Must-see nightlife in Circular Quay & The Rocks

  • Opera Bar

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Right on the harbour with the Opera House on one side and the bridge on the other, this perfectly positioned terrace manages a very Sydney marriage of the…

  • Harts Pub

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Pouring an excellent range of Sydney craft beers in a quiet corner near the beginning of the Rocks, this historical building has real character. The…

  • Glenmore Hotel

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Downstairs it's a predictably nice old Rocks pub with great outdoor seating, but head to the rooftop and the views are beyond fabulous: the Opera House …

  • Hero of Waterloo

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Enter this rough-hewn 1843 sandstone pub to meet some locals, chat to the Irish bar staff and grab an earful of the swing, folk and Celtic bands (Friday…

  • Argyle

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    This stylish and wildly popular conglomeration of bars is spread through the historic Argyle Stores buildings, including a cobblestone courtyard and an…

  • Bulletin Place

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    A discreet entrance on this little street of cafes and bars conceals the staircase up to one of Sydney's most talked-about cocktail bars. Personable, down…

  • Doss House

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    With a curious origin story involving two Irish pals, a lottery win and a hostel in Peru, this hidden-away jewel is an atmospheric Rocks basement space…

  • Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    This atmospheric boozer is one of three claiming to be Sydney's oldest (all using slightly different criteria). The on-site brewery cooks up its own…

  • Hotel Palisade

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    This historic and invigorated Millers Point pub preserves its tea-coloured tiles, faded brick and nostalgia-tinted downstairs bar. On top of the venerable…

  • Australian Hotel

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    With its wide awning shading lots of outdoor seating, this handsome early-20th-century pub is a favoured pit stop for a cooling ale; it was doing…

  • Busby's Bar @ Victoria Lodge

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    This casual summer pop-up cabin will infuse you with the picnic spirit as you lounge on deckchairs or on the lawns of the Botanic Gardens. There's a…

  • Endeavour Tap Rooms

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    All corridors and slightly awkward spaces, this heritage building in the heart of the Rocks is now a rather lovely brewpub with restrained 1920s-feel…

  • Fortune of War

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Operating right here since 1828, this pub was rebuilt in the early 20th century and retains much charm from that era in its characterful bar. It has a…

  • Blu Bar on 36

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    The drinks are pricey, but it's worth heading to the top of Shangri-La hotel for the views, which seem to stretch all the way to New Zealand. It gets…

  • Harbour View Hotel

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Built in the 1920s, the curvaceous Harbour View was the main boozer for the Harbour Bridge construction crew. These days it fulfils the same duties for…

  • Cruise Bar

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    This is a very picturesque quayside spot to enjoy a drink from – until a cruise ship docks in front of it, anyway. There's a range of craft beers and an…