First things first: book. Do not try to just walk up to this place as you will in all likelihood be denied entry by the door girl because the place is at capacity. To be fair, she’s downstairs and does ensure you don’t drag yourself up seven flights of stairs only to be greeted with a packed-out balcony. So that’s a plus.
Sweethearts Rooftop can be found at the lofty heights above the Potts Point Hotel. They've taken the humble, backyard barbie and raised it up above the chaos of the Cross to a rooftop packed with picnic tables, strings of colourful lights and the odd pot plant – you'd never know you were sitting on top of the red light district.
Sweethearts may be a bit over-regulated (you end up confirming your reso by both email and SMS) and the bar lines can get long. But the snacks are good and the beer is cold. If you are a fan of al fresco dining, you’ll be wanting to book a table at Sweethearts. Stairs be damned.