims Rooftop and towering skyscrapers provide the backdrop to brunches and cocktails. Make yourself at home among potted plants, soak up the beach feel and browse a menu that features tipples like the Million Dollar Mermaid ($20) made with vodka, lychee liquor and lime, or Purple Heart, featuring INK gin, St Germain Elderflower liquor and Cointreau.

A Barangaroo beauty if we ever did see one, Smoke is a rooftop cocktail bar that is both elegant and laid-back. It features tipples that are inspired by the LA and New York drinking scene while setting the mood for a chic evening. Look out across the water as you're surrounded by low lighting, encouraging romance, and take a peek at its innovative cocktail list where mixologists use local and high-quality ingredients to curate a selection of seductive sips. Watch out for the Caught In The Rain, made using Plantation Dark and makrut lime coconut, or Vertigo, featuring Monkey Shoulder, cocoa bitters and salted Lagavulin. 

Picture this: you venture through a large, tomb-style door and into a tropical paradise complete with statues, leafy trees and glimpses of cascading waterfalls, yet you're still in the middle of Sydney. That's exactly how it feels to venture into the Indiana Jones-inspired world of Saga Bar on Goold Street. Among the jungle, explore a delicious cocktail menu featuring some extraordinary concoctions like the Boulevardier, made with Buffalo Trace bourbon combined with campair and a house rosso vermouth blend, plus the Pearl Of The Six-Armed Goddess, featuring Gosling black seal rum and absinthe - should you dare. 

The Roof is a rooftop bar and restaurant that's tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD area. Adorned with pretty blossom and other floral decor, and fronting abstract artwork on the walls, it's a welcoming and relaxing environment for a drink with friends or even an after-work tipple or two. You can enjoy views of the skyline whatever the weather, thanks to its atrium-style retractable roof, and look forward to a creative menu featuring Instagram-worthy drinks such as Jalapeno Business, sporting a cute foam bubble, or the gin-based SeredipiTEA, served in a teacup.

The Lobo is an underground rum bar in the heart of Sydney CBD, named after Julio Lobo the famous Cuban sugar baron. Not one to skimp on rich decor, it fronts rich, emerald green walls, rattan furniture and weathered shutters that transport those looking for a refreshing drink to the streets of Havana. Candle-lit tables make for a cosy addition, and expert mixologists are on hand to make sure that your evening is full of bespoke tipples. From 5pm 'til 6pm every day of the week, the venue hosts a daiquiri hour where you can snap them up for $13, as well as old fashioneds and mai tais. For the full experience, the rum flights are worth exploring, or one of the signature cocktails like the Old Groom, featuring Lobo's famous stout vermouth and flames.