The Rocks hosts Sydney's oldest drinking scene, where heritage sandstone pubs from the 1800s sit alongside modern harbour-view bars. We track 6 venues here, from award-winning cocktail lounges to Oktoberfest beer halls.

Sydney's first settlement remains its most atmospheric place to drink, with cobblestone streets leading to everything from 1921 heritage pubs to World's 50 Best Bars winners. The Glenmore Hotel anchors the traditional end with its rooftop harbour views, while Maybe Sammy brings Hollywood Regency glamour to the cocktail scene. Between them, you'll find Munich Brauhaus turning strangers into drinking companions over communal steins and Le Foote spreading European wine culture across multiple rooms of an 1838 building.

The tourist crowds are real - weekend markets and harbour views guarantee that - but the venues hold their own character. El Camino Cantina serves Texas-sized margaritas with rock-and-roll attitude, while The Squires Landing operates a working brewery behind glass walls at Circular Quay. Most venues cluster around Argyle Street and the waterfront strip, a five-minute walk from Circular Quay station and easily accessible from the city via George Street.