The Glasshouse

The Verdict

They sure know how to mix a G&T at The Glasshouse. And of course they do—it’s a dedicated gin bar, gosh darn it, with over 25 gins from around the world, and specialist gin bartenders on hand to tailor your gin cocktail to your taste. Oh, and did we mention it’s on a rooftop overlooking Manly Beach?

The Glasshouse sits on the top level of Hotel Steyne, and they’ve got some serious talent working the bar. The bartenders—we prefer to call them ‘doctors of mixology’, but whatevs—can custom-make your gin cocktail to suit your taste. They’ve got a menu of ‘classics with a twist’ and ‘botanical cocktails’ on offer (say hello to your new friend Sambucus, an impossibly refreshing mix of mint-infused Hendricks, elderflower, cucumber, and lemon), or you can choose your own botanicals to create the gin-soaked bespoke beverage of your dreams. 

We’re not kidding around. They have an in-house garden where they grow botanics of the herbaceous and bodacious variety, and they’ll pair these with who’d-a-thunk-it flavourings (pepper? Don’t knock it ‘till you try it!), artisanal gins and boutique tonic waters. G&T geniuses right here. 

Not into gin? Look, we would never call you a liar to your face, so here’s the wine list for you. There’s a short ‘n’ sharp list of reds, whites, and sparklings–and for the ballers, magnum-sized bottles of Moet. That's right, 1.5 litres of France’s finest liquid gold for you, your mates and your sugar daddy. 

Fungry? Hungry? Hangry? Graze the day (and night) away on share boards of cheese and cured meats, white anchovies on toast and cheesy sliders. Or, just default to chippies. Everyone loves chippies. And not just an ordinary bowl of chips, but a chip-tasting board, featuring a ménage à trois of crispy-fried goods. There’s five ‘chips’ on offer, and you get three of your choosing, so good luck deciding between shoestring, sweet potato, curly, polenta chips and the ‘frickles’ (short for deep-fried pickles, but quite possibly also for ‘fricking good pickles’). 

Best of all, you can score your food and drink for an easy tenner on Thursdays. That’s right—each and every Thursday, The Glasshouse has a selection of their cocktails, drinks and food that’s yours for just $10. You know where to find us on Thursdays.

Image credit: Supplied