Top 4 hidden bars in Sydney

Finding a hidden bar is like being part of a secret club.

From the second you walk in, it always feels just that little bit more special than a standard bar. You make eye contact with those around you, and feel like you’re all connected by this secret you have uncovered.

Sydney is brimming with cool bars, it’s just a case of knowing where to look. Here are the best hidden bars in Sydney to jazz up your next night out.

1. Old Mate’s Place

With a name like Old Mate’s Place, this rooftop bar already sounds fantastically welcoming and cosy, so the fact that it’s also hidden away just makes it that much more appealing.

Indoors, you’ll be surrounded by dark timbers, bookshelves, and greenery. Outside, it’s a 360-degree view of the Sydney skyline. And on the menu, you’ll find an array of tasty cocktails and snacks.

You’ll need to find the discrete doorway on the ground floor, then take four flights of stairs to the indoor bar with adjoining outdoor terrace to find it. It’s only a few minutes from The Meat & Wine Co Barangaroo or our newest Sydney CBD location, so it’s an easy choice for an after-dinner drink.

2. Uncle Kurt’s

Uncle Kurt’s is Parramatta’s first small bar – but you have to know where it is to find it. Without knowing it’s there, you would be left wandering near a car park, thinking where the music and sounds of happy chatter are coming from.

This hidden baris tucked behind a metal door, and the interior is all brightly coloured artistic tags and as you enter you can instantly feel the laid-back breezy atmosphere. There’s a simple deli menu of just five food items, and an extensive and creative cocktail list.

Head for a warm up drink at Uncle Kurt’s before enjoying a meal at The Meat & Wine Co in Parramatta.

3. Shady Pines Saloon

Step back in time to the Shady Pines Saloon, where the bartenders truly know their stuff and you can kick back with anything from a bourbon on the rocks to your favourite cocktail.

The low ceilings, dim lighting and underground location give this bar a warm, hushed vibe that makes you feel as comfortable as you would in your own living room.

There are endless bowls of peanuts to nibble on, and if you’re feeling peckish, the team is happy for you to order meals from nearby restaurants (like The Meat & Wine Co, just 15 mins away!).

You’ll find Shady Pines behind an unadorned door in an alley on Crown Street.

4. Stitch Bar

Stitch Bar is the epitome of cool bars in Sydney.

To find it, you’ll need to enter the innocent-looking seamstress shop front on York Street, then head downstairs to find a selection of wooden barrel seats and quaint booths.

The food menu is inspired by American diner meals, and the cocktail list is filled with all your favourites and a few new tipples.

Underground bars in Sydney are very popular at the moment, but if your favourite one is already full, or you can’t figure out where the entrance is for a new one, you can always visit The Meat & Wine Co – we’re no secret, but neither is how good our bar is!