Maybe Sammy, The RocksCredit: Destination NSW
Bartender creating a cocktail at Maybe Sammy cocktail bar in The Rocks.
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Refresh and recharge after a memorable day taking in the splendours of Sydney with a cocktail or a glass of wine at one of the city’s many great bars. Venture down inner-city laneways to uncover hard-to-find speakeasies or broaden your horizons at one of the many rooftop bars around town. Wherever you end up, sit back and relax as award-winning mixologists whip up a wonderful creation that perfectly suits the mood.
Revel in the theatre at Maybe Sammy
Kick off your evening with an expertly made cocktail at Maybe Sammy in The Rocks, which has won a multitude of global awards for its impeccable cocktails and dazzled locals with bright jazz and dapper besuited bartenders. Cocoon in the vintage-styled lounge — polished brass, dusty pink velvet sofas, white marble, leather stools — and hail over the martini cart for a Gibson, or order a ‘mini’ (pint-sized versions of classic cocktails) to discover what you’re in the mood for. Peckish? Be sure to order the truffled-cheese toastie.
Seek out The Doss House
If you can’t find a seat at the super-popular Maybe Sammy, continue deeper into the Rocks, walk through a cobblestone courtyard, down a flight of stairs and back 170 years to The Doss House, a bar with a small frontage but a big personality. Tap into a sense of adventure as you try one of the more than 150 whiskies on offer, best paired with a tasting platters of native delicacies, like kangaroo prosciutto, wild boar salami and smoked tomato relish. Enjoy your tipple in one of the intimate themed rooms, including Chinese-inspired Un Quoy’s Den, The Boot Maker’s (think leather Chesterfields and a fireplace), and The Sailor’s Garden, an outdoor garden with high-top seating.
Maybe Sammy, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying a drink at Maybe Sammy cocktail bar in The Rocks.
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Maybe Sammy, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying a drink at Maybe Sammy cocktail bar in The Rocks.
The Doss House, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beverages at The Doss House, The Rocks.
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The Doss House, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beverages at The Doss House, The Rocks.
Catch the glow at Sky Bar
Gaze out at Sydney’s skyline through the floor-to-ceiling glass of the rooftop Sky Bar, opposite Wynyard Station in the heart of the city. The crowning glory of the Shell House building housing four venues spread across three levels, Sky Bar is a great spot for taking in ‘golden hour’, as the setting sun lights up the surrounding towers.
Feel the heat with a spicy watermelon margarita, or share a round of Rolling Thunder Punch, which combines 12-year-old rum with tropical fruits for a golden drink to complement golden hour. Indulge in Sydney rock oysters with your cocktail before heading downstairs for Mediterranean-inspired deliciousness at Shell House Dining Room and Terrace.
Learn to love mezcal at Cantina OK!
Acquire a fondness for mezcal, a smoky spirit that like tequila is made from agave, at hole-in-the-wall Cantina OK!. Be transported to Mexico’s buzzing honkey tonks at this tiny bar, tucked down an alley in the heart of the city. Put yourself in the hands of expert mixologists who specialise in shaking and stirring cocktails that feature premium handmade agave spirits — think margaritas made using a rare mezcal or tequila, topped with hand-shaved ice; or an eye-popping Watermelon Sumac with peppercorn mezcal, fresh lemon, sumac sharbat and watermelon shaved ice.
Feel the buzz at The Lobby
Feed off the energy of the Ace Hotel Sydney’s The Lobby, a community hub hosting a revolving series of events and DJ residencies drawing in Surry Hills locals as well as guests of the hip hotel. Sip on a craft cocktail and snack on shareable small plates as you people-watch – or save yourself for an amazing dinner at the popular Kiln restaurant, where acclaimed local chef Mitch Orr serves up ‘Italian-ish’ dishes infused with Japanese and southeast Asian touches.
The Dining Room & Terrace, Shell House, Sydney Credit: Jonny Valiant
The Dining Room & Terrace, Shell House, Sydney
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The Dining Room & Terrace, Shell House, Sydney Credit: Jonny Valiant
The Dining Room & Terrace, Shell House, Sydney
Cantina OK!, Sydney CBD Credit: Destination NSW
Bartender creating cocktails at Cantina OK! in Sydney's CBD.
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Cantina OK!, Sydney CBD Credit: Destination NSW
Bartender creating cocktails at Cantina OK! in Sydney's CBD.
Cosy up at Bar Copains
Lean into the edgy Surry Hills vibe at Bar Copains, a self-described ‘friendly neighbourhood wine bar’ that’s two doors uphill from local favourite café Reuben Hills and less than a 10-minute walk from Ace Hotel Sydney. Here the perfect cocktail is just the prelude to selecting a bottle from an impressive list of small-batch, natural and rare wines, including many bottles from the co-owners’ personal collections.
Savour every sip of your wine as you feast on Bar Copains’s eclectic menu, which may feature pig’s head fritti or anchovies in puff pastry alongside more conventional offerings such as barbecue coral trout or wagyu steak.
Live large at El Primo Sanchez
Be dazzled by the colourful Mexican-style bar El Primo Sanchez in the inner eastern suburb of Paddington, brought to you by the groups behind Maybe Sammy and next-door boutique hotel Oxford House. Graze on Mexican street food favourites like tuna tostada and roast corn as you sip creative concoctions such as the Gimlet El Maiz, a blend of mezcal, Lillet Blanc and a cordial made from toasted leftover tortillas, or a Lagerita, which combines lager, Patrón Silver, lime and sugar.
Jet off to Bar Planet
Indulge your love of martinis at Bar Planet, a bar in the inner-west suburb of Enmore that’s dedicated to the perfecting this most classic of cocktails. Settle in and watch as your friendly bartender theatrically pours a house martini from an oversized old-fashioned Spanish decanter that’s been chilled in a freezer. Or pucker up with a Scorpino, a prosecco and sorbet recipe that changes weekly, as you admire the terrazzo mosaic bar counter of this otherworldly establishment.
Oxford House, Paddington Credit: Anson Smart
Taking its cues from the understated and stylish aesthetic of Palm Springs, Oxford House - Paddington’s first lifestyle hotel- recently opened its doors on the iconic inner-city strip of Oxford Street. Featuring all day street level dining, a first level poolside bar, OH! as the hotel is affectionately known, provides an urban oasis just a short stroll from the bustling street and nightlife.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Oxford House, Paddington Credit: Anson Smart
Taking its cues from the understated and stylish aesthetic of Palm Springs, Oxford House - Paddington’s first lifestyle hotel- recently opened its doors on the iconic inner-city strip of Oxford Street. Featuring all day street level dining, a first level poolside bar, OH! as the hotel is affectionately known, provides an urban oasis just a short stroll from the bustling street and nightlife.
Oxford House, Paddington Credit: Anson Smart
Taking its cues from the understated and stylish aesthetic of Palm Springs, Oxford House - Paddington’s first lifestyle hotel- recently opened its doors on the iconic inner-city strip of Oxford Street. Featuring all day street level dining, a first level poolside bar, OH! as the hotel is affectionately known, provides an urban oasis just a short stroll from the bustling street and nightlife.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Oxford House, Paddington Credit: Anson Smart
Taking its cues from the understated and stylish aesthetic of Palm Springs, Oxford House - Paddington’s first lifestyle hotel- recently opened its doors on the iconic inner-city strip of Oxford Street. Featuring all day street level dining, a first level poolside bar, OH! as the hotel is affectionately known, provides an urban oasis just a short stroll from the bustling street and nightlife.
Say aloha to Jacoby’s Tiki Bar
Step into another world – 1950s Hawaii to be exact – when you walk through the door at Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, a Twin Peaks-themed tiki bar complete with glowing fishing floats and palm wallpaper, a five-minute walk from Bar Planet in Enmore. Join in the fun as you enjoy drinks served in a coconut, garnished with bananas carved into dolphin shapes or set on fire at the bar, or sip on a top-notch natural wine or one of the fine craft ales on tap.
Live the high life at Nick & Nora’s Parramatta
Delight in first-class cocktails in the burgeoning western Sydney city of Parramatta at Nick & Nora’s Parramatta, a rooftop cocktail and champagne bar styled like a New York City penthouse. Look out over the bustling city from the 26th floor of the luxury V by Crown residential tower while your bartender shakes and stirs your pick from a comprehensive cocktail menu grouped by themes such as The Honey Trap (sweet with a sting) and The Snitch (sour and bitter).
Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, Enmore Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying cocktails at Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, Enmore.
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Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, Enmore Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying cocktails at Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, Enmore.
Nick and Nora's, Parramatta Credit: Destination NSW
Bartender creating cocktails at Nick and Nora's bar in Parramatta.
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Nick and Nora's, Parramatta Credit: Destination NSW
Bartender creating cocktails at Nick and Nora's bar in Parramatta.
More Inspirational Stories
The Fall Guy Credit: Universal & UPI Media
The Fall Guy in Sydney with a spectacular Glebe Island Silo Stunt
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Action-comedy film The Fall Guy explodes onto Australian screens on 24 April, and along with Hollywood superstars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, Sydney also plays a starring role. But the city isn’t just a backdrop to many of the action-packed scenes in the film, it also offers real-life action experiences to get your heart pumping. Here’s our guide to high-octane experiences in Sydney.
On-the-water adrenaline
Just like Ryan Gosling blasting around Sydney Harbour in a high-speed boat chase, you too can feel the wind in your hair, the sea spray on your face and your heart in your mouth on an Oz Jet Boating experience. These bright red, shark-faced jetboats fish-tail, spin and slide under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, past Dawes Point Park (where we meet Jean Claude the kelpie in the film) and the iconic Sydney Opera House, leaving you breathless and somewhat damp. Turn it down a notch with a two-, three- or five-day course from EastSail, with classes on the calm shores of Rushcutters Bay, or go five-star by hiring your very own superyacht from the fleet at Sydney Harbour Luxe Charters – Ghost II was featured in the film.
Get locked in an escape room
A bolted door, a countdown clock and a series of fiendish puzzles – outsmart the bad guys and challenge your friends in one of Sydney’s best escape rooms. Award-winning The Cipher Room, with locations in Newtown and St Peters, offers immersive, expertly designed rooms. Choose from a film noir-style hotel, a mysterious abandoned toy shop or a dystopian French bunker. Entermission Sydney has virtual-reality rooms, with themes like Alice in Wonderland, a pirate ship or space station. While not strictly an escape room, the one-of-a-kind Hijinx Hotel is a fun escape-like challenge set inside a quirky 15-room hotel.
Hickson Road Reserve, Dawes Point Credit: Destination NSW
Friends walking along Sydney Harbour in the morning.
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Hickson Road Reserve, Dawes Point Credit: Destination NSW
Friends walking along Sydney Harbour in the morning.
Oz Jet Boating, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the incredible speed of the red shark boats as they blast across Sydney harbour at high speed with Oz Jet Boating.
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Oz Jet Boating, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the incredible speed of the red shark boats as they blast across Sydney harbour at high speed with Oz Jet Boating.
Find your need for speed
It’s not an action movie without a car chase, and while you can’t speed through the CBD streets like Ryan Gosling and Jean Claude, you can still challenge your friends to race via go kart at Hyper Karting Moore Park. At the 410-metre indoor track, the electric cars offer plenty of exhilarating straights and corners, with a high-speed function to help you overtake your mates. True petrol heads should make a pitstop at Luddenham Raceway in southwest Sydney, where the go karts are fuelled and the 600m outdoor pro circuit offers 12 high-speed corners and even nighttime drives. Want to do the real thing? Trackschool has half-day passenger or driving experiences in a Porsche 911 Carrera also at the raceway.
Have an adventure up high
A high-stakes, sky-high chopper scene is an action flick essential; recreate the experience (minus the stress) on a flight with Sydney HeliTours. The 20- or 30-minute tours take in jaw-dropping views of harbour icons like the Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Bondi Beach and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Or live out your Hollywood star dreams onboard the luxury Sydney Seaplanes. If free-falling from the sky like Ryan Gosling does jumping from a multi-story building is the heart race you crave, get the thrills without the spills at iFly Downunder: fully accessible, all-ages indoor skydiving that will make you feel like a superhero. Or take a day trip to the Blue Mountains for a ride on Scenic World’s 270m-high glass-cased Beyond Skyway for that soaring feeling while safely enclosed in a cable car.
Luddenham Raceway, Luddenham Credit: Destination NSW
Track Day at Luddenham Raceway Motorsport Park, Luddenham.
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Luddenham Raceway, Luddenham Credit: Destination NSW
Track Day at Luddenham Raceway Motorsport Park, Luddenham.
Sydney Seaplanes, Rose Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ready to enjoy a Sydney Seaplanes flight from Rose Bay, Sydney.
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Sydney Seaplanes, Rose Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ready to enjoy a Sydney Seaplanes flight from Rose Bay, Sydney.
Scale walls and cliffs
Action heroes need to be agile and spider-like; flex your skills scaling rock walls at one of Sydney’s top indoor rock-climbing centres. Climb Fit in St Leonards has beginner and high-tech climbs using augmented reality, while Ledge is a smaller centre in Camperdown perfect for beginners, and BlocHaus in Marrickville focuses solely on bouldering. If you prefer to climb surrounded by waterfalls and forests, make the extra leap to the Blue Mountains, and challenge yourself on an abseil or rock-climb under the expert guidance of the Blue Mountains Adventure Company.
Spots to refuel
After all that adventuring, you’re going to need a spot to refuel and cheers to a big day. Make it a meal with a view at Aster Bar on top of the InterContinental Sydney – with uninterrupted views of the harbour. The rooftop bar featured in the film is the Ivy – which is a local favourite for big nights out. Partake in Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s love for spicy margaritas at Centro 86, a new underground tequila bar in the CBD, or taste award-winning cocktails at Dean and Nancy on 22. Finish up with a feast at one of the restaurants located around Jones Bay Wharf (you’ll spot this area in the film as Ryan Gosling hides on his boat from the bad guys) or snack in the late-night dining havens in Chinatown: try Japanese izakaya Nakano Darling, xiao long bao from Nanjing Dumpling or Mamak’s legendary roti.
Rest your head
Even heroes need their beauty sleep. Rest up like an A-lister at the Kimpton Margot, a recently opened CBD hotel with Art Deco touches, and featured in the movie (ask Kevin for the fruit plate). Compact yet comfortable, the Little National Hotel is located in the heart of the city near Wynyard (also a major filming locale for The Fall Guy). And for a boutique hotel suitable for everyone from film stars to stunt crew, stay in the Ace Hotel in Surry Hills, with unique in-room features like guitars, record players and locally made custom robes.
Sydney Adventure Tours, Katoomba Credit: Destination NSW
Sydney Adventure Tours offers private tours to the Blue Mountains. With an experienced tour guide, take a bushwalk through nature and experience the rainforests.
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Sydney Adventure Tours, Katoomba Credit: Destination NSW
Sydney Adventure Tours offers private tours to the Blue Mountains. With an experienced tour guide, take a bushwalk through nature and experience the rainforests.
Little National Hotel, Sydney Credit: Little National Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Little National, in Wynyard in Sydney.
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Little National Hotel, Sydney Credit: Little National Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Little National, in Wynyard in Sydney.