Top 10 Rooftop Happy Hours in Sydney
Sydney does rooftop drinks exceptionally well. Add a good happy hour and suddenly those skyline views, harbour sunsets and afternoon cocktails become a whole lot easier on the wallet.
From $3 oysters overlooking Sydney Harbour to $7 beers in the middle of the CBD, we’ve rounded up 10 rooftop happy hours worth knowing about this September.
Whether you’re looking for after-work drinks, sunset cocktails, a rooftop date night or somewhere to kick off the weekend with mates, these are some of the best rooftop happy hours in Sydney right now.
Sydney Rooftop Happy Hours at a Glance
| Venue | Best For | Happy Hour Time | Drink Highlights | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Sydney | Harbour views | Wed–Thu, 5–7pm | $9 beer, $10 wine, $14 cocktails, $3 oysters | Premium harbour rooftop |
| Coogee Pavilion | Beachside drinks | Mon–Fri, 5–7pm | $8 beer, wine & spirits; $16 Aperol Spritz; $19 cocktails | Buzzing beachside rooftop |
| Keg & Brew | Groups & cocktails | Mon–Thu 5–7pm; cocktails Thu–Fri 5–9pm | $7.50 beer, wine & spirits; $12.50 cocktails | Casual Surry Hills rooftop |
| The Light Brigade Hotel | Late-night drinks | Sat, 9–11pm | $15 cocktails | Late-night rooftop with city views |
| Glenmore Hotel | Opera House views | Wednesday, all day | $1 wings, $12 Newtowner pints | Classic Sydney rooftop pub |
| Cruise Bar | Harbour drinks | Mon–Fri 4–6pm; Fri–Sat 10pm–12am | $8 wine, $10 pints, $12 Spritz, $14 cocktails | Waterfront rooftop |
| East Village | Groups & beer | All day, every day | $20 jugs of Newtowner | Neighbourhood pub rooftop |
| The Taphouse | Craft beer | Mon–Fri, 4–6pm | $7.50 beer & wine | Relaxed craft beer rooftop |
| Aster | Premium rooftop | Mon–Tue, 5–7pm | $10 beer, $15 wine, $20 cocktails | Polished harbour-view rooftop |
| Taylor’s Rooftop | After-work drinks | Mon–Fri, 5–7pm | $7 beer & wine, $8 spirits | Central CBD rooftop |
How We Chose Sydney’s Best Rooftop Happy Hours
A great rooftop happy hour needs more than cheap drinks. For this guide, we looked at the value of the special, the rooftop itself, views, atmosphere and how useful the happy-hour times actually are.
Some venues stand out because of spectacular harbour or city views, while others earn their place through seriously good drink prices or unusually long happy-hour windows.
The result is a mix of Sydney institutions, beachside favourites, hidden rooftops and polished CBD bars — with an option for almost every kind of rooftop session.
The Top 10 Rooftop Happy Hours in Sydney
Cafe Sydney
Perfect for: Harbour views • Date nights • After-work drinks • Oysters • Cocktails
$9 Moo Brew Pilsner, $10 Wine, $14 Cocktails & $3 Oysters
Wednesday–Thursday | 5pm–7pm
Cafe Sydney has one major advantage before you’ve even looked at the happy-hour menu: its location. Sitting high above Circular Quay, the venue delivers spectacular views across Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge.
Wednesday and Thursday evenings make those views considerably more affordable, with $9 Moo Brew Pilsner, $10 wine, $14 cocktails and $3 oysters between 5pm and 7pm.
Coogee Pavilion
Perfect for: Beach views • Sunset drinks • Groups • After-work drinks • Weekend warm-ups
$8 Beer, Wine & Spirits + $16 Aperol Spritz + $19 Cocktails
Monday–Friday | 5pm–7pm
Coogee Pavilion — or simply “The Pav” — is one of Sydney’s best-known beachside venues, and its rooftop gives you sweeping views across Coogee and the Pacific Ocean.
The weekday happy hour brings beer, wine and spirits down to $8, with $16 Aperol Spritzes and $19 cocktails between 5pm and 7pm.
Keg & Brew
Perfect for: Groups • Cocktails • After-work drinks • Casual rooftop sessions • Surry Hills nights
$12.50 Tommy’s Margaritas, Espresso Martinis & Mojitos Thu–Fri 5–9pm; $7.50 Beer, Wine & Spirits Mon–Thu 5–7pm
Monday–Friday | Selected times
Keg & Brew has long been a Surry Hills institution, with its rooftop providing a relaxed place to escape the activity below.
Its standard weekday happy hour offers $7.50 beer, wine and spirits from Monday to Thursday, while Thursday and Friday bring an unusually long cocktail special featuring $12.50 Tommy’s Margaritas, Espresso Martinis and Mojitos from 5pm until 9pm.
The Light Brigade Hotel
Perfect for: Late-night drinks • Cocktails • City views • Saturday nights • Groups
$15 Cocktails
Saturday | 9pm–11pm
The Light Brigade Hotel’s rooftop offers impressive views towards the Sydney skyline from Woollahra, with a colourful, relaxed setting that works especially well once the sun goes down.
Unlike most rooftop happy hours, this one starts late: $15 cocktails from 9pm until 11pm on Saturday.
Glenmore Hotel
Perfect for: Opera House views • Groups • Wednesday drinks • Visitors • Classic Sydney pubs
$1 Wings + $12 Newtowner Pints
Wednesday | All Day
The Glenmore is one of Sydney’s classic rooftop pubs, and the uninterrupted view towards the Opera House is a big reason it has remained so popular.
Wednesday brings $1 wings and $12 Newtowner pints all day, giving you an inexpensive excuse to settle into the rooftop and enjoy one of Sydney’s most recognisable views.
Cruise Bar
Perfect for: Harbour views • Sunset drinks • Cocktails • Small plates • Late-night drinks
$8 Wine, $10 Pints, $12 Spritz, $14 Cocktails & $10 Small Plates
Mon–Fri 4–6pm | Fri–Sat 10pm–12am
Cruise Bar puts you right on Sydney Harbour, with Circular Quay and the city skyline surrounding you.
The drinks offering is equally impressive: $8 wine, $10 pints, $12 Spritzes, $14 cocktails and $10 small plates during its weekday afternoon happy hour, plus a late-night Friday and Saturday session.
East Village
Perfect for: Groups • Casual drinks • Rooftop views • Beer lovers • Long sessions
$20 Jugs of Newtowner
All Day, Every Day
East Village’s rooftop gives you sweeping views towards Sydney CBD while maintaining the easygoing atmosphere of a neighbourhood pub.
Even better, there’s no complicated happy-hour schedule to remember. $20 jugs of Newtowner are available all day, every day.
The Taphouse
Perfect for: Craft beer • Casual drinks • Groups • After-work drinks • Rooftop afternoons
$7.50 Beer & Wine
Monday–Friday | 4pm–6pm
The Taphouse is a Darlinghurst favourite for craft beer, and its rooftop provides a bright, relaxed setting above Flinders Street.
Weekdays from 4pm to 6pm bring beer and wine down to $7.50, making it one of the cheaper traditional rooftop happy hours in this guide.
Aster
Perfect for: Premium rooftop drinks • Date nights • Cocktails • Harbour views • Special occasions
$10 Beer, $15 Wine & $20 Cocktails
Monday–Tuesday | 5pm–7pm
Aster sits high above Sydney with spectacular views across the harbour and Harbour Bridge.
Its Monday and Tuesday happy hour offers $10 beer, $15 wine and $20 cocktails from 5pm until 7pm.
Taylor’s Rooftop
Perfect for: After-work drinks • CBD workers • Groups • Beer & wine • Casual rooftop sessions
$7 Beer & Wine + $8 Spirits
Monday–Friday | 5pm–7pm
Sitting on the top floor of The Republic Hotel, Taylor’s Rooftop is right in the heart of Sydney CBD.
Its weekday happy hour keeps things simple: $7 beer and wine and $8 spirits from 5pm to 7pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooftop happy hours in Sydney?
Some of the best rooftop happy hours in Sydney include Cafe Sydney, Coogee Pavilion, Keg & Brew, Cruise Bar, The Taphouse, Aster and Taylor’s Rooftop. The best choice depends on whether you’re looking for harbour views, cheap drinks, cocktails or a casual rooftop pub.
Where can I find cheap rooftop drinks in Sydney CBD?
Taylor’s Rooftop offers some of the cheapest rooftop drinks in Sydney CBD, with $7 beer and wine and $8 spirits Monday to Friday from 5pm to 7pm. Cafe Sydney and Aster also offer CBD rooftop happy hours with spectacular harbour views.
Which Sydney rooftop has the best harbour views?
Cafe Sydney is one of the best options for direct Sydney Harbour views, while Glenmore Hotel has an excellent view towards the Sydney Opera House. Cruise Bar also provides a spectacular Circular Quay and harbour setting.
What is the best rooftop happy hour near Sydney Opera House?
Cafe Sydney and Glenmore Hotel are two excellent options. Cafe Sydney offers discounted drinks and $3 oysters on Wednesday and Thursday, while Glenmore Hotel combines its famous Opera House view with $1 wings and $12 Newtowner pints every Wednesday.
Where can I find a rooftop happy hour in Surry Hills?
Keg & Brew is a great Surry Hills rooftop option, offering $7.50 beer, wine and spirits during its weekday happy hour, as well as $12.50 cocktails on Thursday and Friday evenings.
What is the best rooftop happy hour for cocktails in Sydney?
Keg & Brew is one of the best-value options, with $12.50 Tommy’s Margaritas, Espresso Martinis and Mojitos on Thursday and Friday. Cruise Bar and Cafe Sydney also offer discounted cocktails during happy hour.
Are there any late-night rooftop happy hours in Sydney?
Yes. The Light Brigade Hotel offers $15 cocktails on Saturday from 9pm to 11pm, while Cruise Bar runs a late-night happy hour from 10pm until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Which Sydney rooftop is best for beach views?
Coogee Pavilion is the standout beachside option, with rooftop views across Coogee and the ocean plus weekday happy-hour drinks from 5pm to 7pm.
Which rooftop happy hour is best for groups?
East Village is particularly good for groups thanks to its $20 jugs of Newtowner available all day, every day. Keg & Brew, Glenmore Hotel and Taylor’s Rooftop are also strong group options.
Where can I find the latest rooftop happy hours in Sydney?
The Happiest Hour website and app feature updated happy hours and food and drink specials from venues across Sydney. Because specials can change, check the latest venue listing before heading out.
Ready to Find Sydney’s Best Rooftop Happy Hours?
Sydney’s rooftop scene has something for just about every kind of night out. You can sip $10 wine overlooking the Harbour Bridge at Cafe Sydney, grab $7 beer and wine at Taylor’s Rooftop, settle in for $12.50 cocktails at Keg & Brew or enjoy $20 jugs with skyline views at East Village.
And if the view is the priority, it’s hard to go wrong with Coogee Pavilion, Glenmore Hotel, Cruise Bar or Aster.
Cheers!
