The Rocks: It's an area that's a conundrum of touristic passer-by's and suited Sydnersiders strolling through the pubs, or stumbling in depending on the day. At first glance, The Rocks doesn't appear to roll past the buzzed glam girls in front of The Argyle, the older crew reclaiming their youth to Journey sing-alongs at The Orient, or the endless smorgasbord of sausages served at that German place on the corner that no one can ever pronounce the name of. But beyond the rumble of this revamped rendition of The Rocks lies something so, so much sweeter ... It's in the laneways that hold traditional Sydney pubs like The Lord Nelson and The Australian that make us proud to call Sydney home. For longer than any of us been having drinks on the rocks in The Rocks, The Glenmore has staked its claim as a Sydney institution. It became a bit run-down in recent years, and recently reopened to proudly display its brand new glory days. Now I must admit, the only time I had been to The Glenmore prior to it reopening was during a New Year's Eve pub crawl, and who knows what took place on that urban walkabout.... But despite not knowing exactly what existed before, after seeing The Glenmore post-facelift, I sure am a believer! The roof terrace has a breathtaking view of The Opera House and Sydney's sweet skyline. There are heaters and tons of tables, making it an ideal place to take friends new into Sydney or retreat to when you need a reminder of how amazing this city is, especially at night. Luckily I was here on a weekday so I was able to relax and converse with friends, but I can just imagine how packed this place would be on the weekends.. The second floor is like being inside of a 1920s hotel.. There are small rooms like a pool room and lounge room, threaded throughout and if it wasn't for the pop music over the sound system, it would've boasted a very "Gentlemen's Club" vibe; making The Glenmore intimate and great for couples or small groups of friends. The drinks are standard price for Sydney and comparably cheaper considering other joints in The Rocks. Case in point: Don't miss this rooftop; it's by far one of the best views of Sydney Harbour. read more

Nice view of the harbor. The rooftop dining makes this a worthwhile stop but we also enjoyed the food. The wings were good and a large serving. After 11 days in Australia this American needed a familiar meal. read more

Came here on a Tuesday night just to get drinks and it was super packed. They had a good selection of wine and even some native ones from the Hunter Valley. The view is great but you need to try and get a table on the right side. I would say that there are better views elsewhere like if you go to the Opera Bar but this spot gives you the high up perspective. read more

The glenmore is famous for the rooftop. And that certaintly doesn't dissapoint! The location lends itself to some amzing views of Sydney Harbour and is a must for the adult aged tourists! The rooftop does get very very busy though so get in early. The food is abouve your average pub fare, but not by much! The groundfloor bar can get busy but has a good array of foreign and domestic beers and ciders on tap. read more

The goal was to find an awesome rooftop bar in Sydney to enjoy a few drinks with friends. This place nailed it! Got the recommendation from the owners of another bar and was not disappointed. Can't speak for the food or drinks other than beer due to my objective for being there, but a 5 for atmosphere... I'm a sucker for sunsets with a view read more

Glenmore Hotel - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

What an interesting place. While visiting Sydney in July of 2011, my kids and I were looking for a place to eat after we did the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb. As we were walking to the bridge climb entrance, we saw the large menu on the back side of the hotel and decided that was where we'd eat after because they advertised one of my son's favorite's Chicken Parmesan. The bridge climb was great and afterward, (about 4ish) we made our way to the hotel. At first I was a bit skeptical as the decor and upkeep seemed a bit on the seedy side, but once we made it to the rooftop cafe, all was forgiven. For the 'dead of winter' it was very nice up there and the views of the bridge and opera house were quite nice. We ordered a few soda's and our meal and it was delivered quickly and hot. I have to admit, being from the US, I didn't expect french fries (or chips) to be served instead of spaghetti, but it was quite good. After the fact I found out the Glenmore not only had some historical significance to the area, but also hosts some of the best New Years parties, as well. In general, if I ever visit Sydney again, I won't hesitate to stop in for another meal. read more

This review is for the rooftop. It is really packed during Vivid so our group of four had to wait around watching for other guests to leave their table for us to sit down. No hostess keeping track of those looking to sit down, so it is a little weird having to watch for an opening. I had a Kopparberg cider to drink and it is really sweet, kinda like candy but it's pretty good. I ordered the chicken parmi, the breading of the chicken kind of fell off the chicken while I was eating it, and the slaw on the side has one ingredient too raw. But overall it was a great experience, and it's great that they have the heaters during the evening. This place gets 4 stars because of the VIEW! read more

Glenmore Hotel - Rooftop - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

"So now you know where to bring your girl on your first date." Do not be fooled by it's exterior design of a building; typical old bar/pub of a design on the first floor, but as you make your way up, your breath will be taken away. At least that's how I felt. Once you make it to the top, make sure you place an item or two (your friends preferably) so that you can save that seat for you, since they don't take orders on the table. You would have to go up to the bar (on the right side as you come up the stairs) and order your food and drinks. This may be inconvenient for others especially since The Glenmore Hotel is famous for its crowd, however the food, the drinks, the view and the vibe is all worth it. To save yourself some time, make your way there at around 5.30/6PM if you're planning to have dinner. Overall, it's the 20/20 experience. read more

Super crowded, OK beer and wine. Food- not noteworthy at all. There are so many better places. I don't see what other people like about this place. Everything is more or less self service. No one checks on you unless it's another potential customer asking if you are leaving. read more

The go to pub in the Rocks for an amazing view that comes with halfway decent prices. I'm pretty sure everyone knows of this place as any nice day in Sydney this place will be nice and crowded. If you are lucky you'll get a table on the roof and enjoy your views and drinks as the time just passes you by. Order a few drinks, some wedges and you're golden. There are a few downsides to the rooftop. First of all, the toilets are 3 flights of stairs down for all the blokes. Secondly, if the rooftop bar is closed, the drinks are also 3 flights down the stairs. Further, and probably a testament to its popularity for an amazing view more than anything, is the packs of people on Australia Day. Maybe I'm just getting old and boring (or was too sober), but this place was crowded beyond comfort. read more

The Glenmore Burger is one of the best mixes of flavor I have ever experienced. Consisting of tender grilled house made Wagyu beef, crispy iceberg lettuce, tomato, gherkin, BBQ sauce, cheddar, bacon, caramelized onions, and mustard. The key components are the juicy beef and the pillowy soft bun, which are complemented by a sweet, salty, and tangy flavor of pickled onions, gherkin, BBQ, and mustard. All the ingredients combine for a melt in your mouth flavor complemented by some great fries and atmosphere. Pair the best burger in Sydney with a fantastic view and this is a must visit spot. read more

Glenmore Hotel - Glenmore Burger - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

At the Glenmore if you're going to eat on the level two, find your table then order your meal from the bar up or down the stairs. Top floor Glenmore, and clearly a spectacular view. Mid 20s crowd, very noisy, a lot of energy. Food solid but clearly not fine dining. Very happy with the service, local AU Bundaberg rum and Coke very nice. Must see stop at the top of the rock. read more

Glenmore Hotel - Night view - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

AMAZING rooftop view. More local crowd than many bars in the area. Casual feel, though not casual dress. Solid drink selection. Never got food, but heard it was good read more

Cool place. Unlike other spots in a city full of unique spots. Great views from the roof, decent food, service was good considering they were packed. Another don't miss spot for a drink and a snack while you're in Town. read more

There is usually no way around paying top dollar for drinks or food if you have a view of the Harbour. A few friends and I decided to seek out places where we could enjoy all three at a reasonable price. The Glenmore was one of our finds. Hidden at the back of the rocks the Glenmore has two distinctive eating/drinking areas. The rooftop has panaromic views of the Harbour and even a death drop view of the Argyle courtyard. We enjoyed a BBQ up here one evening. Otherwise food is the standard fare. The ground floor pub is very atmospheric. Bers are average $5-$7 and Food is average $9.00 - $23. Great value and well worth making a destination if you wandering around the area. read more

Best bar views in Sydney and great food. Perfect for a Saturday afternoon in spring or a summer's eve. read more

Glenmore Hotel - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

The Glenmore hotel provides some of the best views of the opera house and harbour bridge. The Glenmore burger is probably one of the best I've ever had, and the drinks are great too. The rooftop bar is an awesome place to hang out after work or at night. Highly recommend! read more

The rooftop bar is to be experienced while in Sydney. The harbor and opera house view is epic, the spirits are excellent, and the food tasty. They are all topped by the open air ambience of Sydney which is great by itself. read more

Told categorically NO BOOKINGS...not so when we got there. Called a week before our regular large girls catch up group. Was told categorically it was not possible to reserve a space for ANY functions on the rooftop. So, we make a concerted effort for 3-4 of us to get there good and early to secure a space as people leave. We arrive, only to find 1/2 the rooftop reserved from 4pm. As we arrived, they were moving everyone out of this space leaving no where to even stand let alone sit in the remaining space. The non-reserved areas was literally shoulder to shoulder ....hardly the service or encouragement to come again. (Later found Squires Landing must have done well out of it - out groups and another 2 ended up there - and with better views.) read more

Love coming here, great food and atmosphere. Got to get there earlyish on the weekends though. We always bring friends here visiting from interstate or OS because the views are fantastic. Overall a great place. read more

Didn't actually get to experience it. The 20 something year old "security" told my wife she couldn't come in. It was 9pm and when asked if we had anything to drink I told him we shared a bottle of wine with dinner. I assume he was too dumb to realize my wife was in heels in the rocks. Won't return. Sorry the child working "security" kept us from what seems to be a really great place. read more

Food is amazing with amazing view. Always busy.. good luck trying to find a seat at the rooftop read more

Glenmore Hotel - Buffalo wings and hot chips -american style - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

Highly recommend the Cool Climate Series Hilltops Tempranillo with, of course, the $12 Steak. Not bad Sydney, not bad! Pair good food with amazing views and nice ambiance, can't go wrong! 4-4.5 Stars. read more

Glenmore Hotel - $12 Monday steak - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

amazing location and best Moscow mule I've ever had! Loses a star as service would be nice instead of standing in line at the bar. View was great but I'm sure much better if cruise ship not in port. read more

Glenmore Hotel - Moscow Mule...best I've had. - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

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Great rooftop bar with an awesome view of the cruise ship. Friendly staff,, decent selection of beers but t food way overpriced and not the best selection. read more

Glenmore Hotel - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

as an american living in sydney I regularly found myself acting as a tour guide to backpackers, friends, and family coming to visit. The glenmore was my go to spot to bring people when I was in the rocks. The view is a amazing, you can see the opera house and the harbor which is perfect for tourists. drinks and food are also reasonably priced which is a plus. only con is the walk downstairs for bathrooms, drinks, etc gets a little tough after a few beers. read more

The food is above average pub food, but the interior is cozy and charming (in an old hotel way) and the rooftop has some niiiice Opera House views. The crowd was rowdy on a Friday night, it seemed like an after work happy hour type crowd that was drinking the sorrows of the work week away. So it was fun. I got the tuna salad which was very tasty (and non pub-like) and a nice departure from burgers and chips which seemed to dominate my Sydney trip. read more

Pretty rocking views at this rooftop bar in the Rocks. Drinks are pub prices. Almost any table here has a decent view. There's nothing special about the bar but it's been there a long time. If you can find a seat, sit back and relax and enjoy this quaint rooftop bar. The servers were pretty decent with the drinks too. read more

Glenmore Hotel - Hotels Near Me - The Rocks, NSW

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The rooftop bar is pretty cool. Great views of the Sydney Opera House, great cider (love me some Kopparberg!) and really good fish and chips. read more

Went here with a few people and managed to snag a table on the rooftop. OMG! Gorgeous views of Sydney. The pub seems massive but maybe its just me. We started on the street level with the usual regular punters and then its like a completely different place up top. Many stairs to reach the beer garden but once your up there its where you would stay. The toilets are half way down again. The staff are fast and happy and service is with a smile. The wedges reach the table before you get back from the bar which runs smoothly. Not much not to like. read more

Good food, great drinks and amazing views from the rooftop. This is one of our main relaxed feel-good spots. Can be quite busy but worth it. The opera house is always breath taking and the skyline of the city gets even better at night. If your reading this, then drop everything and get to the rooftop of the Glenmore! read more

For years I simply knew this as 'the pub with the rooftop', which is far and away it's main attraction. At street level it's a typical Aussie pub (by which I mean how an Aussie pub would have looked pre-90's: original interior, filthy carpet, standard tap beers, gambling facilities and not much else), but take the journey up the stairs behind the TAB corner and you'll find yourself on a rooftop with one of the best views back across Circular Quay to the Opera House. Thankfully they've now got a bar built on the rooftop, avoiding the hellish trip that used to be involved in buying a round. Despite having a great location and avoiding the 'Sydney bar makeover' trap, I can't give a full 5 stars: the drinks selection is limited and the food, while perfectly fine, is a bit... same-ish. read more

I visited the Glenmore Hotel rooftop bar on a sunny Sunday afternoon. After a long walk around the city and across the harbor bridge, it was a nice way to wrap up the afternoon. The rooftop overlooks the harbor and has lovely views. Be aware that this is a very popular spot due to it's history in Sydney and it will be crowded during peak days and hours. We had a difficult time finding anywhere to even stand after getting a beer from the bar, but between the weather and the views, it was still worth it. Eventually, tables cleared out and people standing around were able to find seats. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and appreciate a good rooftop bar. read more

Rooftop top dinner with a view of the city and the opera house. Fun vibe. Food was amazing. Shared the pumpkin salad and fish and chips. A little pub food and some Mod Oz. Wanted an espresso martini but it was too late. Very locals place. We weren't the only Americans but probably the only tourists read more

Come for the view, stay for the view. Up high in the Rocks the Glenmore stands proud. The three story pub is nicely laid out with indoor and outdoor seating on the ground floor, and a lounge and separate rooms for a more private boozing experience on the middle floor. Then there's the rooftop. Oh, the rooftop. Great views of the Quay, the city, and the Opera House. This is where you want to be - if you can grab a seat. Or really, even if you're okay to stand. The beer selection is decent, with some Little Creatures thrown in to the usual pub offerings. The staff are willing to go out of their way to make you happy - during my last visit I saw one staff member locate and bring over an extra chair for a man to hang his suit jacket on as there was no coat rack on offer. The guy that brought our food was quick to offer and deliver various sauces and utensils, which unfortunately isn't the norm at Sydney pubs. Sadly the highest compliment I can give the food is that it is passable pub fare. If you're hungry, there's food here. It won't be great, or even really good, but with some salt you'll be able to tame your hunger pains without the urge to overindulge. That's fine, more room for beer that way. read more

Good place for a lovely view on a sunny day with a bottle of bubbly or pint of beer. Pub food to be expected.

Location, location, location! Nice pub at the top of the Rocks, and at the bottom of the south side of the Harbour Bridge. It's a couple of floors of typical Aussie drinking hole, but the crowning bit is the roof. There's a bar, a barbecue, and several tables with amazing view over the city, the Rocks, Circular Quay, and the Opera House, and along the Bridge. read more

If you want a place where you can throw back a few drinks with some pals whilst admiring the city from a rooftop lounge, then this is your place to be. However, I will comment on the food which unfortunately fell flat. I ordered the pappardelle w/ chili shrimp and what I got was overly cooked pasta that had sadly begun to adhere together. That said, if I am not planning to munch on anything, I would still make my way back here--but only for drinks and a great view. read more

When at The Rocks go to a pub. Seriously. I went to The Glenmore in 2000 when it was still dirty and simple and undone. It was an amazing pub, the rooftop view to die for, the food simple but satisfying, as a side to the beer. Years later the pub has succumbed, like most, to the need to change although I think people would keep coming had the changes not occurred. Most pubs just need a new chef and a new plan. The pub overall is still much the same but the rooftop has lost its charm. It's been modernised, opened up, filled with tables and chairs and glass, some canvas roofing, and a large bar. It's not bad, and the food is clean and tasty, but the old rooftop was better, hands down. It is though a place to visit when in the area. The beer is as great as the view. Incidentally you even get a view from the Men's. read more

The Glenmore is a great restaurant for a happy hour/early dinner combo. The Glenmoe is kind of like a cornucopia of people from many different paths and parts of life. They have a wide selection of beers and a great selection of bar foods too. I wish there was something extremely memorable to say about the place but there really wasn't. It's good to great but not amazing. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. read more