A lively cocktail bar hidden behind the facade of an old butcher shop.

A highlight destination for date night: tiki cocktails, low lighting and a red velvet curtain.

A theme of fermentation guides this cavernous King Street bar. Find a dizzying list of funky farmhouse ales, ciders and natural wines, plus a Euro-inspired all-day menu by a formidable kitchen team.

At this moody inner-west den, the team behind the city's best Margarita (and one of the world’s best bars) turns its attention to that cocktail-lounge staple, the Martini. Needless to say, the results are out of this world.

This tiny bar serves old-school cocktails, classic drinks with a twist and fresh-juice highballs.

Around 60 styles of sake are pouring at this intimate drinking den, inspired by the vinyl-spinning jazz bars of Japan. Expect rare Japanese gins and whiskies too, plus a Euro-Japanese snack menu by ex-Pinbone chef, Jemma Whiteman.

Sydney’s most influential burger joint.

The rowdy HQ for one of Sydney's most treasured breweries.

A bar serving wines and cocktails with a focus on native ingredients.

This quiet small bar offers a break from busier local pubs.

The golden age of retro arcade games under one roof.

A trio of chefs is behind this dapper bar with a penchant for low-intervention wines.

The pokies are gone and Big Buck Hunter is in. The Duke lives on with local beers, "stiff and strong" cocktails and upscale pub grub – think chicken liver pâté on toast, puffy breads stuffed with mortadella and a fancy steak.

A classic sports pub in the city’s inner-west that revitalises a legendary space for the next generation of Sydney’s drinkers.

A brewery and bar in a former Newtown furniture store from one of Australia's pioneering craft brewers. Sit in the sunny beer garden and sip on cult brews such as the Organic Steam Ale and Pale Ale, plus a selection of exclusive beers you can only find here.

This laid-back Provençal wine bar is all about small producers and easy decisions. There are just three drinks on the regularly changing cocktail list, a short food menu and a streamlined selection of wines. Plus, a choose-your-own-adventure weekend brunch plate.

One of the best craft beer pubs in Sydney.

Record store by day, bar by night – this New Orleans-style juke joint oozes cool.

A low-key spot with a share-house feel, only with much better food.

A dedicated craft beer bar inside The Bank Hotel.

This time-honoured pub looks sharper than ever. Head to the ornate balcony upstairs for one of the best knock-off spots on King Street.

A historic Newtown pub that's retained its old-school charm.