22 Nov 2024

The top 10 spots for festive drinks in Darling Harbour

Looking for somewhere for your Christmas party in Sydney, or just a spot for waterfront cocktails? Check out the best spots for festive drinks in Darling Harbour.
The top 10 spots for festive drinks in Darling Harbour

If you’re looking for somewhere for festive drinks, you’re in the right place. Darling Harbour has it all, from rooftop bars, to waterfront hotspots and chilled out breweries. 

Are you in charge of planning your office Christmas party, lining up end-of-year drinks and sorting out a spot for New Years? To help you get started we’ve rounded up our picks of the best places for festive bevvies in Darling Harbour. 

Rooftop Bars & Champagne
29/30 at W Sydney
The top two floors of the W Hotel are hiding Sydney’s best rooftop bar. Level 29 has dining, drinking, dancing and DJs, with bookable pool cabanas that have a stunning view over the city and harbour. Level 30 is a little more sophisticated, with cocktails, vintage champagne and panoramic views.
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Cafe del Mar
Since 1980 Cafe del Mar in Ibiza has been the home of chilled house music, waterfront views and iconic DJ sets. The Sydney outpost is much the same, with an expansive terrace overlooking the harbour, delicious Mediterranean eats and a New Years Party with two-hour beverage packages. 
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Zephyr
If you feel like living the high life this festive season, book a table at Zephyr. You’ll be treated to stunning views over Darling Harbour from an expansive rooftop terrace, with a bar that serves signature cocktails, and a huge list of premium spirits. 
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Beer and good vibes
Harajuku Gyoza Beer Stadium
The name of this fine establishment says it all. There’s dumplings, Japanese craft beer, room for functions of up to 300 people and a buzzing atmosphere at all times - what more could you want? 
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Pumphouse Sydney
Pumphouse Sydney is a craft beer and wine bar set in a beautifully renovated historic building right in the heart of the CBD. It’s perfect for a casual drop in, perhaps a fresh seafood platter and a pint or a glass of champagne - but it’s also great for large events, with several bookable spaces, including a wine room and an airy terrace. 
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Waterfront with views
Cockle Bay Yacht Club
Another waterfront venue in Cockle Bay, the Yacht Club has a huge outdoor area just a splash from the harbour. They’re currently taking bookings for functions, and boast a tempting menu featuring good stuff like live lobster, and grass-fed beef from the chef’s family farm.
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Helm Bar
Just above Cockle Bay Yacht Club you’ll find Helm, a bar, restaurant and nightclub with an elevated waterfront deck and function spaces for 10 to 600 people. It's perfect for a huge Christmas party to intimate afterwork drinks with $20 jugs on weekends and a tempting Christmas banquet menu. 
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Pontoon Bar
Pontoon Bar’s got a millionaire’s view that anyone can afford, right on the waterfront in Cockle Bay. There are local craft beers on tap, delicious Aussie cuisine and plenty of room on their outdoor courtyard for when the sun is shining. 
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For the after party
Cargo Bar
If you’re going to have a big night in Sydney or bring in the New Year, why not do it on the waterfront? Cargo Bar is the perfect spot for it, with a sun-soaked terrace serving elevated Aussie pub fare for the day, and a packed dance floor soundtracked by local DJs in the evening.
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Home the Venue
When you’re not ready to go home after your Christmas Party, afterwork drinks or New Year’s Eve - Home the Venue is your best bet. This is one of Sydney’s most iconic nightclubs with pumping dancefloors in six rooms over three levels, all playing different music - plus an absolute fizzer of a New Year’s Eve Party. 
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Still searching for the perfect plans for Christmas Day?  Check out these top spots in Darling Harbour that are serving up a festive feast.