Rooftop vibes with Aperol spritzes, speakeasy glamour and cheap as chips old fashioneds, and $12 margaritas with Mexican treats. These happy hours are worth your attention.
I love a good bar hop (evidence here, here and here). So when Rockpool Dining Group invited me on a tour of three of their Sydney city-based bars, I was sprinting to sign up. And they’re all damn good finds, so it would be rude not to share.
The Cut
In the basement of a heritage-listed, former bond store in The Rocks – a few doors down from the actual Argyle Cut – you’ll find an American-style steakhouse and moodily-lit bar.
And if oodles of speakeasy glamour doesn’t light your candle, The Cut has just launched a Monday-Friday 4-6pm happy hour to convince you this one’s totes worth checking out.
Sit back in an oversized leather armchair and enjoy a $12 barrel-aged old fashioned, $10 whisky highball or $12 negroni. The refreshed bar menu is also bangin’ with crab cakes ($29), oysters ($5.50 each) and The Cut signature cheeseburger ($24), among other snacks.
The Cut Bar & Grill | 16 Argyle Street, The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales
cutbarandgrill.com
Jamon serrano with red-eye mayo ($8)
Whisky highball ($10)
Rosetta Trattoria
Neil Perry’s original Rosetta in Melbourne and the Sydney offshoot are light and shade. The Melbourne Italian ristorante is rich and moody, whereas the Sydney trattoria off Grosvenor Place is bright, light and heavy on the seafood.
The happy hour on the rooftop terrace is all very Sydney too. From Monday-Friday 4-7pm, watch the sun set over the city, and enjoy $10 spritzes – or $30 jugs if you take your spritz seriously – $12 negronis and complimentary bar snacks. Or the bar menu has top notch pizzas, and small bites like arancini, olives and zucchini flowers.
Rosetta Trattoria | 118 Harrington Street, The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales
rosettarestaurant.com.au/home/trattoria-sydney
Aperol Spritz ($10)
Margherita pizza, with San Marzano, bufala and basil ($25)
Bar Patrón
This classy Mexican restaurant and bar serves up a tequila-heavy drinks list and some truly world-class views of Circular Quay, while a Mexico City-born head chef pumps out everyone’s Mexican favourites, from tostadas to tacos.
The daily 4-6pm happy hour combines the best of the above. There’s $12 Patrón Silver margaritas (frozen and fresh), $7 house wine and beer, and complimentary chips and salsa, along with $6 bar snacks like guacamole, beef empanadas and mexican fried chicken.
And finishing this happy hour hop with views over Sydney Harbour and the Bridge is pretty darn perfect.
Bar Patrón | 2 Phillip Street, Sydney, New South Wales
barpatron.com.au
Guacamole and tuna tostadas (both $6)
I dined as a guest of Rockpool Dining Group. However, all comments and opinions are my own.
