The best cocktail bars in Sydney right now

Stirring a cocktail at home is fun and all, but sometimes you just need a bartender to make it for you. Whether it's unwinding after a big work week, a flashy night out with friends, or indulging in a refreshing pre-dinner aperitif, few things compare to the pleasure of ordering, sipping and savouring a cocktail in a bar. It’s an almost religious experience. 

If you’re on the hunt for the best cocktail bars, you’re lucky to live in a country with many a brilliant bar scene. Adelaide’s got it going on. Melbourne boasts a bar on every corner (or thereabouts). But Sydney has something extra special. Perhaps this Sydney-loving author is a little biased, but this city has it all – a space, bar and bartender that specialises in whatever it is you’re after.  

You won’t struggle to find Sydney’s best cocktails. Hankering for a perfectly paired G&T? Pull up a seat at Sydney’s most famous gin bar, The Barber Shop. Searching for your new favourite whisky cocktail? Bunker down in the secretive Baxter Inn. Or maybe you prefer your cocktails with a splash of magic and flair? Grab a table at Maybe Sammy and let the award-winning team dazzle you. Trust us, Sydney has some of the world’s most creative and skilled mixologists, just waiting to wow you with their excellence. In fact, whittling down this list was near impossible (there’s plenty more brilliance to be discovered if this list isn’t enough). So, put down the jigger and pull up a seat at one of the best cocktail bars in Sydney – you won’t be disappointed.