9 rooftop bars that are basically front-row seats to Vivid

Beat the crowds and watch the city light up at one of these sky-high venues.

Vivid Sydney is once again illuminating the city, and this year’s lineup promises dazzling displays. But if you prefer to view the action away from the crowds, your best bet is to head to one of Sydney’s fabulous rooftop bars. You can be as sky-high and lit as you like when you’re sipping a Negroni and surveying the neon night. Here are 10 of the best rooftop bars to view Vivid 2025.

1. Aster, InterContinental Sydney

a couple watching the lights of Vivid Sydney at Aster, InterContinental Sydney — Watch the dancing lights of Vivid Sydney atop the InterContinental Sydney.

Aster is on level 32 of the InterContinental Sydney hotel and is one of the best rooftop bars in Australia for winter drinks. The view from Aster is giving ‘Ken Done limited edition’ with views over the twinkly Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens. The Dreamscapes at Aster experience invites guests to watch the lights of Vivid Sydney dancing from on high. For just $169 per person, kick off with a themed cocktail and canapé on arrival then settle in for a share-style starter and main complemented by two perfectly paired glasses of wine. Up the ante with a Vivid Sydney Staycation offer of $469 per room, per night which includes overnight accommodation, a themed Vivid cocktail bar at Treasury Bar and a curated goodie bag and breakfast for two.

2. Blu Bar on 36

views of Vivid Sydney as seen from Blu Bar on 36 — Soak up the city lights from the 36th floor of the Shangri-la Sydney.

The Vivid theme for 2025 is ‘Dream’. And the Shangri-la Sydney has taken that concept and run with it with a dreamy bespoke menu dedicated to this night of nights and lights. Ask the waiters to shake you up a Lucid Projection cocktail ($26) that will see your night get off to an impeccable start while surveying the horizon and views over Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sip on the cocktail, which is a mix of gin, peach liqueur and blue curaçao syrup, while surveying the horizon from the 36th floor of the hotel. Order the Vivid Platter ($99) which includes East 33 Sydney rock oysters from Merimbula, tuna sashimi with pickled ginger and shoyu, WA Shark Bay scampi caviar and meltingly tender Wagyu MB8+.

3. Paramount House

Paramount House is prone to fits of fancy and what better excuse to loosen the necktie than at Vivid Sydney 2025. The Surry Hills hotel is one of many inspired spots along the Hollywood Dreaming Gig Trail. You’ll do well to head to Paramount House to watch Wall Life with Sonny Day interactive art, design and music experience. The celebrated artist is known for his large scale murals and posters and is inviting punters aged between 10 and 18 to a workshop to design their very own alternative tour poster. It’s all about art, pizza and prizes at the Paramount House, one of the best venues to enjoy the festival.

4. Bar 83 at Sydney Tower

red velvet chairs and white Tulip tables at Bar 83, Sydney Tower — Bar 83 is all red velvet chairs and white Tulip tables.

Change out of your footie mum uniform and frock up for a night spent well at Sydney’s highest bar. The climax will build as you climb 83 floors (245 metres) above street level in the capsule lift that will shoot you to the top of the iconic Sydney Tower. The vibe at Bar 83 is all red velvet chairs and white Tulip tables, brushed gold and white curving archways. It’s like something out of a science fiction movie. While Infinity restaurant and the more low-key Skyfeast below both revolve, Bar 83 does not. It’s your head that will be doing the swivelling while enjoying panoramic views of the city lit up below over cocktails and bar bites from sister venue Infinity.

5. Smoke Bar, Barangaroo House

Enjoy watching the quivering rivers of light from above at Smoke at Barangaroo House , which has one of the best vantage points overlooking Vivid. The Level 2 rooftop bar looks out over the Vivid lightwalk, one of the highlights of the 2025 program. The whimsical building is right on brand for this year’s Dream theme. The bright sparks in the kitchen have curated a zero-waste menu which includes cocktails such as the Sunset ($23) and Hummingbird ($23) and snacks of the highest order – Pacific oysters ($7.50 each) and duck spring rolls ($16).

6. Hacienda

the dining at Hacienda with harbour views — Revel in incredible harbour views at Hacienda. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Most Sydneysiders don’t have access to harbour views. So embrace the occasion and head to Hacienda . You’ll find yourself at an enviable vantage point as the city lights up with Dream Hour designed to run throughout Vivid Sydney 2025 from 4-6pm. It’s the perfect prelude to a night spent enjoying Sydney in the limelight. Drinking margaritas is fun. And the mixologists at Hacienda have dreamt up a Dream Hour that includes a Margarita your Way for $15. There are also vibrant dishes that are on-brand for Vivid Sydney such as oysters with blood plum, lobster and prawn empanadas with a hit of Fancy Hank’s hot sauce.

7. The Rook

the cocktail selection at The Rook, Sydney — Kick off with next-level cocktails at The Rook.

Start your Vivid Sydney 2025 adventure at Vivid Liftoff at The Rook, a hidden rooftop nook in the heart of the CBD because you’re cultured dang it. The Rook takes Vivid views to the next level with its Rooftop Cocktails, Bites & City Lights, where it offers an enviable selection of iridescent cocktails such as the Lunar Lagoon, Starlight Spritz and Firefly Glow. The Rook does not have Vivid views, per se, it’s in perfect proximity to the action. And it’s akin to sitting in your own Vivid installation with twinkling strings of lights. The drinks are also next-level. Dial it back by inhaling a few southern-style buffalo chicken wings with blue-cheese mayo ($15 each) while the resident DJ is spinning tracks.

8. Untied

hands holding cocktail glasses on pink background — Get together with the girls for a shimmering night out. (Image: One Cut Studios)

You don’t need to be tethered to roaming the streets every night during Vivid Sydney 2025 . Some of us are just as happy to get our glow on at a rooftop bar such as Untied, which shifts the needle during the annual Light, Music, Ideas & Food festival with its whimsical twist on Champagne. Choose your flavour: Blue Raspberry, Green Sour Apple, Pink Watermelon or Purple Berry Crunch and watch your drink shimmer against the neon night. Sip, sparkle and shine at Vivid Sydney for the Bubbles & Fairy Floss fun available May 23 to June 14.

9. Bungalow 8

a DJ sets the party mood at Bungalow 8, Sydney — Get the party started with pumping disco music at Bungalow 8.

There are new bars popping up all over the city but this sprawling venue is one of the best as it transitions from having some of the most fabulous sunset views in Sydney into a beacon for the party hearty as the night falls.  Bungalow 8 has a balcony boasting views of Darling Harbour and is one of the best places to party before or after Vivid during its Neon Nights & Pop-Up Bites at Bungalow 8 every Saturday. Expect an explosion of colour at the bar every Saturday night with its roster of DJs, glow-in-the-dark cocktails, trippy neon tunnels, free face painting and all the main-character energy you can handle. Dress as your favourite avatar and hold court making shapes with your glow stick. It’s your time to shine!

NSW’s beach towns take on a new kind of magic when the cooler months hit.

Autumn and winter cast a whole new light on the New South Wales coastline. The sun hangs lower, the shadows stretch longer and the air is crisp and fresh. The frenetic summer crowds are gone, and the rhythm slows to the pace of a leisurely winter bush walk through still, damp quiet. From wineries pouring winter reds to the annual whale migration up the ‘humpback highway’, here’s why winter on the New South Wales coast is better.

Winter on the NSW South Coast

Winter down south means misty dawns, sipping a flat white on the beach. The thrill of a whale spotting from the headlands and evenings spent slowly savouring Shoalhaven’s wines by the fire.

Start in Kiama, where waves crash into the famous Blowholes. This natural spectacle is achieved when underground pressure and swell unite, sending sea spray soaring above the basalt cliffs. This means, due to larger waves, you’re even more likely to see an explosive display in winter.

two people standing in front of kiama blowhole — See Kiama’s blowholes in full force. (Image: Destination NSW)

Inland, the Minnamurra Rainforest Walk in Budderoo National Park is all subtropical forest and trilling lyrebird song. Make sure to walk silently along the elevated boardwalks, past winter-swelled creeks and the tangled roots of fig trees. You might just hear one of the musically talented birds mimicking your footsteps.

Feeling adventurous? Book a session at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures for a wobbly walk through the canopy on Australia’s highest zipline.

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures on the new south wales south coast — Walk among the tallest trees. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, it’s time to take the speed down a notch with a drive over to the historic village of Berry. It’s been a beloved stop for generations of Sydneysiders heading south, as has the obligatory stop at its famous doughnut van for crisped, cinnamon goodness. If you’re ready for something a little more chunky, stroll right past the boutiques (okay, go on, just one quick peek) to Milkwood Bakery . Their flaky pastries and all-day breakfasts are best enjoyed under cream-coloured fringed umbrellas.

Back in Kiama, you’ll also find modern Middle Eastern share plates at Miss Arda , and next-level burgers on The Hungry Monkey ‘s extensive menu: an ode to everything pattie-shaped.

End the day at The Sebel Kiama on the harbour. The apartment-style rooms come with full cooking facilities — a welcome addition for families looking to test out the local produce they picked up along the way. Including, but not limited to, vintages from nearby Crooked River Wines .

The Sebel Kiama exterior — Sleep by the harbour.

Winter on the Mid-North Coast

A trip up north is a gentle one at this time of year. You’ll still feel that sunshine warming your shoulders, but the lower temperatures make space for rainforest walks, vineyard lunches and long coastal hikes. All without that pesky humidity.

First stop? It has to be the town of Port Macquarie. Start by marking out a stretch of the nine-kilometre coastal walk you want to tackle (or do the whole thing), which winds from Town Beach to the lighthouse along rugged headlands and quiet beaches. Hot tip: binoculars. Don’t forget them if you want to partake in some close-up sightings of dolphin pods or whales migrating up the ‘humpback highway’.

Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, winter on the New South Wales coast — Wander the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk. (Image: Destination NSW)

Swap sea for canopy at the Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk , one of the last remaining pockets of coastal rainforest in the state. The accessible elevated trail passes under climbing ferns and tangled strangler figs, and is alive with scarlet robins, goannas and diamond pythons – if you’re lucky, you might see one slipping through the leaf litter.

Afterwards, lunch is sorted at Cassegrain Wines , where crisp whites and elegant reds are grown using a blend of French winemaking tradition and Australian innovation. After a tasting, saddle up for a horse ride through the estate.

port macquarie koala hospital — Meet Koala Hospital inhabitants at their temporary home. (Image: Destination NSW)

The beloved Koala Hospital is rebuilding, so meet its furry patients in their temporary bushland abode at Guulabaa – Place of Koala . Here, you can see rehabilitation up close and learn how one of Australia’s most iconic animals is being carefully rewilded and protected.

Back in town, Whalebone Wharf serves up fine dining with serious views to go with your oysters. Prefer something breezier? Bills Fishhouse + Bar does everything from blue swimmer crab toast to zucchini noodles drizzled in basil and wattleseed pesto. Down by the waterfront, Little Shack slings ceviche, mushroom burgers and fish tacos with casual aplomb.

At the end of it all, check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie , right in the heart of town. From here, everything’s walkable. Just park the car, pop your keys in your pocket, and stroll down to the beach.

bed at Mercure Centro Port Macquarie — Check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie.

Winter on the Central Coast

On the Central Coast, expect to explore oyster farms that sit on estuaries, beaches that stretch empty for miles, and the kind of surprise sightings of whale sprays that can stop a hiker in their tracks.

The best way to settle into this slower rhythm is with the Bouddi Coastal Walk , an 8.5km trail that dips through rainforest and eroding cliffs. It’s made for unhurried walkers and long-lens photographers.

Up the coast in Terrigal, it’s prime time to spot humpbacks on the move. Join a cruise or find your own perch — Crackneck Lookout and Norah Head Lighthouse are both local favourites.

a humpback whale breaching on the central coast — Spot migrating humpback whales. (Image: Destination NSW)

Travelling with kids? It would be sacrilege not to visit the Australian Reptile Park . Here, Elvis the saltwater crocodile reigns supreme, and the venomous snake talk somehow manages to be simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.

If that isn’t enough to wear them out, zip and climb your way through Treetops Adventure Central Coast , a ropes course in the canopy of Ourimbah State Forest. Afterwards, steady your nerves with a garden tasting at Firescreek Botanical Winery , where fruit- and flower-infused wines are served under the trees.

Switch earth for sea and hop on a boat tour with Broken Bay Pearl Farm . Once you’re out on the water, you’ll learn how pearls are cultivated and have a hands-on lesson in grading and shucking.

woman holding a pearl at Broken Bay Pearl Farm — Get a hands-on pearl lesson. (Image: Destination NSW)

As the day winds down, grab a seat at Yellowtail in Terrigal , which takes seasonal native produce and presents it with Asian flair. Prefer something simple? Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination. Find an impressive breakfast and lunch menu, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce.

Stay the night at Pullman Magenta Shores , between the ocean and the lake. There are plenty of ways to relax, with a massage at the day spa, a poolside beanbag and a round or two at the golf course.

restaurant at Pullman Magenta Shores central coast — Eat well at Pullman Magenta Shores’ restaurant. (Image: Destination NSW)

Winter in Wollongong

Wollongong does contrast pretty well. One moment you’re walking beneath an enormous Buddha, the next you’re ordering soju a few blocks from the surf. It’s a town where skydivers land on beaches, trails lead to paddocks and winter days stretch long and clear beneath the Illawarra cliffs.

If you’re coming from the north, start by crossing over the Sea Cliff Bridge. Curving dramatically out like a jutting ‘C’ out above the water means you won’t be able to resist pulling over (safely, in designated lookouts) to gaze down at the waves crashing on the cliffs below.

Just inland is the serenity of the Nan Tien Temple , the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. You can trace the prayer path, explore the temple gardens and sip delectable Kam Quat Tea in the quiet light at the Dew Drop Inn Tea House.

monk teaching tai chi at Nan Tien Temple — Learn about Buddhist practices. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, dust off that cowboy hat. It’s time for the Darkes Forest Riding Ranch . Take a guided canter via trail rides among peppermint gums and paddocks. If you’re happier to look at animals than ride them, Symbio Wildlife Park has red pandas dozing in trees, kangaroos that hop up to you and lessons on conservation.

The brave among you shouldn’t miss Skydive Australia – Wollongong . A free fall over the coast via tandem jumps before tumbling down to the sand is a breath-stopping thrill. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Check out the program at Wollongong Art Gallery , which delivers contemporary and Aboriginal exhibitions in the centre of town.

monkey at Symbio Wildlife Park — Hang out with the locals at Symbio Wildlife Park.(Image: Destination NSW)

As evening settles in, nab a table at Baby Face Kitchen . It has an ever-changing set menu, with dishes like hand-picked mud crab with white asparagus and salty brown butter, to sheep’s milk and honey ice cream. For something more casual, Dagwood Bar + Kitchen brings the fun with Korean fried chicken, sake cocktails and weekly all-you-can-eat bao buns.

Check in to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach , right by the sand. With a beachfront pool and ocean views, it’s an ideal base for whatever pace you choose.

Winter on the New South Wales coast starts with a cosy place to stay. Start planning your adventure at all.com.

10 rooftop bars that are basically front-row seats to Vivid