Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Cockatoo Island

"A firm Sydney lunch favourite since opening, The Grounds of Alexandria has gone from strength to strength. This destination restaurant and café has a paddock-to-plate approach, and will have you munching down on the likes of buttermilk pancakes, Turkish-style eggs and toasted crumpets, or tempting you with the hearty Brekkie Burger served with a side of polenta chips. There is also a bakery churning out all kinds of delicious breads, muffins, cakes and tarts."

"One of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney is offering up a whole heap of their menu highlights for pre-order and pickup, much to the fortune of Potts Point locals, and much to the envy of everyone else. And yes, that includes their mind-blowing pasta scampi, as well as their fried calamari, and even the pretzel with whipped roe from sister restaurant 10 William St. order.hungryhungry.com"

"This sophisticated Italian trattoria on a tranquil Potts Point side street has a simple dark interior with tan leather booths, walnut paneling, and retro lighting. Tables spill out onto the sunny pavement and a blackboard on the wall denotes the specials of the day. The restaurant opens at 7 A.M daily, so kick off with coffee and housemade pastries before moving on to a larger meal."

"Café Sydney’s rooftop position, chic interiors and sweeping harbour views make this an essential dining spot, especially during Vivid. Unlike the other venues, Café Sydney sits atop the popular Vivid projection at heritage-listed Customs House, so diners are right at the heart of the action. Book a seat on the balcony so you can enjoy the sunset and watch the lights turn on."

"I have had many a long lunch on the balcony at Cafe Sydney, which feels very much like sitting in the dress circle of Sydney Harbour. If you would like to be seated on the terrace, you really need to make a reservation. I find the serving sizes are more generous here than at the previous restaurants, so if you have a hearty appetite, you might be happier here."

"This sprawling restaurant offers sweeping views of the harbor. The décor is modern yet warm and allows the scenery to be the star of the show. Obviously, sunset is the best time to..."

"Boasting a rooftop set above The Rocks skyline, The Glenmore’s uninterrupted views are popular with Sydneysiders looking to get a birds-eye view of Vivid. The delicious pub fare and range of beers on tap provide the perfect casual setting for a Vivid dinner. The Glenmore rooftop is alfresco, so be sure to rug up."

"The Glenmore rooftop area has you covered in rain, hail or shine with its retractable roof and scenic setting. The views are what really make this one of the best in outdoor dining Sydney has on offer. It’s got views of the Harbour Bridge and the twinkling lights of the CBD."

"A "Sydney's best rooftops" list without the Glenmore is like a pub menu without schnitzel: unfathomable and incomplete. How's that Opera House view across Circular Quay?. Bloody spectacular, that's what, especially when Utzon's sails change colour with the sunset."

"Inspired by the Izakayas of Tokyo and hustling Korean barbeques in Seoul, Marble BBQ on Barangaroo Avenue marries the best of both cities and cuisines with a Down Under touch. Bask in the neon glow of... "great function space & catering"

"Inspired by the Izakayas of Tokyo and hustling Korean barbeques in Seoul, Marble BBQ on Barangaroo Avenue marries the best of both cities and cuisines with a Down Under touch. Bask in the neon glow of..."

"You don’t have to fly to Germany to have a taste of Bavaria no more. This Munich-styled restaurant is famous for its happening celebrations for any occasions from birthdays, christmas or German-related (Oktoberfest). What you must try here are their specially imported Bavarian beers and the oven roasted pork knuckles."

"The venue was busy and I doubt they had enough staff to cater. It took a while to get any table service. But finally when we did the drinks came short."

"The Imperial Hotel sure knows how to turn an evening meal into an experience. Book in for their hilarious Drag N' Dine nights where you'll be treated to fabulous food from Priscillas and top-notch entertainment from their resident queens."

"If you’re vegan, stop and drop everything - we’ve just found a cafe that has graciously made life a little sweeter with playful desserts, donuts and a full brekkie and lunch menu that are all prepared with the best naturally gluten-free ingredients!. At Nutie, they are all about ‘having your cake and eating it too!. Find them at: 44 Holt St,Surry Hills | 13 Beattie St, Balmain"

"From the eastern side of the Opera House, you have easy access to the Royal Botanic Gardens, in my opinion, one of the most impressive gardens in the world, certainly from a location standpoint. You can’t beat the serenity and harbour views and this is a great place to spend an hour or two in Sydney. Take a walk around the gardens to admire the many different types of plants and city views. You can also take a free self-guided walking tour."

"One of Sydney’s worst kept secrets is Wendy’s Secret Garden, a green oasis of native plants, fig trees, beautiful flowers and a thriving community of birds. The garden is a beautiful place for office workers and local residents to wind down, eat their lunch, read a book or to simply enjoy the views. Wendy’s Secret Garden is now part of the Lavender Bay Parklands, a collection of green spaces and parks in and around Lavender Bay, such as Clark Park, Watt Park, Quibaree Park and also the Lavender Bay Foreshore."

"A serene spot in Lavender Bay, the garden was created in 1992 by Wendy Whiteley, wife and muse to artist Brett Whiteley, following her by then ex-husband’s death. We love Wendy’s Secret garden. It’s a really special space for kids to follow the weaving pathways through lush foliage and discover little secrets hidden in nooks and crannies."

"Near Luna Park via Clark Park, Lavender St, North Sydney, New South Wales 2060 N.S.W. Australia+61 2 9936 8100[email protected]http://www.wendyssecretgarden.org.au"

"Hidden in the bustling precinct of Darling Harbour is the Chinese Friendship Gardens, a gift to Sydney from Sydney’s Chinese sister city, Guangzhou in China. It has the strange ability to transport you away from Sydney to a tranquil spot that the kids will love exploring. Make certain you head to the traditional dress shop where, for a small fee, you and the kids can choose an outfit to wear to explore the grounds."

"Built according to Taoist principles, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is usually an oasis of tranquillity – although one increasingly dwarfed by assertive modern buildings. Designed by architects from Guangzhou (Sydney’s sister city) for Australia’s bicentenary in 1988, the garden interweaves pavilions, waterfalls, lakes, paths and lush plant life. There's also a tea house."

"Built in 1805, Vaucluse House is quite extravagant and one of the remaining 19th-century mansions still surrounded by its original gardens and wooded grounds. Purchased in 1827 by William Charles Wentworth (yes, the very man who Wentworth and Wentworth Falls is named), he set about making the original cottage quite a statement with his partner Sarah Cox. However it was never completed and finding the front door is still quite a perplexing issue."

"Lone Pine Lawn at Vaucluse House is another beautiful garden wedding ceremony venue for those who love nature and want to have some old world charm with the Vaucluse House as the backdrop with the gardens. The estate is away from the busy city so you and your guests can feel like you’re in a different world without being too far away from home."

"Built between 1803 and 1839 in the Gothic Revival style, the Vaucluse House is a 19th-century estate surrounded by 11 hectares (28 acres) of formal gardens and grounds. It is one of the only remaining houses of the period that has retaining a significant part of its original setting."