The Rocks / Circular Quay, Sydney

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Baroque is a restaurant located in The Rocks that also has a great terrace bar. There are two things I love; an outdoor bar and a great view...Baroque does not dissapoint. The way the terrace is situated on a corner; there are views of the Harbour as well as the lively Rocks area (perfect people watching in my opinion).

Their cocktail menu has the usual libations; wine, beer and mixed drinks but what I come here for is their Bellini. I love a good Bellini and it is very hard to find a place that does it the "right" way by using peach nectar. Baroque has the best Bellini in Sydney hands down; and trust me I tried plenty of them around the city.

I also loved the food at Baroque; delicious bistro fare. My husband and I have had several tasty meals after enjoying some pre-dinner drinks and people watching on the terrace.

**This is a good place for afterwork drinks or pre-dinner drinks. The vibe is relaxed and the cocktails are tasty.**

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This is one of the few places I have been to every time I come to town. Yes, it is a big "tourist" spot but even locals are drawn here for food and drinks. I love the atmosphere and the liters of Spaten. Located right next to the Rocks Sydney Visitor’s Center on Argyle Street it’s just a place I always find myself for at least a few beers per trip.

I must admit it doesn’t get to be much more than one or two though as its only a liter and they charge $19. You can get the same amount of beer just down the street for $12 to $14. And that adds up quick. So I go and enjoy one or two and then move on.

The nice thing here is that they do have a large our-door seating area with bench tables and also individual tables and then inside a couple large rooms. So the atmosphere will be one where you can easily relax. In fact I would say this is one of my favorites to hit when in Sydney.

Dress Code: Casual

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Opera Bar is normally not a place you'd find me but Liz wanted to try it out and I can never refuse a request from my wife. So off we went from the Opera House down to the Lower Concourse. We decided to sit outside instead of inside since it was a gorgeous day. The bar also serves food but we were not hungry as of yet. The bar has several beers on tap as well as wines and mixed drinks. The prices here are definitely on the pricey side especially for mixed drinks and full bottles of wine.

I went to the bar and ordered us two Pure Blonde's while Liz found a seat at a table for two. I was amazed at how relaxing it was just sitting there with the view of the bridge, harbour and Opera House. Liz and I chose a table under an umbrella so we could enjoy the beautiful day and not get fried by the sun. The breeze was perfect of the water and I had a wonderful time with Liz. There is so much activity to watch yet you can sit back and feel so removed....

I was so glad that she suggested we come here; it really was an awesome experience and a definite must see when in Sydney. We loved this bar so much it was one of the first stops during our November 2010 trip.

Dress Code: Casual

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Fortune of War is Sydney's oldest pub; with the first recorded liquor license on record in 1828. This pub is right in the heart of the Rocks. We first discovered this pub in February 2010 while exploring the Rocks.

We enjoyed the nice relaxing atmosphere which we enjoy. We especially liked their back room that was a large enclosed patio with windows and a balcony. Sitting in that room with a cold beer and nice breeze was a great place to relax and talk. The action seems to be at the front of the pub by the main entrance but we still chose the quiet of the back.

The bar also serves food but we came here primarily to enjoy some beer and relax. I would have a Toohey's and Liz enjoyed her Pure Blonde. We found ourselves here several time throughout our trip to grab a beer after a day of sightseeing.

Sadly we returned in November 2010 to find the back room patio had been changed. The balcony no longer existed nor the open windows. Another good things has ended....

Dress Code: Casual

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The Hero of Waterloo is a quiet and relaxing pub in the Rocks area. It's off of the tourist drag so it has more locals than your typical Rocks pub.

Liz and I came here to enjoy some beer before heading off for a lunch with some friends. The pub has that oldtime feel with lots of hardwood accents and a nice worn in bar. There were plenty of seats at the bar as well as a back area with tables. We had a seat at the bar to enjoy some ice cold beer.

This was a great find and the perfect place to relax without any worries.

Dress Code: Casual

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The Australian Hotel is an old pub in the Rocks section of Sydney. The orignal pub was opened in 1824 and this location has been around since 1913; which makes it a popular Sydney institution.

After wandering the back streets of the Rocks; my wife and I decided to stop her for some drinks. The place is huge with both indoor and outdoor seating. We decided to have a seat at a table for two near the bar since the outdoor crowd was a bit on the rowdy side. We enjoyed a few Toohey's while people watching and discussing our future travels.

I like that this place had a nice mix of people; young and old; casual and professional.

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The Glenmore Hotel is a historic pub in the Rocks. Built in 1921, this pub is high in the rocks with beautiful harbour views; especially from its rooftop bar.

The bar has two levels as well as outdoor seating. My wife and I stopped here for a drink and a snack during our most recent Sydney trip in November 2010. We decided to sit indoors since the wind was kicking up outside and didn't want to get blown off the rooftop. We sat at a table for two to enjoy some ice cold beer for Liz and a cider for me as well as an order of their tasty garlic bread. We had a fun time here people watching and discussing our upcoming trip to South America.

The vibe here is very casual during the day which is something I cherish in a pub.

Dress Code: Casual

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The Mercantile Hotel is one of the many bars situated in the Rocks and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The bar areas is rather large with bar seating as well as indoor and outdoor tables. My wife and I love exploring the Rocks and found this pub to be an excellent place to grab a drink.

During our visit we found a cricket game on which was quite entertaiing as we drank our ice cold beer. We were seated at a nice table for two inside and enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. The patrons were a mix of tourist as well as locals and all seemed to enjoy the casual friendliness of the place. I really enjoy that they keep the doors open to allow for a nice breeze from the harbour instead of cranking up the air conditioning. Food is also served here and is ordered at a seperate window at the back of the bar.

Dress Code: Casual