The 25 best rooftop bars in Australia

‘Live the high life’ takes on a whole new meaning at Zephyr, the Hyatt Regency Sydney's ultra-luxe level 12 rooftop bar. Boasting uninterrupted views of Darling Harbour, this open-air oasis is the ultimate golden hour hotspot where you can watch the sun dip below the sparkling waters with a Spritz in hand. Zephyr’s nautical-inspired decor is a nod to the harbour’s maritime heritage, while signature cocktails and concoctions showcase premium wines and tipples from around the world. Say hi to summer with the rooftop’s exclusive Moët and Chandon Sky Lounge, featuring fancy Champagne towers, elegant cocktails, and live DJs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You’ll need all hands on deck to share gourmet canapés of tempura soft-shell crab, lobster popcorn and Wagyu sliders, making your night one to remember. 

As far as backdrops go, it doesn’t get much better than Lina Rooftop’s display. With its 12th floor, South Bank locale, Lina boasts a sky-high panorama of Brisbane City, Mt Coot-tha and the inner-city treetops. Lina’s minimalist, blue and white fit-out is reminiscent of a chic Grecian beach club, taken to the next level with an infinity pool to boot. The open-air terrace is complete with ever-so-comfy day beds that are available for hire – the ideal spot to park up and enjoy a little something from the Mediterranean-inspired menu with a drink in hand. Lina’s extensive drinks list is bound to please, whether you’re after a wine by the glass or bottle, a signature cocktail, or a non-alcoholic refreshment. 

In a more-so recent addition to the Adelaide rooftop bar scene, the Merrymaker over by the Central Market is here with lively licks of paint and a montage of tiling that really does amp up the merry-making. The funky fresh bar is perched 16 storeys above Hotel Indigo, securing its place as the highest rooftop bar in Adelaide. With hill- and city-scapes to behold, Merrymaker invites sunset lovers up for golden-hour gazing, with guaranteed views and ice-cool drinks in hand. Local wines and inventive cocktails are all the rage, matching Marrymaker’s decor to a tee. Take the Black Forest with chocolate gin, mulberry and orange. Hunger pains are a thing of the past too, with piping hot pizzas, tacos and tapas coming out of the wazoo. 

Located atop Linton Apartments in the renowned and remarkable Kangaroo Point postcode, Sunsets Rooftop just isn’t like the other rooftops. With 2023 beginnings, Sunsets is hot off the press and is already known as one of Brisbane’s best rooftop bars – not only for its swanky, desert-inspired interiors, but for its spectacular vistas across the entire cityscape, as well as a bird’s eye view directly into The Gabba. Some nifty design work means uninterrupted sundowns with hilly silhouettes to the east, accompanied by a drink in one hand and a Mediterranean nibble in the other. Sink your teeth into the calamari with fennel salt and lime mayo, or perhaps the chargrilled lamb cutlets with Aleppo pepper and tahini lemon sauce. Wash it all down with an Espresso Martini and a warm Portuguese tart for the full Sunsets Rooftop affair.

Atop the Burbury Hotel in Barton sits Canberra’s classiest new rooftop bar. Leyla Bar’s bright, minimalist fit-out with pops of foliage frames stunning views of Canberra, from Parliament House to Lake Burley Griffin. Martinis are Leyla’s specialty, with classic Martinis to unleash your inner Bond, or ones that stray further from tradition like a Lemon Drop Martini with limoncello. Wines are a mainly local affair, and pair excellently with the bar’s tapas menu. Work your way through their range of croquettes (we rate the gruyère cheese ones) and try their pulled pork empanadas with a cool coriander yoghurt. Taco lovers should book their bottomless deal where $80 per person will get you free-flowing Margaritas, sangria, rosé and sparkling wine, plus a selection of tacos. 

The Latin definition of ‘sol’ means ‘sun’, and at Sol Rooftop, you’ll be nine storeys closer to the big ball of fire in the sky atop one of Adelaide’s chicest terrace bars. Describing itself as ‘West Hollywood casual sophistication with South Australian taste’, Sol Rooftop is clean-cut minimalist and lets the landscape do most of the talking. With north and west-facing views aside from the River Torrens, Sol offers vast visions of suburbia, the foothills and the coastline – not to mention a new perspective of the neighbouring Adelaide Oval. Come sundown, Sol is right in the line of fire for uninterrupted sunny scenes, and the seasonally-rotating cocktail, wine and spirit list reflects Mother Nature graciously. They even have a ‘Big Book’ for connoisseurs that enlists an award-winning selection of beverages. 

Brisbanites can’t get enough of chic rooftop bars, and with its LA-resort vibe, Fiume offers up something a little different. Fiume – which means river in Italian – sits atop the funky Crystalbrook Vincent hotel in the historic Howard Smith Wharves precinct, making it a great option for a glass of fresh and fruity rosé after a day taking in the sights of the city. Whether you want to share a grazing board and some light bites with friends or lounge next to the infinity pool as you watch the sunset over the Story Bridge, you are sure to have a wonderful time at Fiume.

Head up to level 32 of the InterContinental Sydney for a nightcap, where flash rooftop bar Aster is located. The Classic Negroni goes down a treat, though we aren’t here for the drinks. Not really. We’re here for the views. From the charcoal suede seats, or standing outside on the wrap-around bar, you can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, glittering city skyline and Royal Botanic Gardens all rolling below. These have got to be some of – if not the best – views in Sydney.

There’s nothing standard about this three-level, Mediterranean-inspired bar and kitchen that revives Northbridge’s once-lost European charm. Small to medium share plates are designed to keep the good times and conversations flowing, including pickled mussels, duck liver parfait, and mortadella with sweet and sour onions. The drinks list is equal parts fancy and fun, featuring flavours that span from Italian stone fruits and summer citrus, to creamy desserts and subtle Mediterranean spices. 

There’s no better place in Canberra to watch the sunset from than this sixth-floor rooftop bar. With panoramic views of the city, you can sip through their collection of Australian wines and dine on hot wood-fired pizzas. If you’re just after a cocktail (or two) and a snack, crunch on fried cauliflower with sticky Korean sauce while you drink the Eclipse cocktail with Brookie’s (of Cape Byron Distillery) cumquat gin, Rhubi rhubarb liqueur, lemon and elderflower syrup. Sweet tooths will love their Espresso Martini-inspired Above the Avenue cocktail, topped with a toasted marshmallow.

Sitting atop the Mayfair Hotel, smack-bang in Adelaide's city centre is Hennessy Rooftop Bar – an elegant space that blends effortlessly into the heritage-listed CML Building. The 13th-floor bar offers sweeping views across Rundle Mall and the city’s skyline, all while outlining the eastern Adelaide Hills as a backdrop – an ideal spot for taking in the pastel hues as the sun descends from day to dusk. Hennessy Rooftop Bar is designed for year-round relishing, with both indoor and outdoor areas – beneath the crystal chandeliers or beside the building’s terracotta-tiled crown, respectively. As for Hennessy’s tipple, South Australian wine, beer and spirits are in the spotlight, alongside enticing cocktails. Our favourite is the Lycee Lover with gin, lemon, ginger and of course, lychee.

Sitting at a staggering 14 floors above Jubilee Place, Soko Rooftop Bar and Restaurant brings a subtle Amazonian flair to Fortitude Valley. The sky-high hide-out covers some mega ground – 1,500 square metres to be exact – and serves up sweeping views of Brisbane City, as well as a marriage of Peruvian and Japanese flavours. Deep green tiles, furniture and rainforest flora occupy an internal dining space, while the open-air terrace comes to life with DJs and samba dancers that frolic around the lush garden beds as the sun sets over Brisbane – the drama. In terms of fare, expect big tastes from Soko’s selection of ceviches, bao buns, yakitori skewers and notable desserts, including the ‘perumisu’ – a Peruvian take on tiramisu with espresso, dulce de leche, mascarpone and matcha. Pisco (Peruvian grape spirit) and sake (Japanese rice spirit) are a Soko feature, and trust us, they’ve got the good stuff too.

Slims Rooftop is named after American socialite photographer Slim Aarons, though it could equally refer to the narrow stairs leading to the rooftop — there’s a good amount of side-sashaying and waiting-on-the-landing as staff and patrons patiently wait to climb up or down the stairs. But don’t despair, because it’s a stairway to heaven. Slims is an open-air oasis with succulent plants and low walls, allowing for stunning views of the Art-Deco buildings on William Street and the glittery skyscrapers of the not-too-distant Sydney CBD. 

Wedged between the city highrises lies Proof, one of Adelaide’s finest small bars. Yesteryear charm adorns the double-storey haunt – from the light fixtures and gold detailing to the mid-century citrus juicer that sits proudly upon the bar. And although there’s no panoramic vista visible from Proof’s second-level patio, it’s a rooftop nonetheless – just look up and get that tiny feeling amidst the concrete jungle, all while the sun’s kiss illuminates glasses of red and pints of nectar alike. Proof’s menu highlights wines from both near and far, alongside carefully curated cocktails, namely the Pineapple Puppy of gin, vermouth bianco, ginger, citrus and pineapple, naturally. Gourmet toasties are a crucial part of the Proof experience too, and you’d be silly to pass up the oozy opportunity.

There’s a reason why Terrarium won Cocktail Bar of the Year WA at the 2023 Australian Bar Awards. The sky-high rooftop terrace in Perth is a go-to for specialty cocktails and refined bar snacks, all served under twinkling fairy lights in the heart of the city. Terrarium’s botanical-inspired decor sets the tone for its floral cocktail menu, featuring drinks named after plants, including the ‘Red Dahlia’ Manhattan, the ‘Primrose’ Lime Curd Margarita, and the non-alcoholic ‘Bird of Paradise’ Spiced Colada. The 24-page spirits list reads like a bible, and your chosen tipple is sure to pair well with the bar's salted nuts, seasoned olives or grazing boards.