The 10 best happy hour bars in Sydney & Darling Harbour

With a wide range of cocktails, spirits, wine, beer and antipasti plates, Fratelli Fresh are bringing more to your favourite time of the day. Join them from 3pm – 6pm, daily for an array of Aperitivo drinks and antipasti plates.

Monday to Thursday 5 pm - 7pm | $19 Champagne, $12 Cocktails, $8 De Bortoli Legacy Wines, $11 Spirits and $5 Beers. If you’ve got something to celebrate (like the fact it’s 5pm) or you just feel like poppin’ bottles, Champagne Bar at the Sofitel is the place to go. It’s got stunning views over Darling Harbour through floor to ceiling windows, lavish interior design and a champagne menu that’s longer than your to-do list.

Monday to Friday 4 pm - 7pm | $6 pints of beer. Right on the water on King St Wharf, you’ll find Bungalow 8. This Sydney nightlife icon sports a jungle theme, cocktail jugs and dozens of wines and beers to choose from. During the day, it’s a chilled restaurant serving healthy Mexican fare, but when the sun goes down it kicks things up a notch with DJs and a packed out dancefloor.

Monday to Thursday 5 - 6pm Friday 4 - 6pm | Free chicken karaage with tap beer. Nakano Darling is a Japanese izakaya bar on Steam Mill Lane. The focus here is on a generous list of Japanese beers, sakes and highballs, served alongside a bevvy of salty snacks like gyoza and chicken karaage. Hanging lanterns provide a dim light and drinkers can choose to sit on tatami mats on the floor for a real izakaya experience.

Monday to Friday 4pm - 7pm | $7 Sangrias, house wines, Sydney Lager, Peroni, James Boags, or standard spirits & mixer | $12 Aperol Spritz | $15 Espresso Martini. Cafe Del Mar brings Mediterranean beach vibes to Sydney, serving up cocktails, live DJs and delicious cuisine on their expansive harbourside terrace. Come for the sea views, stay for the cocktails and the packed dance floor because this is definitely one of the most unique (and best!) cocktail bars in Sydney.

Monday to Friday 4pm - 6pm | Discounts on house wine, beer and cider. Every hour spent at Bucket Boys is happy. These guys have a rotating tap list including the best local craft beers and a bottle shop next door with 150 beers that you can drink on site or take away. If all that selection makes it too hard to choose, go for a tasting platter of four beers, a natural wine or cocktail on tap.

Monday to Friday | $6 beer and wines $10 cocktails. The Watershed Hotel is so close to the water you could just about jump from the bar into the harbour. Those sea and city views are the perfect backdrop to happy hour drinking on the hotel’s expansive harbour-side courtyard. Stick around after the sun goes down and you’ll witness this laid back venue go from quiet drinks to DJs. There’s always something going on at this Sydney icon at the weekend.

Monday to Friday 4 pm - 7 pm | $5 house wines, schooners & bar snacks. Going to The Port for a drink is a little like going on holiday. This Cockle Bay Wharf watering hole has stunning sea views, a lush hanging garden, French coastal vibes and harbourfront cabanas. We recommend finishing off your work week reclining on the terrace at The Port with a glass of bubbles and a dozen oysters.

Tuesday to Friday 4 pm to 6:30 pm | $5 house beer & wine. When it opened in 1860, the historic Dundee Arms served the sailors and dockmen of the day in a predominantly industrial area. Today, the hotel is a fascinating piece of Sydney’s history as well as a laid back pub, offering cold beer, hearty Australian fare and a jolly atmosphere. Come during happy hour and wash a schnitty down with a couple cold pints.

Every day 3 pm - 6 pm | $5 wines, beers, spirits & $18 jugs of sangria Harbour Bar and Kitchen sits high atop Harbourside, with sweeping views of the harbour and Pyrmont Bridge. They’ve got a long list of creative cocktails and an expansive outdoor terrace, perfect for soaking in the sun while you sip on something refreshing.