Andrew Georgiou

We're all about a secret underground dive bar or two – but in a city as beautiful as Sydney, it seems like a damn shame to retreat into the depths for every tipple. From a sundowner by the harbour to a sunny rooftop in the Inner West, our town is awash with sky-high watering holes. So we've rounded up the best spots in the city to sip a cold one under a gorgeous open sky. But drinkers beware: Sydney's rooftop bars play host to some of the most contested seats in the city, so get in early for a spot in the sun.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. For more al fresco drinking try one of Sydney's best beer gardens. Looking for another top-notch watering hole? Check out the best bars in Sydney.

If New York is the big apple, then Sydney is the bent banana. Whether you're into poking your member through a hole in a wall hoping for a ‘lucky dip’, strapping a complete stranger into a sling, or throwing yourself into a dark room and feeling your way, Time Out has got the low down on the down-low at Sydney’s key sex-on-premises venues.  Are you a first-timer? Out of practice? Check out Time Out's guide to sauna etiquette. Keep the party going at one of Sydney's best gay and queer clubs, and then recover at one of Sydney's best queer-friendly beaches.