Is anything in this world more appropriately named than happy hour? It’s that glorious window when bars, pubs, and restaurants invite us to enjoy cocktails, wines, beers and nibbles for less.
With the cost of living increasing faster than we sink a beer on a Friday afternoon, Urban List is loving a bargain now more than ever. From cocktails and craft beers to mini martinis and pizza, these are the best happy hours in Sydney/Eora.
Know where you're heading? Skip to
Never miss a new opening or upcoming event in Sydney again—get us in your inbox here.
The Best Sydney CBD Happy Hours
Shell House: Golden Hours
Shell House, 37 Margaret Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Shell House | Instagram
Shell House isn't just one of our favourite Sydney CBD haunts—they also do one of the best happy hours in Sydney across three venues, every day they're open, between 4pm and 6pm. Start your Golden Hours sipping up in the moody Clocktower Bar where you can nab $15 Tanqueray Negronis Monday–Saturday, or swing in to Sky Bar Tuesday–Saturday to pair $2 oysters with $15 Don Julio margaritas and $15 prawn katsu sandos.
For something a little more jazzy, get to Menzies Bar on the ground floor where Golden Hours offers petite lobster rolls and mini martinis for $10 each Monday–Saturday. We recommend getting in quick—the rolls can sell out.
Book Online
Maybe Sammy
115 Harrington Street, The Rocks
Image credit: Maybe Sammy | Instagram
Australasia's best bar Maybe Sammy is, obviously, pouring some of Sydney's best cocktails—and you can sample them on the cheap during their slick happy hour. Between 4.30pm and 5.30pm daily, drop in to try their mini cocktails (which usually only set you back $13, anyway) for just $7.
If it's a Saturday, you can also cop $2 oysters all day—not bad for one of the best watering holes in the world.
Centro 86
Basement 86/88 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Centro 86 | Dexter Kim
Sydney's underground paradise for all things agave spirits, Centro 86 has introduced a happy hour between 4pm and 6pm, Tuesday–Saturday.
You can get your hands on a spicy margarita (made with tequila, their house-made Rattlesnake spicy spirit, lime and passionfruit) for just $12, or an Angel Oro lager for $7. Pair your pick with a bag (or two) of their free, secret-spiced popcorn, and you're in for the perfect knockoff.
Book Online
Bar Mammoni
Shop/2 Loftus Lane, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Bar Mammoni | Supplied
Tucked away in a laneway in Quay Quarter, you’ll find one of Sydney’s best happy hour deals at Bar Mammoni. Between 3pm and 6pm, Wednesday–Friday, snag their $10 pasta of the day, which you can pair with their classic waffle fries or whipped ricotta and ciabatta at happy hour prices.
Celebrate the end of the work day with $10 spritzes, $15 Negronis and $7 wines and beers as you wind down under the umbrellas of theircourtyard. They don’t take bookings, so make sure to get in early or else be prepared to wait for this epic deal.
Rockpool Bar
66 Hunter Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Rockpool | Supplied
Fuelling our love of luxe on a budget, beloved top-tier restaurant Rockpool Sydney has launched RP Hour in its breathtaking, walk-in-only bar space. Swing by between 4pm and 6pm, Monday–Friday to make the most of $12 cocktails including martinis, margaritas, Negronis and a house spritz, a $15 bar snacks menu with a chorizo dog with chimichurri and crispy onions, a fish po' boy with chilli mayo, and a Rockpool BLT, and $4 fries.
There's also a sommelier's selection of $15 red, white and sparkling wines, and $7 beers. If that doesn't sound like a perfect knockoff, we don't know what does.
Book Online
You might also like
Dean & Nancy On 22
Level 22, 2 Hunter Street, Sydney CBD
Nestled among the Sydney CBD's skyscrapers, Dean & Nancy on 22 offers an elegant happy hour with breathtaking sunset views and a chic ambience. Aperitivo Hour runs between 5pm and 6pm every day of the week and offers $15 cocktails ( including 50/50 gin or vodka martinis; the Tramonto with Aperol, raspberry, grapefruit and prosecco; and the Noto Notte with Disaronno, yuzu, Perrier and tonic water) immersing you in the Italian aperitivo tradition.
There's also a mocktail, and wines from $12. We'd recommend ordering a bowl of the truffle fries, too.
Book Online
Alfie's
4/6 Bligh Street, Sydney CBD
Steak is the major focus at CBD restaurant Alfie's, but if you're seeking out a knockoff or sip to whet the whistle before your carnivorous feast, the bar also does a cracking happy hour between 4pm and 6pm daily.
Sip a butcher (a 200mL glass of beer) for just $3, or go for a $6 gin and tonic, $10 house wine, $14 Bloody Shiraz spritz or $16 ice-cold house martini, and set your eyes on the hot chip spit roast beef butty; at $17 it mightn't be a bargain, but you're going to want to give it a whirl.
Book Online
Employees Only
9A Barrack Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Employees Only | Instagram
A happy hour doesn't come more jolly than this: 50% off food AND drinks, every Tuesday–Thursday. Get to Employees Only and make sure you order before 6pm, with the deal applying to the whole food menu (sans the tomahawk steak—fair) and all house spirits, house beers, house red, white, rose and prosecco, and signature cocktails.
Book Online
Matteo Downtown
20 Bond Street, Sydney CBD
Swing by Matteo's CBD location every Tuesday–Friday between 3pm and 5.30pm for Aperitivo Hour, when a tenner will get you a Peroni, wine or house gin or vodka. For $15 you can nab a house martini or Negroni, or Aperol or limoncello spritzes are $14. Plus, there are free nibbles during Aperitivo Hour to pair with your drink.
Book Online
The Wine Bar at The International
25 Martin Place, Sydney CBD
Image credit: The Wine Bar | Instagram
Happy hour at The Wine Bar is coming in hot with their daily Sips and Snacks menu. No need to transfer out of savings for this one—the curated selection of drinks and paired bites are all under $12. Think classics like gimlets, mojitos, and a signature mango and myrtle spritz, as well as $5 pizza romana by the slice and $10 oysters in three’s.
Your post-work ritual is sorted for the foreseeable—Sips and Snacks is running from Monday to Saturday, 4pm to 6pm.
Book Online
The Best Surry Hills Happy Hours
Jane: Australiano Hour
478 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Jane | Instagram
Don't let looks deceive you—you can visit this stunning Surry Hills spot on a budget. Jane's Australiano Hour includes some of the cheapest (and most delicious) cocktails on this list of Sydney happy hours. Drop in between 5pm and 6pm Monday–Thursday, and 4pm through 6pm Friday–Sunday Sunday to sip $8 Australianos, $10 Jane martinis, and White Possum G&T's, chilled reds, VBs and yuzu vermouth and soda for $6.
Snacks are as fancy as they are affordable too: $2 Sydney Rock oysters with desert lime and chardonnay mignonette, duck croquettes with mustard and tarragon ($6 each), and kangaroo tartare with pickled cucumber, bush tomato harissa and potato ($15).
Book Online
Armorica
490 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Armorica | Supplied
Crown Street's elegant Parisian brasserie, Armorica, does a slick happy hour every day of the week. Swing in between 4pm and 6pm to graze the afternoon away on $6 glasses of rosé paired with charcuterie items from $6.
Book Online
Butter
6 Hunt Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Butter | Instagram
There’s a good chance you already know Butter is slinging some of the best fried chicken in Sydney. But you might not know there’s a delicious reason to get in there between 3pm and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Pop in during Butter Hour and cop some of their crispy and golden wings for just $3, plus $6 beers, and boozy slushies and whiskey apples for $10.
Book Online
Tio’s Cerveceria
14 Foster Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Tio's | Instagram
It's no secret that Sydney loves a margarita, but your lime and tequila habit can get a little costly when a cocktail sets you back at least $20. Don't stress though, because Tio's does $12 frozen margs every day—you just have to get in before they sell out—in a new flavour every week, and $12 classic margaritas all night on Wednesdays.
Book Online
Ace Hotel Lobby Bar
47/53 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Ace Hotel | Supplied
Whether you are a curious passer-by looking for a drink and a boogie, or a paying guest with an evening to fill, the Ace Hotel’s Lobby Bar happy hour is sure to impress. Grab a full size margherita’s or Four Pillars olive leaf martini for $12, craft beers for $6, and house wines sitting at $8 a glass. Something to line the stomach? Sydney rock oysters with white pepper and coriander mignonette are just $2 a pop—finish things off with a $16 Lobby cheeseburger, and you are looking at a seriously budget friendly night out.
Post-happy hour, the bar transforms into a late night dancefloor, with monthly rotating DJ residencies and surprise events popping up throughout the week. The Lobby Bar is open 12pm—1pm daily, with no bookings required.
More Of Sydney's Best Happy Hours
Arms Length
7 Kellett Street, Potts Point
Image credit: Arms Length | Instagram
Cute courtyard cafe, restaurants and bar Arms Length does a primo happy hour to enjoy under the fig trees behind the action of Kings Cross. Swing in daily between 4pm and 6pm to order a spread of $8 wines, beers or G&Ts, $12 spritzes, sours and blue margaritas. They also do a happy hour combo of a glass of wine or beer and cheesy jaffle for $15.
Book Online
SoCal
1 Young Street, Neutral Bay
If you’ve already taken the stairs up to SoCal, then you know the Neutral Bay joint has an extremely inviting and relaxing Cali beach vibe. The only thing that could possibly make that better is chilling out after work with a $12 frozen cocktail slushie, or $5 house wine, prosecco, or beer on offer for knock-offs between 5pm and 6.30pm, Monday–Friday.
Book Online
Saké Restaurant & Bar
12 Argyle Street, The Rocks; Level 1, Manly Wharf, Manly; 33 Cross Street, Double Bay | Monday–Friday, 4pm–6pm
Image credit: Saké Restaurant & Bar | Supplied
Slip into Saké Restaurant & Bar's Saké Hour to say hai to a knockoff jaunt to Japan. Happy hour specials here include fun drinks and bites like $5 sashimi tacos, $10 chicken karaage, and a daily nigiri pick for $5.
On the happy hour drinks menu, there’s $7 Roku gin and tonics, Toki highballs and Asahi beers, $10 Miss Wednesday cocktails (shochu, rose and lychee liquor shaken with vanilla and fresh lime), $12 martinis, Negronis and Old Fashioneds, and $10 glasses of wine. Saké Hour is walk-in only.
Now check out
- The Best Bars In Sydney
- The Best Free And Cheap Things To Do In Sydney Right Now
- Sydney's Best Cafes
Main image credit: Ace Hotel | Supplied
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.