It’s the summer of ouzo coladas sipped within the sunlit amphitheatre of Olympus in Redfern, BYO wine by the Cronulla waterfront at Pippis, and ice-cold afternoon lagers on the Manly wharf at Felons – just some of the new bars and restaurants to embrace the outdoors in Sydney this year.

The trend towards open-air venues strengthened in 2024 with the introduction of more than 10 popular newcomers. Joji, the Japanese-inspired rooftop bar from Good Food Guide chef of the year Paul Farag, quickly became one of the hottest tickets in town. Pocket, the Bondi coffee-turned-cocktail-bar, has become a gathering spot for locals at sunset, and families line up for a table at the Buon Appetit garden bar in Camden on a Friday night.

“I wanted Pippis to feel like a special spot where people can slow down, enjoy the simple pleasures of being by the water and connect with each other over great food,” says Adam Choker, the restaurateur who opened Pippis in November. We’ll drink to that.

Wentworth Bar, Sydney

The Wentworth Bar sits on the fifth floor terrace of the newly refurbished Sofitel Wentworth, a contemporary oasis encircled by 15 storeys of gently curved brick wall (the largest of its kind in the country). Those walls hint at a rich history – there was once a time this space was restricted to visiting guests, among them celebrities including Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. Fancy. You’ll find an Asian-inspired menu of snacks such as mushroom, shiso and taro spring rolls.

Good to know: Come with a group to try a “party cocktail” (from $220) such as the strawberry yuzu spritz, large enough for 12 drinks.

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth 61, 101 Phillip Street, Sydney, sofitelsydney.com.au/dining/wentworth-bar

Pippis, Cronulla

A waterfront restaurant where you can BYO your favourite bottle of wine for $8 corkage? It exists, and it’s in Cronulla. Pippis is the latest venture from the team behind The Grounds, and it opened on the wharf of the Calico Marina in November. Expect a relaxed, island beach club vibe with an easy-to-share menu of Mediterranean-inspired dishes including calamari fritti, and pizzas from $26.

Good to know: Bring the kids! There’s an adjoining playground and $18 children’s menu (inclusive of a main, a drink and a soft serve).

2 Tonkin Street, Cronulla, pippiscronulla.com.au

The Panorama Bar, Sydney

It’s Friday afternoon, the humidity is high and you’ve just clocked off for the week. If the idea of sinking into a couch on a breezy rooftop bar with an ice-cold largarita and a plate of prawn toast sounds good, it’s time for The Panorama Bar. It’s one of three new venues opened by The Point Group (Shell House, The Dolphin) at The International in November, alongside The Wine Bar and plush produce-driven steakhouse The Grill.

Good to know: It’s an easy commute home, less than a minute’s walk from the Martin Place Metro station.

25 Martin Place, Sydney, internationalsydney.com

Pocket, Bondi Beach

Visit Pocket at sunset, when the pint-sized Bondi bar is bathed in a warm afternoon glow, and you can watch the waves crash against the sand with a spicy marg in hand. The team behind neighbouring restaurant Makaveli opened this gem in September, and they’re serving the sort of food you’d want after a day at the beach: mostly snacky, a lot of seafood and a cheeky cheeseburger for just $18.

Good to know: Prefer coffee to a cocktail? Pocket does both, opening every day from 7am for the brekkie crowd.

266 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, pocketbondi.com

Felons Brewing Co., Manly

If you’ve visited Brisbane sometime over the past few years, there’s a good chance you’ve had a beer at Felons. Their brewery at Howard Smith Wharves is hugely popular for its easy-to-enjoy craft beers, great pub food (try the Neapolitan-style pizzas) and unbeatable water – a formula they’ve repeated successfully in Sydney, where they took over the Manly Wharf Bar in October.

Good to know: You’ll find far more than beer on the drinks list, which also includes a lengthy selection of cocktails, spirits and wine.

Manly Wharf, East Esplanade, Manly, felonsmanly.com.au

Buon Appetit, Camden

It all started with a food truck. It was a small operation in Denham Park, operated by mother-and-son team Rosa and Benjamin Vitagliano, where they served the same comforting Italian food their family had cooked for generations. Soon, it became so popular the entire family quit their jobs to help meet demand, and this year they opened their first brick-and-mortar. Expect big family vibes beneath the string lights of the garden bar and a piano accordion player on Friday nights.

Good to know: All the pasta and gnocchi is freshly hand-made.

40 Elizabeth Street, Camden, buonappetit.com.au

Lottie, Redfern

Lottie is a lush oasis hidden on the rooftop of The Eve hotel in Redfern, where they’ll be serving sunset margs and modern Mexican dishes from late January. It’s one of two venues at the hotel by Liquid & Larder, the hospitality group behind CBD steak restaurants The Gidley and Bistecca. (It will also be an all-weather option, with a retractable roof.)

Good to know: This is your sign to take a stay-cation: guests at The Eve will have exclusive use of the adjoining rooftop pool area, where they can order from Lottie’s snack menu.

The EVE Hotel Sydney, 8 Baptist Street, Redfern, theevehotel.com.au

Joji, Sydney

Joji is one of Sydney’s most exciting new cocktail bars, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city, warmly lit interiors and food from Aalia’s Paul Farag (Good Food Guide 2025 chef of the year, no less). Small plates dominate the three-part menu, allowing diners to snack their way through raw things (sashimi), “not raw” things (a scallop and bug katsu-style sando), and juicy skewers from the robata grill.

Good to know: Joji is already hugely popular, so you’ll need to book at least a week ahead for a weekend table (or arrive late – the bar is open until 2am daily).

Level 5, 388 George Street, Sydney, jojisydney.com

Olympus, Redfern

In a summer packed with new venues, Olympus stands out. Diners are greeted by a large, round dining room encircling a bougainvillea tree, sunlight pouring down from a glass oculus ceiling. It’s that ceiling which will open on beautiful summer days, transporting this Greek restaurant and bar to the balmy Mediterranean. Order from their 21-dish meze menu, and try the ouzo colada.

Good to know: Head chef Ozge Kalvo (formerly of Baba’s Place and Ester) is considered one of the rising stars of Sydney food.

Wunderlich Lane, 2 Baptist Street, Redfern; olympusdining.com.au