The 10 Best Bars in Kirribilli, Sydney

This little watering hole is a local favourite; it was established in 1937 and has been a constant presence since. Super laid back, the Kirribilli Hotel is the type of joint where people know each other by name and will catch up over a few beers while a sports match plays on one of the TVs. The bistro offers family-friendly dining and al fresco eating, and there are regular specials – such as happy hours and discounts on food.

Paying tribute to the 19th century botanist and pioneer, Gerard Fothergill, is the basis on which The Botanist was built. It is said the English man spent his final days on the site of the current venue, so what better way to pay homage to a trailblazer than to immortalise him in a slick city-side suburb hang out. The place is rustic, with an emphasis on wood furniture and of course, a lot of leafy green accents. Buzzing nightly, this is the perfect place to grab a drink when in Kirribilli.

Unpretentious and super accessible is the style of Ainoya – it is how Japanese dining and drinking is intended to be. The carefully curated wine and drinks menu is authentic too and serves up the best top-shelf sake in Sydney. Always bustling, this quality gem offers customers both traditional and Horikotatsu seating to enhance the experience.

Get lost in a kaleidoscope of tastes from The Orient. From Saigon to Shanghai – street food from Asia is represented here en masse. With a fantastic bar menu too, this is a great spot to share a share plate over an Asian beer on the laid-back balcony.

This stylish waterside venue in Kirribilli is the perfect place to catch the sun setting over Sydney Harbour, the Bridge and Central Business District. It has two distinct bar areas: the cocktail lounge and the sports lounge, allowing for cross-pollination between the two. This set up seems to work wonders for those coming for group drinks, especially if there is something particularly spicy in the live sports sector on that evening.

Grab a drink at Foys, the bar and restaurant of Sydney Flying Squadron – Australia’s oldest open boat sailing club. It may be a more casual affair, but the venue offers some of the most scenic waterside settings and has an al fresco area for drinking and dining.

Garfish is one of Sydney’s leading seafood restaurants and cafe bars. Just moments from the Harbour Bridge, this Kirribilli hangout is the perfect place to unwind after a day of sightseeing, a perfect date spot or end of week dinner and drinks destination. It has a fantastic wine menu as well as lots of tasty top-shelf spirits and house cocktails, too.

This is the perfect local hangout to grab a cocktail, glass of wine or cold, tall beer North of the Harbour Bridge. It is small, communal and unpretentious, and focuses on customer service and quality in every fibre of the food and drink it pushes out. The bar is void of TVs and gaming facilities, meaning people can sit back and engage in great conversation in the aptly named, Small Bar & Kitchen.