14 hidden bars in Sydney you need to discover

If you can find their entrances, the best hidden bars in Sydney dish up fun-fuelled revelry long into the night.

Quirky decor, legendary cocktails and an air of exclusivity. The hidden bars of Sydney offer secret sanctuaries to help you let your hair down — and half the fun comes in trying to find them. Playing home to in-the-know crowds and the cleverest of mixology, our favourite speakeasy bars and secret bars of Sydney are worth the extra effort. Presenting your tried-and-tested roadmap to our favourites across the city.

In short

If you only track down one of the best hidden bars in Sydney, make it Razz Room for its vintage jazz club fit out, daiquiri dedication and pumping all-night vibes.

1. Vespertine

the dimly lit Bar Vespertine, Sydney — The high-drama red curtains set an opulent scene. (Credit: Vespertine)

Best for: Live music

Address: 350 George St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Walk to Angel Place to spy descending fire stairs

Missing Sydney’s shuttered Bentley Restaurant & Bar already? While the famed hospitality group behind the long-loved fine diner nut out their next restaurant venture, the team continues to bring good times to Sydney’s CBD. Vespertine, a hidden bar in Sydney that opened in August 2026, is a killer spot for late-night tunes (there’s live music seven nights a week) and quality tipples as the glitz of a disco ball and high-drama red curtains set an opulent scene. The signature drink is a vodka and gin-based ‘Vesper’, but I recommend going for the vivid green ‘Chartreuse Slushie’ blended with green apple, tarragon and nutmeg, because slushies are always a good idea.

2. Razz Room

Razz Room, Sydney — Find yourself a tiny table angled towards the stage as live music keeps spirits high. (Credit: Razz Room)

Best for: Date night

Address: 18-20 York St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Look for big red doors to lead you underground

A basement cocktail lounge inspired by the sexy New York City jazz bars of the 1970s, Razz Room is hands-down one of the hottest hidden bars in Sydney. Walk down a set of stairs to find yourself a tiny table angled towards the stage as live music keeps spirits high before a separate dance floor beckons. It’s technically a daiquiri bar so you’re spoilt for fruity options (think slushies and even shot-sized ‘Snaquiries’) but I’m all about the ‘Dirty Daiquiri’ with its brine and three-green-olive garnish — a sweet yet salty-savoury brainwave that’s downright addictive. Get there between 4pm to 6pm daily for discounted happy hour, or party past midnight for $13 classic daiquiris, which are normally $25 a pop.

3. Cantina OK!

exterior of Cantina OK! bar in sydney — This tiny bar specialises in rare spirits. (Credit: Dexter Kim)

Best for: Experimental cocktails

Address: Council Pl, Sydney

How to find the entrance: It’s in the alleyway between Market and King Streets

Mezcal is the word at this itty-bitty Sydney bar built in a small, unmarked green garage. Cantina OK! claims to make the best mezcal margaritas in Sydney, and we can’t argue with it. If you know nothing about the spirit, you’ll walk away with a newfound appreciation as the team have been known to regularly visit Mexico to source the finest blends. If you ask me, ordering the ‘Redwing OK!’ ($25) is a no-brainer — a beautiful mixture of mezcal, tequila, rum, lime, macadamia and amaro.

4. Love, Tilly Devine

exterior of Love, Tilly Devine bar in sydney — This cosy spot is perfect for date nights or an after-work vino. (Credit: Supplied)

Best for: Afternoon catchups

Address: 91 Crown Lane, Darlinghurst

How to find the entrance: Look for the yellow lightbox above a black door

Named after the infamous Sydney crime boss Tilly Devine, this hidden bar in Sydney is aptly located down a shady laneway. Step inside Love, Tilly Devine to find a relaxed two-level space loved by locals who have appreciated its sophisticated wine list and snacky bites since 2010. An ever-changing European-inspired food menu offers crowd pleasers like French onion dip with salted cucumber and dill, and a bruschetta of whipped roe and mussels, all of which pair perfectly with the 300 international, Australian, natural, organic, emerging, insert any other descriptive wine label here, drops on offer.

5. Disco Pantera

Disco Pantera bar in sydney — The lively space features vintage lighting and deadstock tiles. (Credit: Supplied)

Best for: Design lovers

Address: 11 Young St, Darlinghurst

How to find the entrance: Walk through Tigra on ground level to find stairs leading up

Crowned 2025’s best designed bar on The World’s 50 Best Bars list, Disco Pantera is a feast for all the senses. You’ll need to walk through another bar to find it, but once you do, prepare to drool over courageous colour drenching, impossible-to-source finishes and one seriously standout signature drink. The ‘Chimichurri Margarita’ with Casamigos, mezcal, herbs and citrus is a banger, as are the tunes that run until 2am from Monday to Saturday. This hidden bar in Sydney takes inspiration from the laneways of Barcelona and Tokyo, so expect world-class Catalan-meets-Japanese plates to help wash down the revelry.

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6. Eau de Vie

Eau de Vie Sydney — This jazz-infused speakeasy transports you to 1920s America. (Credit: Supplied)

Best for: Classy cocktails

Address: 285 George St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Go to the door on Wynyard Lane below The Sanderson

Nestled in the basement of a heritage 1930s Georgian revival building, Eau de Vie is a jazz-infused speakeasy to transport you back in time. Translating to ‘water of life’, this hidden Sydney bar’s cocktails are award-winning and reliably mind-blowing. The signature is the literally Smokey Rob Roy which arrives in a woody haze and blends multiple whiskies, house made sweet vermouth, and orange bitters.

7. Employees Only Sydney

Employees Only Sydney bar counter — The speakeasy-style Employees Only on Sydney’s Barrack St. (Credit: Mark Namnoun/Destination NSW)

Best for: After-work debriefs

Address: 9A Barrack St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Look for the red neon ‘Psychic’ sign

From the owners of New York City’s bar of the same name, Employees Only Sydney is just as fabulous. Home to slick staff, swish design and top-shelf indulgences, the hidden Sydney bar lures you down a staircase, past a resident tarot card reader, and into an opulent living area-feeling space where burlesque dancers have been known to hit bar tops. While those who have dropped into the NYC venue will recognise signature concoctions, I love the uniquely Sydney creations on offer including the ‘After Pilates’ of Midori, matcha and mezcal topped with strawberry foam.

8. Mjølner

Best for: Girls’ nights

Address: 267 Cleveland St, Redfern

How to find the entrance: Look for the wooden door just left of the street address

Head down a darkened staircase to find Mjølner, a Viking-inspired bar that feels like a secret cave. Paying homage to the hammer of Thor, the Norse god of thunder, this hidden Sydney bar is adorned with replica Viking swords and other weapons. While there’s also an on-site restaurant, the bar entirely satisfies with over 450 whiskies on offer in addition to bar snacks including a roastedbone marrow with wild mushroom salt. There’s a long list of signature cocktails, but I advise steering towards the ‘Northern Lights’ mixed with gin, iced Riesling and elderflower.

9. Stich Bar

Sit back and unwind at Stitch Bar in central Sydney. — Get cosy in Stitch Bar. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: After-work drinks

Address: 61 York St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Walk through the seamstress shopfront

Classy cocktail bar meets classic American diner at this hidden bar in Sydney — just venture beyond the room of sewing machines to find it. Once you’ve walked down the stairs to reach Stich Bar, you’ll likely spy large groups at dimly lit tables dotted with colourful cocktails and brioche bun-burgers and fries. The mixologists are always shaking something fresh in this endlessly busy place, but if they’re still mixing the ‘Mother’s Milk’ of strawberry liquor, cream and vanilla, don’t think. Just order.

10. Door Knock

Tucked away in Sydney’s CBD, Door Knock is one of the city’s best-kept secrets – if you can find it. This underground speakeasy just dropped a fresh new menu in its signature candlelit, vintage-chic space.

Best for: Date night

Address: 70 Pitt St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Walk downstairs and along a corridor to spy a red door

This fantastical hidden Sydney bar blends Parisian charm with underground speakeasy exclusivity, making for quite the memorable night out. Adorned with vintage mirrors, herringbone panelling, marble tables and dimly lit lamps, Door Knock is accessed only after knocking a brass pineapple door knocker three times. How deliciously adventurous. Work your way through a wine list of European and other international drops or indulge in signature cocktails like the ‘Bullfighter’ with Don Julio Blanco, mezcal, apricot, lime and coconut.

11. The Doss House

lounges inside The Doss House bar in sydney — The Doss House offers whiskey with a way of stirring your senses. (Credit: Alana Dimou)

Best for: Whiskey

Address: 77/79 George St, the Rocks

How to find the entrance: Look for a sign pointing to a clothing boutique. Walk through the building and out the back to a set of descending stairs

At this hidden Sydney bar, city slickers and tourists regularly collide — that’s if they can find The Doss House. You’ll know you’re there when you spot a sandstone-walled cave of leather couches, candles and one incredibly stocked bar filled with more than 150 whiskey varieties. On the weekends, you’ll even score live music. Once your thirst sets in, it’s hard to go past the house speciality, with whiskey earning its own menu grouped by regions of origin. Go for one of the team’s beautifully presented whiskey flights for the premium experience.

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12. Old Mate’s Place

Best for: City views

Address: Level 4, 199 Clarence St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Look for the unmarked door and take a lift four levels up

A completely unassuming entrance hides one of the most atmospheric hidden bars in town. Old Mate’s Place is a hit with inner-city crowds, featuring dramatically high ceilings, lush plants, chandeliers and candles to set an eclectic yet homely scene that’s often pumping come knock-off o’clock. If you’re there early, head to its small rooftop to enjoy the city skyline, otherwise the couches are always a cosy spot to indulge in a revolving cocktail menu. A regular standout is the very Sydney ‘Newtown Boi’ mixed with gin, sake, elderflower, yuzu and a collective of zesty fruits.

13. The Cumberland

The Cumberland underground drinking den — Head downstairs to the underground drinking den. (Credit: The Cumberland/Destination NSW)

Best for: Over-the-bridge tipples

Address: 17/19 Central Ave, Manly

How to find the entrance: Step into the ‘Cove Deli’ and open a wooden fridge door

Don’t you love the hidden bars of Sydney that make you work for them? The Cumberland is one of the heaviest hitters. Shielded by a fridge door inside a gorgeous duck egg blue painted bodega-style deli, this place is the northern beaches’ best covert watering hole by far. Walk down the stairs and into an incredible fit-out of rich timbers, antique furnishings and marble. There are more than 250 whiskeys to select from, great beers and wines, Champagnes and cocktails, as well as food including the ‘Foraged & Found’ menu featuring ingredients sourced directly from Manly and its surrounds.

14. Earl’s Juke Joint

crowd of people dining in Earl’s Juke Joint, Newtown — Head to Earl’s Juke Joint early to make sure you get a seat. (Credit: Christopher Pearce)

Best for: Meeting someone new

Address: 407 King St, Newtown

How to find the entrance: Step through the doors of ‘Betta Meats’

Talk about good vibes. Earl’s Juke Joint is always busy, including on a recent Friday night when I visit. It felt like the entire inner west was congregating around my shoulders, with spirits soaring both literally and figuratively. It’s all about the cocktails at this hidden Sydney bar, and the ‘Bam Bam’ is a timeless goodie. Blending rum, Brazilian banana liqueur, the deeply complex Amaro Montenegro Liqueur, citrus, coconut-banana foam and other wizardry, it’s basically a holiday in your mouth.

15. Papa Gede’s Bar

Guests enjoying food and drink at the Papa Gede's Bar Nawlins Long Lunch pop-up, Sydney CBD — Spice up your night with some rum at Papa Gede’s Bar. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Best for: After-work drinks

Address: 348 Kent St, Sydney

How to find the entrance: Look for a candlelit room in a cobblestone laneway at the rear of the building

If the pirate’s life intrigues you, Papa Gede’s Bar is a hidden Sydney cocktail bar is your go-to, inspired by its namesake voodoo spirit of lust and laughter. What more could anybody want from a night on the tiles? Once you’re inside, a cocktail menu pops with original ideas — think a ‘Dancing Devil’ with tequila, mezcal, spiced pear, jalapeños, agave and more — while a food menu includes two toasties and a handful of comfort food favourites.

Planning a trip to Sydney? Check out more of our recommendations here:

Best pubs in Sydney | Iconic attractions in Sydney| Things to do in Sydney | Best markets in Sydney| Most indulgent day spas in Sydney

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

15 hidden bars in Sydney you need to discover