The Best Happy Hours in Sydney for an After-Work Tipple
Our pick of the best happy hours in Sydney is guaranteed to make you and your wallet smile.
A refreshing beverage is one of Australia’s most revered traditions, and we Sydneysiders certainly have it lucky with our choice of city hangouts. An affinity for a good deal means plenty of our favourite bars and restaurants offer a string of purse-friendly combos, so it's time to get across them.
To help whittle down your options, we’ve compiled a list of the loveliest bars in Sydney for you to visit and indulge in while keeping your credit card on the right side of the red. These are the best happy hours in Sydney right now. Bottoms up!
The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: CBD
Shell House
We're always looking for an excuse to pop into Shell House and you won't find one better than this. This popular multi-level venue has deals on deals. Head to Menzies Bar for $10 martinis and lobster rolls (Monday to Saturday, 4pm to 6pm) or, if you're more of an oyster fan, Sky Bar for $2 oysters, $15 margaritas and $15 prawn katsu sandos (Tuesday to Saturday, 4pm to 6pm). Fancy a negroni? Clocktower Bar are serving them up for $15.
37 Margaret Street, Sydney
The Bar at Sydney Common
We heard $8 mini martinis and were instantly sold. But there's more to this happy hour. Soak up the beautiful park views from Sydney Common's glorious glass atrium whilst snacking on some of the best bar snacks in Sydney. And if martinis aren't your thing, $12 negronis and $6 wines, gin and tonics and Sydney Beer Co lagers will be.
Tuesday to Friday, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Level 1, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Alfie's
The good news about Alfie's exceptional happy hour is that you can still hit up one of the most-loved restaurants of the moment for under $20, daily. Score a hot chip spit roast beef butty for $17 and a selection of bevvies for bargain prices. We're talking $16 Alfie's martinis, $6 gin and tonics, $10 wines, $3 Butcher of Beer cans from The Grifter and $15 East End Old Fashions.
Daily, 4pm to 6pm
Shop 2, 4-6 Bligh Street
Rockpool Bar & Grill
Soak up the luxe marble interiors of Rockpool Bar & Grill for a fraction of the price. Pop by during the two-hour window, and you can score a value-added bar menu of premium snacks, select cocktails and a Sommelier's selection of discounted drops.
Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
66 Hunter Street, Sydney
ArmsLength
With a very generous two-hour window — available every day night we add —, Armslength's happy hour has a little something for everyone. House wine, beer and Four Pillars G&T's will set you back $8 a pop whilst you can score a spritz, margherita or gin sour for just $12. Grab a jaffle for $12 or score a house beer or wine with it and it'll only cost you an easy $15.
Every day, 4pm to 6pm
7 Kellett Street, Potts Point
Cafe Freda's
A community hub and meeting place for many Sydneysiders, Cafe Freda's is a top spot for people watching with a side of $10 negronis and Aperol spritz. Swing by at sunset for vibes aplenty. They've also got a $30 pasta and wine special running Wednesday to Thursday if you fancy a bite to eat, too.
Wednesday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
195 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
The Stinking Bishops
As far as happy hour specials go, this one is pretty fab. The Stinking Bishops Cheese O'Clock special offers a cheese and wine pairing experience during happy hour, and a sweeter sentence has never existed. During happy hour, you'll get to dine on a selection of curated cheeses paired with matching wines. Yummo!
If you stick around for some more nibbles–we’d recommend the mac and cheese and the eye fillet steak tartare (add the truffle).
From $40 per person
Tuesday to Friday, 5pm to 6pm
Shop 5 63-71, Enmore Road, Newtown
Cardea
For the most opulent happy hour in Sydney, it's got to be Cardea. Come happy hour, Cardea are offering 49% off their entire drinks menu! Soak up that deliciously decadent ambience for a fraction of the price.
Wednesday to Friday, 4pm to 6:30pm, Saturday, 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Shop 3, T3.01 300 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Morrison's
Morrison's has redefined happy hour in the city with complimentary snacks! Swing by between 4pm and 6pm on a weekday, and you can indulge in $10 Negronis and Aperol Spritz or $7 gin and tonics, house red and white, or lager. You'll also be treated to a selection of rotating complimentary snacks, ranging from cheeseburger sliders to house-made sausage rolls.
Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
225 George Street, Sydney
The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Inner West
The Erko
The only thing better than a happy hour is a happy weekend. The Erko is serving the happiest of these with $12 mini martinis and $2 oysters all day on Saturday and Sunday. Bargain.
Saturday and Sunday
102 Erskineville Road, Erskineville
The Alex
Merivale gem The Alex is a popular heritage hang-out spot slinging pub classics, great tunes, local art and hoops in the backyard. It also does an excellent happy hour. You can get $6 house beers, wines, and spirits, plus $14 Aperols and $16 Tommy's margs from Monday to Friday.
Monday to Friday, 5pm to 7pm
35 Henderson Road, Alexandria
The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Lower North Shore
SoCal
Mexi-Cali-themed rooftop bar and pub SoCal is equal parts chic and laid-back. Between 5-6:30pm on weekdays, sip on $7 house white, rosé or prosecco, $7 house beer, and $14 frozen cocktails – be sure to sample one of their famous margaritas.
Monday to Thursday, 5pm to 6:30pm, Friday 3pm to 6:30pm
1 Young Street, Neutral Bay
The Stoned Crow
With buckets of rustic charm, The Stoned Crow doesn’t have to try hard to earn its effortlessly cool stripes. With exposed brick walls and hanging foliage, this hip hangout is a trendy oasis on the northern side of the Harbour. And its happy hour is equally as impressive. Running Monday through to Friday, punters can nab $6 house wines and spirits and $6 pints in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
39 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest
The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: North Sydney
The Botanist
This charming local bar and restaurant is one of Kirribilli's most adored hangouts, with an equally as popular happy hour. From Monday to Friday, from 4–6 pm, they serve $7.50 beer, house wine and house gin and tonics, and $12 classic cocktails. Set in a cosy, botanical-inspired venue, it's the ultimate spot to unwind after a long day and decompress.
Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
17 Willoughby Street, Kirribilli
The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Sutherland Shire
FIOR
We adore a happy hour that is just as much about the dining deals as the drink specials. Feel fancy at FIOR while you sip on $12 FIOR spritz, $8 house wines, $7 pale ales, and $8 G&Ts. The sunny balcony is the perfect spot to nibble on $2 Sydney rock oysters, $8 crumbed scallops, and $20 Mafalde Corte.
Monday to Thursday, 5pm - 6pm
Friday to Sunday, 4pm - 5pm
752-756 Kingsway, Gymea
The Best Happy Hours in Sydney: Northern Beaches
Busta
Manly's buzziest Italian joint, Busta, offers a delightful aperitivo hour on the weekends. The hour features $10 spritzes, $3 oysters, and $5 snacks that are perfect for sharing. Go for the bargains, stay for the good vibes.
Weekends, 4pm to 5pm
10 Pittwater Road, Manly
Harbord Hotel
Freshwater's favourite watering hole, the Harbord Hotel, does a weekday happy hour that's hard to beat. Sip on $7 house wines, beer and spirits while soaking up the Vitamin D in their sundrenched courtyard, just moments from the beach.
Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm
29 Moore Road, Freshwater
Rosa
A good happy hour scores you discounted drinks. A GREAT happy hour delivers bargain margs for $15, rose for $7 a glass, a jug of Sangria for $25, and snacks like Mexican oysters for $3 a pop, $10 nachos and $20 carne asada fries. Yep, Rosa's happy hour is pretty great. You know what to do.
Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm to 6pm
18 Barrenjoey Road, Mona Vale
Corretto
With a perfect sunset position overlooking Dee Why Beach coupled with $12 cocktails, $7 house wines, $8 schooners, $10 pint and a snack menu from 3pm to 6pm, Corretto’s cheeky combo unsurprisingly draws in a sizeable crowd. This excellent arrangement is complemented by weekly specials from steak night to brunch club. Come the weekends, there's lovely live music to accompany your session with.
Daily, 3pm to 6pm
24 The Strand, Dee Why
Loving our picks of the best happy hours in Sydney? We’ve not only found you the latest and greatest bars offering the best happy hours in Sydney, but we've also rounded up our favourite romantic bars for those of you heading off on a date.
