Rooftop Bars
See the dazzling city lights from on high with a drink at dusk in Sydney's best rooftop bars
The Wonder Years The Darlo Bar's open air bar has all the trimmings
Darlo Bar
The new space upstairs has a bit of a Wonder Years garden party type feel with astro turf on the floor, chintzy white metal lawn furniture and Chinese lanterns, big citrus green walls, and pink flamingos scattering the 'lawn'. The bar staff aren't particularly fluid in the language of cocktail (they smirked when asked for a daiquiri and told us to go downstairs if we're after a "blender drink"). Instead of arguing the finer points of mangling a perfectly innocent cocktail with the angry blades of a Sunbeam, just order a beer. Cnr Darlinghurst Rd & Liverpool St,
Darlinghurst, 2010. (02 9331 3672)
East Village Manhattan Roof Top
Darkness falls and out come the fairy lights, making East Village ideal for a late summer night. It's expensive and you probably won't get anything too complicated (it's all about beer and mixers here) but if you can live with Herradura silver tequila on ice (who couldn't?) or a gin and tonic with good gin, then there are few better places to spend a summer's eve. 234 Palmer St, East Sydney, 2010. (0410 990 009)
Gaslight Inn
Not many people make the trip upstairs at the Gasso - there's no jukebox up there, for one thing. And everyone's better looking downstairs, too. Or maybe it's just cos it's darker. But there's pool tables on high, and the outdoor area, with it's bleached back boards, white bucket seats and built in benches, is totally no fuss and is as laid back and beachy as you could find in Surry Hills. But they pull a great beer and Dimitri's pizza is only a couple of doors down. 278 Crown Street, Surry Hills, 2010. (02 9360 6746)
The Glenmore Rooftop Bar
This is one of the few pubs left in the Rocks dating back before World War Two and it shows. This beautiful, heritage listed pub looks straight over to the Opera House and Circular Quay and is one of the few pubs left with a proper roof garden and bar to match that's been neither tampered with or done up in any way. They pour a good Coopers Pale and an excellent Beez Neez and is the ultimate Sunday arvo spot for a game of speed Scrabble and a cold one. Or two. 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks 2000. (02 9247 4794)
Moncur Terrace
Sure, on a weekend you'll find the kids wearing their sunglasses at night but they've got a sensational wine list, great beers and nice snacks. At the moment it feels like an exercise yard with the inmates wandering about but once the bamboo grows up (which shouldn't take long) it'll have a nicer vibe. That said, make the mission mid-week for a quiet drink and a bite and you'll have a much better time. 116 Queen St, Woollahra, 2025. (02 9327 9777)
Roof Bar
It's on top of a shopping centre but so is Per Se, one of the hardest restaurants in the world to get into. Happily, you don't need to be Gwyneth Paltrow to have a drink here, nor do you need to make a reservation five years in advance. It pumps on Friday nights but has a great vibe any night of the week for a sneaky afternooner. Level 4, Skygarden 162-166 Pitt St, 2000. (02 9222 2122)
Sweeney's
Getting to the roof of this bar is like an Olympic event, but it's worth it when you get there. Make your way to the top of this tower and be rewarded with tooth freezingly cold Peronis and hellaciously good views over the big city canopy. There's also a Thai restaurant on the next level down which does well priced steaks and burgers too, but we suggest salt and vinegar chips instead. 236 Clarence St, 2000. (02 9267 1116)
The Shore Club
The jewel of Manly's drinking eye is this oasis in the midst of the beer barns and swill halls from days of yore. Order the Pimm's carafe and share it amongst a few of you, or try one of their excellent Margaritas. The bartenders upstairs can't make it unless it's in the book but they do what they do, and they do it well. Bags one of the little cotton tents with their rattan light shades, then sit back and feel the sea breeze. 36-38 South Steyne, Manly Beach 2095. (02 9977 6322)
Zeta Bar
You'll get an exceptional cocktail here - the crew behind the bar make all their own syrups. A strapping pisco sour (Peruvian brandy, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white bitters) crystallises their top-shelf attitude to civilised al fresco sipping. The list can get a bit la-de-da with all kinds of vanilla infused hooey but stand out on their deck overlooking the QVB with a Moscow Mule and be happy. Level 4, 488 George St, 2000. (02 9265 6070)
Zanzibar
Four levels of boozing mayhem to the untrained eye, yes, but up the very top is a massive outdoor bar. Bizarre really, to put a watering hole like this in Newtown. But why not? Think Long Island Iced Teas and schooners rather than anything too finicky - this isn't an intimate bar by any stretch - it's level on level of Newtownites dancing to loud, pumping music, spilling sticky drinks all over the floor. 323 King Street, Newtown 2042. (02 9519 1511)