Burdekin Rooftop
2-4 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Mon-Thurs: 4pm-late // Fri-Sat: 12pm-late
(02) 9331 3006
Website

Christmas has come early for revellers on Oxford Street as the Burdekin Hotel launches the only rooftop bar on Sydney’s famous rainbow strip. The quaint and intimate open-air bar is a product born out of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, as Burdekin general manager, Aran Tanaka Van de Ven explains:

“The launch of the Burdekin Rooftop marks the completion of a concept that has been gestating over the last four years since Adam Celestino (Angry Tony’s Pizza, St Jude’s Cafe) took over the venue,” Aran says.

“Having been granted approval earlier in the year, the COVID-19 lockdowns ‒ as painful as they were for all in our industry ‒ allowed us to focus our energy on developing and constructing the bar over the course of the last eight months.”

Thanks to an invite to their launch party in mid-December, we were able to bask ourselves in the chilled vibes of this rooftop bar ‒ from its groovy ambient music to the nearly 360-degree views of Sydney. Matched with cocktails like the Back Ally ($18 – vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, lemon juice, sugar syrup and aquafaba) and The Oxford Fizz ($19 – white rum, lychee liqueur, lemon ice, sugar syrup and tonic water), it easily became a boujie afternoon under the breezy sky.

“The concept was to produce a versatile, casual-chic, food and beverage focussed space to complement the live entertainment and parties we can hopefully bring back in the near future,” Aran says. “An Italo-pub kitchen, natural and organic wines, and seasonal cocktails delivered in a casual and unpretentious way is how we’ve envisioned it.”

Skip the formalities and dine a little more casually on Burdekin’s south European flair with everything from a classic schnitty to quirky charcuterie boards and even a good old fashioned pizza! For something truly Italian, try their Truffle & Porcini Arancini ($15), which swims with the earthy and charismatic tones of truffle.

Indeed, however you spend your night on the Burdekin Rooftop, you’ll eventually be drawn to the surrounding skyline ‒ especially when nighttime arrives and Sydney begins to sparkle under a million lights.

“The Burdekin’s corner venue holds a prime position on the strip, overlooking sweeping views of Darlinghurst, a glimpse of Hyde Park and the stretch of Oxford Street,” Aran says. “It’s fantastic that we can now share it – and a drink – with the rest of Sydney!”

Looking for more great cocktail bars to visit around Sydney? Enjoy a perfectly shaken or stirred tipple at one of Sydney’s 10 Best Cocktails Bars. Or if you’re after the urban outdoors, be sure to visit Sydney’s best rooftop bars!

Feature image: Photographed by Billy Zammit. Image Supplied