Bar 1880

SYDNEY, for all its shimmering harbourside views and world-famous beaches, often wears a more casual cloak when it comes to nightlife. In fact, the city’s nightlife has long been the target of ridicule by neighbouring states. But since lockout laws were relaxed a few years back, Sydney’s bar scene has seen a quiet resurgence – and with new watering holes making their mark across the city, there’s been an explosion of creativity.

In the past, local bartenders did their best to imitate what their counterparts in the northern hemisphere were doing. But nowadays, they’re looking inward for inspiration, cultivating a distinct drinking culture that’s unrecognisable from the craft beer and red wine-dominated landscape of decades past.

An emerging cocktail scene, fuelled by Australians’ latent discovery of overseas favourites like martinis, Aperol spritzs, Long Islands and negronis, has seen increased room for experimentation, with smart revisions of these classics infused with Australian elements proving popular.

Heightened demand for top-quality spirits, meanwhile, has resulted in a greater emphasis on quality and source, with a few spirits becoming mainstays on menus. Gin, for one, has made its way out from your grandad’s cupboard and into a number of drinks that go beyond the standard G&T.

Bars are coaxing crowds and keeping them. With carefully considered small plates and snacks, enticing settings and, of course, world-class drinks, these establishments are in many ways replacing the local pub.

Here, we profile some of the nation’s best bars, to help you decide which are worthy of your next night out.

What are the best bars in Sydney?

Bar 1880

Location: CBD

Best for: Impressing the self-proclaimed ‘cocktail expert’ in your friend group

Tucked away in an alley right near circular quay, Bar 1880 is a throwback to the iconic bars of old Sydney – and it is the definition of a hidden gem. Once you step off Bulletin Place, look out for a typewriter denoting the bar’s entrance. From there, painted-on characters on the walls will direct you to ‘follow the gold’ upstairs and inside. The venue was once the home of weekly newspaper The Bulletin, and the new space still evokes a 19th-century feel with moody lighting, leather upholstery, exposed brick walls and jazzy music – but assuredly, the old paper mill has vacated the premises.

What’s more, Bar 1880’s menu has just received a revamp, with 11 new cocktails and additional bar snacks. The cocktail menu features a number of new takes on classic drinks, and the standout among the new offerings is the Golden Hour – made up of burnt butter-infused bourbon, maple syrup and vanilla bitters. The watermelon-flavoured Fresh Prince and indulgent Tropic Like It’s Hot are other highlights – the latter of which the owner, Harry Morton, describes as a “like a mai tai… but better” – and the small plate food menu offers the perfect accompaniment to the delicious drinks.

Order: Bartender knows best. Give them 30 seconds of soul reading and they’ll have an answer for you.

The Baxter Inn

Location: CBD

Best for: Whisky lovers, whisky learners, whisky lifers

Down an unmarked alley and through a fire escape, The Baxter Inn is as close to spiritual enlightenment as a whisky bar gets. Candlelit and basement-bound, it’s a space that whispers old-world charm. Behind the bar: hundreds of bottles, many rare, many eye-wateringly priced, all handled with reverence.

Want a peated Islay number with the smoky charm of a Scottish bonfire? A bartender will nod approvingly and slide one across. Pair it with a bowl of complimentary pretzels and a blues soundtrack, and you’ve found what you’re looking for.

Order: Lagavulin 16yo, neat

Old Mate’s Place

Location: Clarence Street, CBD

Best for: Friday drinks with the inner circle

Old Mate’s Place hides in plain sight. Tucked above a CBD office block, it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stair climb to a leafy rooftop and airy bar that feels like the cosiest speakeasy in town. The drinks list is high on craftsmanship and low on pretension.

Order: Takes Two To Mango – white rum, manzanilla, toasted coconut, lemongrass, citrus, mango nectar

Bar Planet

Location: Newtown

Best for: Getting a little weird

There’s nothing traditional about Bar Planet. The decor is cosmic-meets-mid-century and is best described as an art nouveau bistro on the moon. The vibe is loose, and the martini is the main event. The menu is wide ranging, but the bartenders are your guides. So, trust them, because you’re in excellent hands. It’s experimental, yes, but not wanky.

Order: The house martini… duh

Maybe Sammy

Location: The Rocks

Best for: First dates, anniversaries, or any occasion for flirting and fun

Maybe Sammy has personality in spades. Think Vegas in the ‘50s, filtered through a Bond film lens. It’s less a bar and more a performance, and the staff are the leading cast members. Expect theatrics (bubble-topped martinis, spritz guns) served with Sinatra-style charm. But underneath the showbiz is real talent – world-class drinks that have personality, just like the staff.

Order: The mini martini. A classic.

Dean & Nancy

Location: Inside A by Adina Hotel, CBD

Best for: Date night

If James Bond holidayed in Sydney, this is where he’d go for a drink. Located on the 22nd floor of A by Adina, Dean & Nancy is modern, moody and immaculately styled. The drinks rotate between new twists on classics and expressions that are straight up weird – the Velvet Venom Milk Punch, for example, is served in a literal sea urchin. The main draw, however, are those level 22 views, which rise high above Wynyard station in the CBD.

Order: The Velvet Venom Milk Punch – Flor de Caña rum, matcha, toasted rice, coconut, almond and vanilla in a sea urchin cup.

The Lobo

Location: Clarence Street, CBD

Best for: After work drinks in the office precinct

Slip into The Lobo for a taste of Havana via Sydney. The rum list is encyclopaedic, the music’s got rhythm, and the space is all warm wood and cane-back. The cocktails lean tropical, the staff knows their way around an agricole, and the variety of rum is a genuine thing of beauty.

Order: White negroni daiquiri – white rum, suze, lillet, lemon and orange bitters.

Cantina OK!

Location: A laneway near Clarence Street, CBD

Best for: Something different

Tucked down a laneway in the CBD, this hole-in-the-wall bar is a self-proclaimed ‘micro mezcal mecca’, where patrons are given the chance to taste rare Mexican spirits. The sips are fun-sized and range from floral to smoky, with hints of seasonal fruit. The classics are also covered and bolstered by a number of intriguing signature cocktails.

Order: The house marg, or any mezcal

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