Best Cocktail Bars in Sydney: Rooftop, Hidden & World-Class

Sydney's cocktail bar scene punches well above its weight globally, with several venues earning spots on Asia's 50 Best Bars and the World's 50 Best Bars lists. The Baxter Inn in the CBD is the city's undisputed king — a basement whisky bar and cocktail den with over 1,000 whiskies on the back bar and bartenders who really know their craft. Frankie's Pizza by the Slice next door is owned by the same group and serves killer cocktails alongside NYC-style pizza in a rock'n'roll setting. Maybe Sammy on the Rocks at Miller's Point has become a global phenomenon, named among the World's 50 Best Bars for its Las Vegas Rat Pack-inspired theatrics and exceptional drinks. Lobo Plantation is the city's best rum bar, with an encyclopaedic selection of aged and agricole rums. For harbour views with excellent cocktails, The Gidley and The Charles Grand Brasserie both deliver refinement in grand surroundings. Sydney's growing small-bar scene — enabled by a 2008 legislative change — means laneways from Surry Hills to Newtown now hide world-class drinks in 100-seat venues.