Now that lockdown is over, it’s time to experience life right. Treat yourself to some of the coolest cocktail bars Sydney has to offer.
Maybe Sammy for the Manhattan Drinker
Maybe Sammy is located in the Rocks, Sydney. Although, it’s as if you are being transported to the glamorous 50s through their groovy interior and handsome Bartenders dressed to the nines.
According to the World’s 50 Best Bars, an annual ranking of bars as voted by more than 500 drink experts from around the globe, Maybe Sammy is placed at number 11.
Maybe Sammy is best known for their inviting hotel-style service. They make it their top priority to give you a personalised and magical experience like having your usual drink appear on the bar while your back is turned.
Their ready-made cocktails are packed with Australian-sourced ingredients in elegant art-deco bottles. These botanical infusions elevate what is already a wonderfully immersive experience.
Sitting at the bar sipping a dry martini makes you feel like Audrey Hepburn for a night.
Re- for the Negroni drinker
Any cocktail bar can make you a dry appletini on ice but only Re can produce tasty creative mixtures using leftover banana skins and salvaged mushrooms.
Re is located at the South Eveleigh redevelopment near Redfern. It lives up to the name of being Australia’s first sustainable cocktail bar by using tables made out of recycled milk bottles and ensuring their napkins and hand towels are made out of linen.
Their menu is designed by Bondi Icebergs’ head chef Alex Prichard. It features inventive dishes such as togarashi-spiced puffed beef tendons, and wild deer ‘nduja with a 63-degree poached egg and chips.
Re’s unique collection of cocktails include highballs, spritzes, and riffs. They are all rich in quality spirits complemented by infused tea bags or syrups made from remaining fruit or vegetables.
Ultimately, their unconventional ingredients and sustainable methods are not only a unique experience for cocktail connoisseurs but a catalyst for change in the way the hospitality industry considers waste.
The Rook for the Mojito drinker
The Rook is Sydney’s best-kept secret – a hidden gem in the heart of the city. This funky rooftop bar is a mere 3-minute walk from the Queen Victoria Building and has stunning visibility of the city skyline.
Despite the share plates being small, the dishes are beautifully presented and surprisingly delectable for bar food. On the other hand, the main meals are quite filling – the truffle fries are an absolute must-try.
Ordering is made easy with online purchasing through QR codes, making the service efficient and prompt. The Rook’s staff have an affable nature, the bartenders have been known to invent a new cocktail for a customer’s birthday.
The Rook’s best invention is the ‘East Avenue’. It’s like a Mojito and a Southside got married and created a refreshing minty citrus Hendrix baby.
Blu Bar on 36 for the Martini drinker
Blu Bar on 36 is one of Sydney’s best cocktail locations, positioned on the 36th floor of the Shangri-la Hotel in the Rocks. Whether it’s afternoon drinks with the girls or drinks after a long day at the office, the panoramic views of the harbor never fail to impress.
Blu Bar doesn’t take bookings, so go early to avoid disappointment. As an added bonus, watch the sun go down over the horizon.
If you fancy a high tea, you’ll love Blu Bar’s fancy high tea. The menu is designed by celebrity pastry chef Anna Polyviou with a selection of sweet and savoury treats that pair well with a cocktail in hand.
They have an extensive cocktail menu featuring both traditional concoctions as well as the Bartender’s original creations.
Furthermore, learn the fine art of cocktail-making at their private mixology classes. For 2 hours, the talented bartenders instruct how to use powders, gels, foams, and sprays for eccentric cocktails. By the end of the session, you’ll be well equipped to throw your own cocktail party.
Archie Rose for the Gin and Tonic drinker
Archie Rose is both a gin distillery and cocktail bar located in an industrial-chic warehouse in Rosebery.
This hybrid establishment creates the best interactive drinking experience as they offer a range of events. These events include distillery tours, gin tastings as well as a cocktail masterclass where you learn the tricks of the trade. All of these experiences are excellent value for money and run by expert and enthusiastic guides.
The taste of their delicious blends is best described as citrus, smooth with a subtle sour twist. Every gin cocktail recommended by the attentive waiters is a feast for the taste buds.
Don’t be surprised if you end up buying a bottle of Archie Rose Gin to take home with you.
The Baxter Inn for the Whiskey Sour drinker
From their dim-lit saloon atmosphere to their extensive range of over 800 whiskeys, the Baxter Inn is a unique find. However, finding the bar is the most difficult part as it is situated off Clarence Street down an unmarked alleyway in the basement of a building.
Reminiscent of a New York speakeasy, you feel as if you are entering an illegal tavern during Prohibition. To further develop this fantasy, country music plays overhead and the servers inhibit the classic warmth of southern hospitality.
This underground bar stretches 10 metres and is equipped with the best knowledgeable mixologists who seem to offer every cocktail under the sun. Be prepared to have your taste buds blown away by unexpected blends of flavours.
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