The Glenmore Hotel

The Glenmore Hotel has been serving drinks on Cumberland Street in The Rocks since 1921 and is one of the last surviving buildings on the street from before the Harbour Bridge was built. It is best known for its rooftop, which looks out across the harbour and catches plenty of sunshine, which makes it a favourite spot for an afternoon drink.

The venue spreads over three levels. The ground-floor Public Bar has indoor and outdoor seating and TAB facilities, the middle level houses a cocktail bar styled after 1920s Hollywood, and the rooftop bar sits at the top with its harbour views. There are also private dining spaces, the Grand Dining Room and the Club Room, for groups and functions. On busy days, staff may manage numbers on the rooftop, so be prepared to wait briefly for space.

The food is classic pub fare, with familiar dishes that suit a casual lunch or dinner with drinks. On the drinks side you will find beer on tap, wine and cocktails, and the different levels mean you can choose between a relaxed pub atmosphere downstairs and a more social scene on the roof.

The Glenmore opens from 11:00 until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The rooftop is particularly busy on sunny weekend afternoons and summer evenings, so arrive early if you want a spot with the best view. Dress is casual. If the rooftop is full, the cocktail bar on the middle level is a calmer alternative.

The pub suits groups of friends, sports fans, after-work drinkers and visitors who want a classic Sydney pub experience with a view. It is generally relaxed during weekday afternoons and livelier in the evenings and at weekends.

Cumberland Street runs along the top of The Rocks, a short walk uphill from Circular Quay. The pub is close to the southern stairs of the Harbour Bridge walkway, so it is a natural stop after walking across the bridge. YHA Sydney Harbour and the Shangri-La are nearby, and the weekend markets on George Street and Playfair Street, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel are all within a few minutes' walk. General enquiries can be sent to the email address on the pub's website.