Thereโs perhaps no greater joy in life than a well-earned bargain. Even better? One that arrives with three olives and an ice-cold glass; served with a side of something salty, briny, or freshly shucked.
Lucky for us, Sydney is experiencing what you might call a happy hour renaissance. Gone are the days of watery beers, uninspired house wines, and stale pub carpets. Happy hours have finally upped their game โ Iโm talking crispy baguettes with whipped butter, oysters with guava vinaigrettes, and of course, the mighty martini.
Menus might rotate, specials may shift, but there are a few institutions we know and love that consistently nail the brief. Here are some of our favourite spots to clock off early in Sydney and toast to the good stuff.
Caravin, Potts Point
Sometimes, Sydney can feel a bit dead in winter. When youโre craving a little Euro energy โ small stool, generous pour, light cheese sweat โ head to Caravin.
Grab a little fromage, maybe even some saucisson, and knock it back with a $6 beer, $10 spritz, or a $12 martini/negroni. The French-leaning drinks list focuses on a delicious array of natural wines (when in doubt, ask for something akin to a Beaujolais or a White Burgundy).
Address: Shop 2/9 Ward Ave, Potts Point NSW 2011
Phone: 0431 180 389
Apรฉro Hour: Wednesday to Saturday (4:30 PM โ 5:30 PM)
Jane, Surry Hills
If you havenโt already, you should really meet my friend Jane.
From $10 Australianos (a homestyle riff on the humble Aperol Spritz) and $12 Dirty Highballs (donโt knock it โtill youโve tried it) to $10 wines and $8 VBs, you can find some of the cheapest (and most delicious) cocktails in the neighbourhood.
With an Australian native-focused menu, the snacks go hard: $3 oysters with guava vinaigrette, $16 kangaroo tartare, with pickled cucumber and bush tomato harissa, and of course, the famous lamb dumplings. For those looking to settle in, the king prawns, topped with a tangy sunrise lime and native pepper curry, live rent-free in my mind.
Address: 478 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: 0403 632 355
Australiano Hour: Monday to Thursday (5:00 PM โ 6:00 PM); Friday to Sunday (4:00 PM โ 6:00 PM)
Poly, Surry Hills
When one of Sydneyโs best restaurants is serving $14 martinis, $9 wines, and $4 snacks, you donโt walk. You run.
The impossibly crisp Poly martini comes with a side of pickled fennel, and it just works. The decadent fried potato with gooey salted egg yolk, on the other hand, is a Sydney staple (on par with the infamous 10 William St pretzel) and a true delight. $5 oysters are fresh, mignonette is appropriately zingy. And as for the meat eaters out there, you can get your mitts on what Iโm told is one of the cityโs finest burgers for only $28.
Address: 74-76 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 8860 0808
Apolytivo Hour: Monday to Friday (5:00 PM โ 6:00 PM)
Love, Tilly Divine, Darlinghurst
If you like to live life on the edge, find your way to this hidden little laneway bar for $10 mystery wines and $8 sardine sangas. Also available are $10 mini martinis/negronis, but given they have arguably one of the best wine lists in Sydney, Iโd say itโs worth the risk. Wouldnโt you?
Address: 91 Crown Ln, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9326 9297
Loverโs Hour: Monday to Saturday (5:00 PM โ 6:00 PM)
Baptist Street Rec Club, Redfern
This new kid on the block is a love letter to kitsch Australiana. Come for $7 wines and frosty beers, stay for the disco ball and late-night Thai. Itโs happy hour every day of the week, or stop in on a Thursday for Cocktail Club with $15 specials all night long (sing it with me now).
Address: Corner of Cleveland & Baptist St, Redfern NSW 2011
Phone: (02) 9072 9304
Baptism-by-Beer Hour: Weekdays (4:00 PM โ 6:00 PM)
The Beaver Dining Parlour, Bondi
Whether youโre flying solo, out with friends, or even on a date, youโll never have a bad time with Adam and the crew at Bondiโs sexiest dive bar.
Itโs worth popping into the Beaver for the frickles alone (thatโs fried pickles, for the uninitiated), but they also have a selection of craft beers on tap, a neat suite of natty wines by the glass, and they make a truly stellar spicy Marg.
The boys know their tequila, so muscle your way into a bar seat, and donโt be afraid to have a chat โ itโs all part of the fun!
Address: 271 Bondi Rd, Bondi NSW 2026
Phone: (02) 9130 2423
Abeavertivo Hour: Weekdays (5:00 PM โ 7:00 PM); Saturday (2:00 PM โ 4:00 PM)
The Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre, Marrickville
How does $5.99 schooners on Hawkeโs core range beers and $2 Dim Sims sound? Delicious happy hour schooners, brewed exactly the same way as the full-priced ones. What more could you possibly need?
Address: 8-12 Sydney St, Marrickville NSW 2204
Phone: (02) 9069 5583
Happy Hawr: Weekdays (4:00 PM โ 6:00 PM)
Little Cooler, CBD
Looking for a nostalgic, grungy vibe, a stellar soundtrack, and a drinks list curated by some of the best bartenders in the country? Look no further. Ease in with a $10 Gin & Juice and dance your little socks off until 2 AM.
Address: Basement of 275 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: N/A
Snoop Hour: Saturday (6:00 PM)
Bar Planet, Newtown
I donโt care that itโs a Monday. I donโt care if you have work tomorrow. $12 martinis. All. Night. Long. Hungry? Make it a skyscraper. Still hungry? Free popcorn.
And for those not lucky enough to live within sipping distance of the Inner West? Fear not โ Mucho Groupโs central outposts have you covered.
Itโs happy hour every day at Centro 86 with $12 Spicy Margs (swap in mezcal if you like it smoky). As for my negroni lovers, take note: Herbs Tavern is brand new and ready to fuel your bitter obsession, with over 45 types of amaro behind the bar.
Address: 16 Enmore Rd, Newtown NSW 2042
Phone: N/A
Happy Hour Monday: Monday (duh)
Busta, Manly
And now to end on a bit of a wildcard.
Not a traditional โhappy hourโ per se, but pick the right wine next door from the treasure trove that is Winona, and youโll be laughing. Look out for drops By Farr or Radikon (*chefโs kiss*), that will never do you wrong. Or looking for something a little lighter on both palate and wallet: Konpira Maru and Unico Zelo have got you covered. Sure to impress any date. $10 BYO.
Not convinced? Iโm not sure we can be friends. But there is an Aperitivo Hour every weekend (4-5 PM) for $10 spritzes and negronis. Get in early if you want to beat the locals.
Address: 10 Pittwater Rd, Manly NSW 2095
Phone: (02) 8966 9917
Happy Hour Days: Tuesday & Wednesday
Also read:
- The Best Pubs In Sydney
- The Best Rooftop Bars In Sydney
- The Best New Restaurants In Sydney
- The Best Pizza Restaurants In Sydney
- 17 Of The Worldโs Best Steak Restaurants Are Australian (Including The #2-Ranked Eatery)
- From Reservations To Rides: Uberโs โDine Outโ Feature Will Handle Your Evening Plans
