We have assembled a list of the 11 best rooftop restaurants in Sydney. A list filled with a great variety of views, atmosphere and food. This article is made from our own experiences and together with local freelancers and restaurants owners. All, so we can secure correct and up to date info.
Update: This article was updated on April 25, 2025, with new information, new restaurants, updated photos, booking links and insider tips.
Always book your spot in advance! We've prepared all booking links for you. Also check out for the venues serving vibrant and bottomless brunches.
Our complete and up-to date guide to the 11 Best Rooftop Restaurants in Sydney - 2025 feature all info you need about each rooftop, all at the same place, so you don’t have to scroll around on several different sources finding it.
For each rooftop, this guide presents:
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With our vast experience and exclusive focus, we can present you with the most complete and up-to date guides about rooftop venues. And with our insider tips and knowledge, we can guide you to the best and most suitable rooftops for your own needs.
Whether you’re looking for an upscale rooftop dinner, a laid-back rooftop brunch, a vibrant rooftop party or a luxurious hotel rooftop pool, we’ve got you covered.
In short: The charming and stylish The Butler is a hidden oasis nestled amongst the backstreets of Potts Point.
Food & Drinks: Open daily for dinner, and most days also for lunch, The Butler is a contemporary Mexican restaurant with a focus on premium seafood blending Potts Point sophistication with Polanco and Roma Norte’s vibrant flavours.
What we think: Offering a lovely and intimate atmosphere, The Butler is a fantastic venue for a long lunch in the sun or a special date night. We love the leafy and forest-like garden terrace, offering amazing and panoramic views over Sydney. On the menu, you can find anything from delicate ceviche’s to their signature ‘divorced fish’, all complemented by a rainbow of crisp, locally-sourced vegetables.
Dress code: The The Butler dress code is smart casual.
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35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
In short: Perched 47 floors high, the venue has a revolving circular structure, taking you on a constantly turning journey, showcasing dazzling panoramas over all of Sydney and beyond.
Food & Drinks: Up here you can indulge in celebrated chef and owner Michael Moore's seasonal creations, celebrating the very best of the region’s sea and soil. From 'Slow Roasted Wagyu Beef' to 'Steamed Aquna Murray Cod Fillet', the food is served as a 2 or 3 course à la carte dinner, a 5 course tasting menu, as well as a 1, 2 or 3 course lunch.
What we think: When it comes to unique and sky-high dining in Sydney, the luxurious O Bar and Dining is hard to beat. We always return here everytime we're in Sydney. And we'd recommend you to visit as well.
Dress code: The O Bar and Dining dress code is smart casual. No running or training shoes, thongs or flip flops, shorts, hats, singlets.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
In short: Located on the southern end of the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, just a short stroll from the historic laneways of the Rocks, Harbour View Hotel invites to old-school hospitality, fabulous food and excellent cocktails over 3 floors.
Food & Drinks: The Harbour View Hotel menu features both upscale dishes and more classic pub food, from 'Sydney Rock Oysters' and 'Squid & Crab Linguine', to 'Lamb Shank Pie' and 'The Beef Burger'. Complementing the food is a wide selection of wines, as well as crafted signature cocktails and plenty of brews.
What we think: Mixing stylish interior seating with a breezy outdoor terrace, the rooftop overlooks the harbour, and the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge is so close you can almost touch it. The charming building, filled with history, houses an elegant public bar and sports bar, two private function rooms, a gaming room, a rooftop cocktail bar, and an á la carte rooftop restaurant.
Dress code: The Harbour View Hotel dress code is casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
In short: Providing an ideal rooftop location to enjoy beautiful views of the skyline and the waters of Darling Harbor, Café del Mar brings a chic slice of Ibiza to the heart of Sydney.
Food & Drinks: The restaurant menus is inspired by the cuisines of the Mediterranean Coast, with fresh, clean flavourful dishes prepared by the highly skilled chefs in the open kitchen. Many of the dishes are designed to be shared, either among friends over a vibrant lunch, or with a loved one during an intimate dinner. The food is complemented with a seasonal selection of fine wines, signature cocktails and champagne, which also can be enjoyed on the outside terrace, along with a smaller food menu of tapas and small plates.
What we think: Mixing an elegant interior restaurant with a bright and buzzing outdoor terrace, Café del Mar aims to provide relaxed sophistication and glamour, and it is a great spot for both elevated food and drinks.
Dress code: The Café del Mar dress code is smart casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
In short: A popular location, particularly in the last few years, the Coogee Pavilion comes with a huge rooftop terrace, large enough to hold four different bars and a wrap-around balcony to ensure every guest gets a spot.
Food & Drinks: For the hungry ones, there is also an extensive food menu inspired by Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, filled with small plates, large plates and wraps, that you can enjoy to the beautiful views of the Australian coastline.
What we think: If you love ocean views – just like we do - Coogee Pavilion is the perfect rooftop in Sydney to visit. It’s very popular place among locals, especially around peak hours, so try to be here in time to get a good seat in one of the comfortable outdoor furniture’s. The different bars on top can also be reserved for private events.
Dress code: The Coogee Pavilion Rooftop dress code is casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
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In short: Located on a 4th floor in Paddington, roughly around 83 meters above sea level, The Light Brigade offers spectacular views of the Sydney skyline.
Food & Drinks: The fourth floor is where Brigade Rooftop is, and up here you can enjoy wood-fire pizzas, delicious burgers, mains like 'Steak Sandwich & Chips' and 'Pan-Roast Salmon', as well as classic cocktails, beers on tap, and wines. Enjoy food and drinks as a sunny lunch or relaxing evening with friends.
What we think: Though the best views can be found in the rooftop, there's still plenty to see in the entire building, making The Light Brigade an excellent destination to visit over and over again.
Dress code: The Light Brigade dress code is casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
In short: Found on top of the Westfield Sydney shopping mall, Babylon is a lush and sprawling rooftop restaurant and bar, bringing Middle Eastern vibes to the heart of Sydney.
Food & Drinks: Made perfect to share, the dishes take inspiration from the rich and flavourful Levantine cuisine of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, complemented with a hand-picked selection of Old World and New World wines and signature cocktails. While the largest food menu is found at the indoor restaurant, the terrace bar menu also includes plenty of Meze and Grill to keep everyone happy.
What we think: Covering 1200sqm, the spacious rooftop is an imagined and beautiful recreation of the ancient city Babylon, and up here you find a restaurant, two large bars, a wood-fired kitchen and a large outdoor terrace. Surrounded with majestic views over the surrounding Sydney, the rooftop serves a menu split into flora, fauna and ocean.
Dress code: The Babylon Rooftop dress code is smart casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
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In short: Found in the heart of The Rocks, The Glenmore is a modern and fun pub-style rooftop, mixing a vibrant atmosphere with panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney skyline and the Opera House.
Food & Drinks: You will not be short on food and drinks up at the Glenmore rooftop, with eats ranging from Salt & Pepper Squid and Poké Bowls to Burgers and Black Angus Sirloin. The beer list is mighty impressive and the cocktails are well made and come in both glasses and jugs.
What we think: It’s not by luck that The Glenmore rooftop is one of the first and oldest rooftop bars in Sydney. Open year round and rain or sunshine thanks to a retractable roof, Glenmore Hotel is an eventful rooftop bar hosting both public and private parties, acoustic Sunday Sessions and even some rooftop yoga in Sydney. Do not miss Glenmore Hotel rooftop bar if you are in Sydney.
Dress code: The Glenmore dress code is casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
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In short: Above the hustle and bustle of Circular Quay, Bar Ombré Rooftop offers an inner-city rooftop haven, mixing Italian flavours with views.
Food & Drinks: The Bar Ombré rooftop menu comes filled with all the Italian influnces one could wish for, with everything from house-made cheese, antipasto platter, pasta, pizza and dolce. Complemented with a fine selection of crafted cocktails, champagne and organic wines, you are almost on the Riviera.
What we think: Surrounded with beautiful views over the skyline and across the Harbour Bridge, the lush and colorful terrace is a laid-back and intimate venue to indulge in everything from an afternoon aperitivo to late night fun.
Dress code: The Bar Ombré Rooftop dress code is casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
In short: Found on the corner of Palmer & Liverpool streets in the heart of Darlinghurst, East Village Sydney offers three floors of food, beverage and good times.
Food & Drinks: The rooftop menu includes modern and fresh dishes that are made perfect to share, as well as tasty signature cocktails (some regular and some that rotate monthly) and a great selection of hand-picked wines.
What we think: We had a fantastic evening when visiting East Village late 2024. The rooftop was filled with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and we can understand why the East Village rooftop is a popular venue. The terrace is not huge, so arriving early is a good idea if you want to grab one of the best spots. And we can really recommend doing so. The view from the best seats is spectacular over the Sydney skyline.
Dress code: The East Village Sydney dress code is casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
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In short: Found north-west of central Sydney, in the suburb Macquarie Park, The Governor Hotel is a vibrant four-level venue.
Food & Drinks: While the really filling pub-style lunches and dinners are served in the bistro, the rooftop all-day menu includes a cople of light meals, like 'Hand Crumbed Schnitzel' and 'Cheeseburger'. There is also bites to share and a large selection of pizza.
What we think: A perfect spot for sunset drinks and afternoon knock-offs, as well as vibrant weekend nights with live DJs, the rooftop also offers plenty of options to keep the belly happy. Offering a large downstairs bistro and bar, the place to go for al-fresco vibes and 360-degree is the spacious rooftop garden, called The Governor's Rooftop.
Dress code: The Governor's Rooftop dress code is smart casual.
Also featured in:
35 Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.
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