Diners' Choice: Great for creative cocktails restaurants in Sydney

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best handcrafted cocktails in Sydney? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

MAIZ Mexican

4.8

4.8 (138)

$41 to $100

Mexican

Newtown

About the restaurant

Maíz is the word for corn in Spanish which is the backbone of the Mexican food scene. Maíz Mexican Food is a food and beverage concept that celebrates and integrates a wide range of corn preparations that most Mexican restaurants aren’t offering at the moment. Our menu draws on the bold and fresh flavours of Mexico, our traditions and culture to bring you a unique dining experience.

Top review

Katrien

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent modern Mexican cuisine, great atmosphere and wonderful staff! Highly recommended.

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (462)

$41 to $100

International

Chippendale

About the restaurant

A mythical island oasis containing a magical hybrid of different influences from India, the Middle East & South East Asia. SAGA brings together the best of all things beautiful and delicious about these regions and combines them all in one unforgettable establishment. Let SAGA whisk you away to a haven where you can enjoy the world’s finest and most exclusive wines, unique and mouth-watering cocktails, and a perfectly seasoned and matching food menu to tie it all together.

Top review

theresa

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

So much fun, amazing cocktails, great atmosphere - we will definitely come back

Discover more

Experience

Saga Bottomless Brunch

The Waratah

4.7

4.7 (126)

$41 to $100

Australian

Darlinghurst

About the restaurant

The Waratah is a neighbourhood friendly bar, located in the heart of Darlinghurst.

Our ground floor features a friendly and easy-going public bar designed for walk-ins only. Upstairs is open for bookings, with a vibrant terrace bar complete with a stunning sun-draped rooftop and wrap-around veranda.

Our focus is on cocktails and great food. The Waratah is our love letter to all that makes Australia unique: small & independent producers, local growers, native produce and a diverse and singular landscape.

Welcome to The Waratah, let’s explore Australia together.

Top review

Taylah

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Great time at the Waratah. Great food, great drinks, and great service as always.

Tokyo Bird

4.6

4.6 (624)

$40 and under

Japanese

Surry Hills

About the restaurant

Tokyo Bird is a Japanese inspired small bar located in Belmore Lane, Surry Hills, serving Japanese whisky and beer, cocktails, sake and yakitori – chicken and other delicious morsels on skewers, grilled Japanese style.

Tokyo Bird combines the best of Tokyo’s yakitori-ya and izakaya with classic cocktail bars in an intimate Sydney laneway small bar. We look forward to welcoming you to Tokyo Bird!

Top review

RobVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Great place, great food and great beverages. Basic menue with mainly skewers and that suited us perfectly. My wife and I had enjoyed every bit of Tokyo Bird. We even did the whisky tasting which was awesome!

Hustlers. Syd

4.5

4.5 (219)

$101 and over

Asian

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Our menus will take you on a culinary journey throughout Asia, paying homage to our cultures by elevating traditional flavours through modern techniques. Enter underground and indulge in a mouth-watering menu of shared plates and cocktails.

Top review

Carmina

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Fantastic cocktails, excellent set menus, fabulous service. Loved sitting up at the bar chatting to our mixologists!

Makaveli

4.5

4.5 (64)

$40 and under

Italian

Bondi Beach

About the restaurant

An Italian inspired eatery promising to serve as a home away from home. Makaveli provides a warm and welcoming space for a morning coffee, an afternoon bite, or a lively evening out. The carefully curated menu includes a selection of snacks and shareable plates, designed to complement an innovative beverage selection which features locally sourced coffee and creative cocktails. The menu at Makaveli is a tribute to the joy of sharing food, with an emphasis on communal dining. Key menu highlights include Burrata, Kingfish Crudo, and Stracciatella di bufala. Makaveli will also emphasise supporting local, independent wineries, showcasing their unique flavours and craftsmanship.

Top review

Claudia

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Amazing little dinner spot in Bondi! Great atmosphere and cocktails were stun!

Discover more

Experience

Bottomless $99pp, non refundable deposit required

Bar Conte City

4.5

4.5 (28)

$41 to $100

Italian

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Conte Sydney, our second 'Casa del Negroni' and Italian Restaurant in Sydney CBD.

Step into Conte Sydney and be transported to the heart of Italy's aperitivo culture. This sleek cocktail bar is a love letter to the iconic Negroni, offering over 40 unique variations crafted with top-shelf Italian vermouths and international spirits.

Pair your drink with delectable mouth-watering Italian food, from our classics Pappardelle Lamb ragu' or Busiate pasta with King Prawns, to a decadent Lobster Acquerello Risotto, smaller plate like charcuterie boards or house-made fluffy focaccia, burrata with culatello always available to accompany your drink of choice.

The atmosphere Conte Sydney is warm and inviting, with a stylish interior featuring brass accents, earthy tones, and pops of green. A space for everyone, from a casual drink with friends after work, to a business lunch with clients or a functions space for bigger groups in one of our 3 dining rooms.

Top review

Ari

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

It's a wonderful restaurant. The staff are very friendly and kind. It's a restaurant I want to visit again soon.

Discover more

Experience

A La Carte

Experience

$95 Set Menu (min 2 Guests)

Experience

$140 Set Menu (min 4 Guests)

China Diner - Bondi

4.4

4.4 (561)

$40 and under

Chinese

Bondi Beach

About the restaurant

China Diner represents a contemporary approach to Asian Dining, in a stylish venue inspired by 1930's Shanghai. China Diner specialises in dumplings, vegan, seafood & meat dishes, that pair perfectly with an extensive wine, sake & cocktail list. All a short stroll from Bondi Beach.

Top review

Drew

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

As always the food was amazing and beautifully presented. The caring staff were attentive without being obtrusive and it was great to be surrounded by others enjoying their meals as much as we were. A nod to the great American Whiskey selection and skilled bar staff

Discover more

Experience

Roll on Bottomless Brunch

barmilano | Restaurant, Bar & Events Venue

4.4

4.4 (145)

$41 to $100

Italian

Maroubra

About the restaurant

Step into the streets of Italy, where Northern Italian cuisine meets the spectacular Maroubra coastline.

barmilano is a Northern Italian restaurant, Aperitivo bar and Events Venue, serving up beautiful food, great wines, cocktails and relaxed beachside vibes. We Represent a unique dining experience in Sydney's Eastern suburbs.

Open for lunch & Dinner

Top review

Denise

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

The food was just so delicious and service is always excellent - the weather was amazing and we sat in the courtyard just glorious

Discover more

Experience

BYO WEDNESDAY'S

Experience

SEAFOOD SUNDAY'S AT BARMILANO! PLATTER FOR 2- $190

Experience

APERITIVO HOUR AT BARMILANO!

Miji Bar & Grill

4.1

4.1 (21)

$41 to $100

Japanese

North Sydney

About the restaurant

Miji Bar & Grill is a Japanese Izakaya Bar & Grill that offers the freshest grilled seafood, complemented by a selection of beer and fine sake. Experience Japanese dining in a lively atmosphere, perfect for casual nights or special celebrations.

* 11:30-14:30 Lunch Menu
* 14:30-17:00 Happy Hour (Drinks Only)
* 17:00-21:30 Dinner Menu

Top review

Helen

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

The food are amazing but for value for money, I think they need to do more. My favourite was the teriyaki eggplant and king crab leg. The king crab was really amazing but very small serving (thin crab) for the price. Luckily we got 50% off so it was quite wonderful. Hopefully for full price will have bigger serving for those prices.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Sydney

Explore more Diners' Choice lists