Henry Deane at Hotel Palisade

Henry Deane occupies the top two floors of Hotel Palisade, a heritage pub building on Bettington Street in Millers Point, on the western edge of The Rocks. From its windows and terraces, most of the room enjoys views across the harbour, taking in the Harbour Bridge, Walsh Bay and Barangaroo, and the design is modern and sophisticated. The building's position high on the hill above the wharves is what gives the rooftop its outlook, and the views are among the reasons people travel across from the city centre to visit.

The venue changes character through the day. At lunchtime it operates as a restaurant serving premium shared plates, and booking is recommended if you want a table for lunch. In the evening, it becomes a cocktail lounge with local DJs, and walk-ins are welcome, although space can fill quickly on weekends and warm nights.

The drinks list focuses on cocktails, with wine and beer also available, and the setting makes it an obvious choice for sunset drinks. A smart dress code applies; the venue asks guests to dress to impress, so leave beachwear and very casual clothes at home. Arriving an hour before sunset gives the best chance of a table with a view as the light fades over the harbour.

Hotel Palisade itself is a landmark, a tall, narrow building that has stood on the hill above the wharves for more than a century, and the hotel downstairs has guest rooms and a ground-floor bar. Group bookings can be arranged by email through the address published on the hotel's website, and disabled access is available; contact the venue for details.

Henry Deane suits couples, groups celebrating an occasion and anyone who wants a smart drink with a harbour view away from the busier bars of Circular Quay. It is a calmer alternative to the crowds at the Opera House and makes a good finish to an afternoon at Barangaroo Reserve.

Millers Point is about fifteen minutes' walk from Wynyard station, and around twenty minutes from Circular Quay through The Rocks. Barangaroo Reserve, with its harbour walks and sandstone foreshore, is a few minutes away, and the Walsh Bay arts precinct, home to theatres and performance spaces, is close by. Walking routes from the Harbour Bridge and Observatory Hill make it easy to combine with sightseeing in The Rocks before an evening drink.