Blu Bar on 36

Beautiful view over to Balmain East from the window countertop seating. The octopus was delicious. A very relaxing day-time rest stop with a view. The restaurant has the more spectacular Harbour view of the Bridge and Opera House.

I had such a lovely High Tea experience with the most stunning view of the Opera House. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and the service was warm and attentive. It was the perfect spot to relax, enjoy the afternoon, and take in the amazing scenery. Highly recommend!

No doubt view is breathtaking! Whats confusing was getting into the bar area vs high tea side. High tea open at 11 so you are seated towards the habour area. We went there for drinks and sat at the bar area over looking Barangaroo view. Both side of the views did not disappoint but wish when we called they would have clearly explained the difference. You can still go the other side to take pictures. Bar area had great selections of local and European wine and cocktails. They also had food options for light snacks etc. we ordered a bottle of the rośe and beer battered fries. Staff were very nice and accommodating. We will definitely go back for cocktails and dinner. This place is kid friendly!!

Always a treat of a place and a “must do” for truly wondrous sunsets and views of the opera house and the bridge ! Great service from our waiters and happily they moved us ( after being directed left from door girl, despite near empty right !! ) to magnificent window views for my first time guests ! It made their whole trip.. excited photo ops and lovely wine and cheese plates were to follow! They are still raving two days later! Thanks for the lovely experience! We even caught some vivid !

An unforgettable, life long memorable experience. Staff were hospitable and you could tell they genuinely liked working there. This created a great atmosphere and wonderful experience. We were able to sit in the best view table and enjoyed every minute of it. Snacks and drinks were well presented and enjoyable. Thanks for not being a pretentious place and being so welcoming. I will definitely venture to the 36 floor for another epic experience at this place next time I’m in town. Thanks again for the life long memories.

Blu Bar on 36 – Stunning Views, But the Experience Falls a Bit Short Blu Bar on 36 undoubtedly boasts some of the most breathtaking views in Sydney. Perched high above the city, the sweeping skyline and harbour panorama are truly impressive and create a memorable setting, especially around sunset. It’s a great spot to take in the city’s beauty while enjoying a drink or two. That said, the overall experience didn’t quite live up to the setting. While the views were spectacular, the service felt a bit underwhelming. Staff weren’t particularly attentive or engaging, and it lacked the warmth and polish you’d expect from a high-end bar in such a prime location. It wasn’t terrible—just not at the level you’d hope for. Additionally, the washroom facilities could use some maintenance and updating. A few areas are clearly showing signs of age and could benefit from a touch-up to match the elegance of the rest of the venue. Overall, Blu Bar on 36 is worth visiting for the views alone, but don’t set your expectations too high when it comes to service and upkeep. With a bit more attention to detail, it could be a truly exceptional experience.

We visited Blu Bar for high tea for our anniversary. As soon as arrived we encountered problems with service. There was a line of about 25 people waiting to be seated even though we had a booking. The food was decent and a good amount. However, staff were inattentive, many seemed to be unable to help with requests such as ordering more tea and we needed to wait for another server who could do this. We had to request a spoon to have with the sugar and were served tea but had to wait for teacups. The tables were also too small for purpose, particularly given that there were whole dinner plates on the table which was unnecessary. Additionally, there was no toilet paper in the toilets and bins were overflowing, Views were stunning and food was good but we were left feeling underwhelmed for the price point of $105 minimum per person.

Staff was friendly and quick, heaps of drinks from the bar to choose from and suits any budget to enjoy your evening coffee catch ups or even having a few with friends and family. By the window you’ll see breath taking views of the Sydney harbour.

Great Lychee Martini's and margaritas. Not great with bloody mary's but not a common drink in Australia. The view is spectacular from a window seat and watching the sunset was amazing. The service was excruciatingly slow but we were not in a rush.

We opted for the informal bar experience rather than booking a table. Plus side: fantastic view (especially at sunset), friendly staff, decent drinks. A worthwhile stop for an out of towner. Negative side: extremely bass-heavy DJ music oonts-ing through nearby speakers, clearly intended to stop patrons from lingering too long. (In our case it worked.) The duration of your stay is proportional to your endurance for loud sounds.

Go here for the view! Their cocktails are really good and the food was decent. If you don't have a reservation or table, I highly recommend as the wait could take some time. This place is popular and rightfully so! The view at night of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is .

2 stars solely because of pitiful service. Stayed as a hotel guest and came to the bar on the rooftop a few times. If you stay in the bar area, the service was good. The two times we ventured into the seated area, the service was awful. Took way too long to even put in a drink order and even longer for the drinks to come. It shouldn't take 30 minutes to just be served a drinks. On one of our last nights, my husband and I actually walked out after ordering a glass of wine and told the waiter we didn't want it because we waited over 40 min to place an order/receive the order. If you go, recommend staying in the bar area. Views are spectacular and there's a solid wine list. Lots of cocktails too, but we didn't try those.

Well, let me start of by saying I was warned about this place, but decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. Specially because it has epic views. I know because I had breakfast in the adjacent restaurant, Alaltitude. I had a room at the Shangri-La, so decided to go and check out the Blu Bar on 36th for one of my evenings. Walked out of my room in with a black t-shirt, white dress shorts, and slippers and I was told by a NICE lady to go back to my room and out on some sneakers. Decided to walk back to my room feeling a little embarrassed. To surprise another a couple walking out of the same bar are in the same exact attire, even more casual with beach shorts. There was one big difference, I was BLACK they were WHITE. This sort of killed my holiday in Sydney. At best, be consistent if you call yourself a "5-start" hotel or at worst don't be racist :(

This place is perfect for dates. Beautiful cocktails with breathtaking panoramic night view. We waited 45 min at the bar to be seated but the bar itself has amazingly nice view of the other side of Sydney so the wait wasn't felt, especially when we were swept away in conversations sipping cocktails.

Best spot for a drink and a view. The Bar is on the 36 Floor of the Shangri-La hotel and the views are amazing. Drinks are a little pricey but if you are used to paying for drinks in Sydney it's not shockingly pricey I've had bar snacks and desserts which have always been great, I think I'll try the restaurant one night. Great for bringing friends visiting from out of town as you have a view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

The bar located in the shangri la on the 36th floor, offers spectacular panoramic views of the Sydney harbour and opera house. It's the perfect place to enjoy a view sunset cocktails and enjoy some little tapas bites. We had the vanilla espresso Martinis and salt and pepper prawns both were delicious, only negative was the service was a bit slow for such a small bar that should be of 5 star quality.

If you're looking to have a cocktail with an amazing view of darling harbor then this is your spot. Easy to find on the top floor of the Shangri-La hotel Sydney. The wait staff is attentive and the cocktails are slightly above average. Prices are high but again you're paying for the view. Barfood is available but expectations for quantity should be low as our presentation of calamari was similar to the tasting menu at altitude restaurant next-door.

Set on the top 36th floor of the posh Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney, Blu Bar on 36 offers commanding view of the Opera House, Darling Harbor, and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The interior features a minimalist decor, dim lighting, and soaring windows. Snag a comfy seat next to the floor to ceiling windows and drink in the view along with your cocktail. Blue bar created inventive style of mixing cocktails which has serious connoisseurs milling around for a masterclass in mixology. Blu Bar on 36 simply exudes sophistication and style. Despite the slow service, I'm giving it 5 stars as the view is second to none. Can't wait for my next trip down under! See you February 2017!!

As a guest of the hotel I was very disappointed that I was made to wait for more than 30 minutes and finally had to leave because I wasn't served neither acknowledged. Terrible service. If the bar is busy then the manager should request assistance or hire a competent manager. Dr Pelayo, Miami Beach Florida

You can't beat these views!!!! They're gorgeous overlooking the city. You have to reserve the tables by the windows. We were fortunate to walk in and get a decent seat. The cocktails were quite good surprisingly. I tried the violet dreams, a Gin based cocktail. All of the cocktails ordered at our table were enjoyed. Service was a little slow and there was no food, only a bar.

Despite the priciness of this joint, it's well worth it for a special occasion because of the views you get. Yes, the price tag is hefty- expect to pay up to $25 for a cocktail. The cocktails, however, are incredible so while I wouldn't make this your "post up and stay awhile spot" one is worth it. You need to come right at 5 if you want to get straight into the main room that is face on to the bridge. You can hang out in the side bar and still get a great view, but in my opinion snagging a spot up front allows you to really take it all in.

There is not much to say here that hasn't been said. You are at the top of the Sydney Skyline ..... around sunset it's almost a dream ..... the service ..... the Champagne, wine, beer , spirits, cocktails ...... even snacks are all 5 Star ...... The experience a very relaxing one ..... the sense that you have come to a point at which enjoying the moment is all that counts. The realization that you have the space ..... the ambiance ..... the views ..... the moment at which you know it doesn't get any better ....... unless you can launch yourself from the 36th floor and fly as far as the eye can see.

Modern bar on the top level of the Shangri-La Hotel with amazing views. Excellent location to bring visitors or just to enjoy some drinks after work. Good and helpful for service. Cocktails far too expensive but wine & beer is at a reasonable price

Best views of the city. Definitely worth a visit to catch a glimpse of the Opera House and harbour bridge in one frame while sipping on some delicious cocktails.

Superb service with sweeping views. What is not to like? Checking in for a window table is essential.

It's 35 degrees outside and I'm standing outside the Shangri-La hotel wearing thongs. The doorman is eying me off, daring me to enter. Oh it's on, white boy. Here I come. I've got my mum, aunt, brother and cousin with me - just in case you think I'm one of those saddos that goes around drinking in hotel bars alone. Because I'm not. Not normally. It's a Friday night and girls in slinky dresses totter past, their colossal heels tinking on the marble floor of the lobby. There's a guy with a signature hat in the corner. He looks like he plays bass. The lift spirits us up to level 36 where there's a queue to speak to an unfeasibly attractive blonde girl at one of those little keynote speaker podiums. She looks like Veronica Vaughn from Billy Madison. I'm tempted to pull out a quote, maybe Chris Farley's "That Veronica Vaughn is one fine piece of ass, I know from experience, know what I mean?" but don't think it would go down too well. Not here. Not now. Turns out the line is for the table-service Horizons Lounge to the right. If we want to mill and drink at Blu Bar on 36 to the left (which has sliiiightly less appealing, although still astonishing, views), we can go right in. We do. She doesn't notice my thongs. There's a big dress code plaque right next to her, but she doesn't notice. Part of me wishes she had. My aunt, a lush of some repute, orders some bubbles ($11), a McKenna bourbon neat ($11.50), and a few waters (both soda and tap are complimentary). There's a cocktail called Love On The Rock that comes with an uncut diamond ring in it and requires 24 hrs notice to prepare. The price? $10,000. Bargs, mate. Bargs. I ask the bartender how many of those they sell a year. "Hard to say," he replies. "Whenever anybody wants to propose." Thanks. I think. There's a nice vibe tonight, guys in suits and girls in expensive dresses mingling and laughing. Relaxed. Demure. We stand out. It's okay though. In the little round room with couches along the walls at the end are two very average, awkward-looking men with two very beautiful, leggy, expensively-coiffed women. My cousin nudges me. Seen it dude. Thinking the same thing you are. I feel sorry for them. It looks painful. I want to trot over and drop a couple of jokes, lighten the mood. Maybe chat to one of the women. Who knows. The bourbon goes down like mother's milk. This is how Jimmy Caan felt all his life.

I usually come here when I have visitors from overseas. And happened again recently. Came here on Saturday night. The place was busy. We had couple drinks ( $43!!!) - crazy prices - and we admired the beautiful city from the 36 level. We just explained yourself that $10 each was the price just for the view. But hey the most expensive drink on the menu is only $10.000 Martini on the Rock - comes with a diamond and a room. Overall stunning view with elegant bar to see the city from different perspective.

I went for a friends birthday drinks. I always worry before I go to these places about dress code etc . I found it very relaxed and to be honest a bit daggy. Yes people were dressed well but not over the top. We had the best seat to look at the Harbour Bridge and Opera House etc . Except it was dark out. Im sure in the day it is an amazing view !! The decore is in need of facelift. I expected to be wowed when I went inside but I wasn't. Even the small doormen in front of bar looked too nice and out of place. My friend stayed the night and her room was just like any other hotel room with the basics. I don't know about prices as my money was no good here according to my friends husband . I had 2 Margaritas. The first one was absolutely the best Ive ever had and the second one was in a glass too big .Diluted and no salt around the rim of the glass. The view is what you pay for here .

The bar on the 36th floor is an atrocious joke. I just walked out after standing there for over 15 minutes without being acknowledged by the staff. While waiting I watched at least 4 other patrons wait for the same period of time at a minimum. Also watched the bar staff make drinks with an unmarked liquid in a large tub (possibly Simple Syrup). In addition the place was excessively hot with no air conditioning blowing. This place is clearly getting by on it's location on the 36th floor. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, go here. There are infinitely better places to go in Sydney. The manager of this bar should be released immediately and the staff completely retrained in proper service etiquette and food service standards.

I'm giving them 5 stars. Not just for the view but the best swordfish I've come across. Crispy crust and juicy. So good I could have licked the plate. In every sense fine dining. Bravo!

New York has the Rainbow Room. LA has Yamashiros. Paris has Le Perchoir. Sydney has Blu Bar. These are all places where you go, pay too much for a cocktail and take in stunning views of the City in question. You feel like you're part of the upper income people, even if you have glammed up your best backpacker look for the occasion. Or you're impressing someone on a first date. Or you're showing off your city to visitors. This is one of those places. The views were stunning. The cocktails weren't ungodly expensive. The atmosphere, while sophisticated, was also relaxing and welcoming. And oh yeah, the views were stunning!

View was fabulous, stunning vibe, let down by lack of standing room. Hubby and I enjoyed our pre dinner/city adventure drinks, and will definitely be back.

Stunning views. Great staff. Service was excellent. What a great find! If you have trouble deciding where to go for a nightcap on a clear night in Sidney, trust me and give this one a try.

best view, relaxed atmosphere and the food and drinks were great, and can't go wrong with the service either. highly recommend for a lovely night out, especially during Vivid Sydney!

Went here last night for the first time and this place had some of the best cocktails I've had in Sydney. They certainly are pricey, between 18 and 25 dollars a pop, but definitely worth it. We grabbed a couple of drinks at the bar while we waited for a table in the main dining area. I had a fire hazard, which was rum based and was mixed with pomegranate liquor and chilis. Unfortunately it wasn't as spicy as I would have liked it to be, but it was still delicious. I also had another cocktail that was almost like a passion fruit smoothie, which I can't remember the name of now, but it was awesome. When we were seated we also had some food. We tried the wagyu tartar, burata, pork croquettes, and crackling pork. It's a it overpriced and of those items, I would say the croquettes were the best. As far as the view goes, it's decent but I think the view from o bar is better. Lastly, I was also a little put off when the bouncer came over and told us we were being too loud. It was unnecessary and we were just as loud as everyone else in there.

Waited 3 hours for a window seat, and never got it, and during the whole time they were stringing us along, saying we would sit soon. At the end they offered us a seat we didn't want. The supervisor Sagar came and started lecturing us on how it is not possible for a seat and that we should of known earlier that this was the case. Completely unacceptable for a Shangri-La run bar, one of the servers was even indirectly suggesting the people 'pay' for these coveted window seats. Highly not recommended as this place has horrible customer service, treats people like we are at some 1 star So after complaining about the supervisor, the manager came down and sorted everything out and was apologetic to our situation. A caring server helped u contact the manager as it seems the supervisor was unwilling to help. The manager is above the supervisor. My suggestion, fire the supervisor or place him in an intensive customer service class! One more star for the manger and server!

A hotel bar worth going to. I mean c'mon, the view of Sydney Harbour from the 36th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel is pretty fantastic. Even if you're in the open section along the bar that looks towards Balmain it's pretty fantastic. Stick to cheap drinks, though; don't overpay for a view. Unless you're genuinely interested in the $10,000 cocktail (complete with one-carat diamond and suite for the weekend). Go early during the week to get easy access into the room that looks out onto the harbour bridge and Opera House. It's an even more spectacular view, and there are seats. It's pretty super for impressing out-of-town guests.

For stunning views of Sydney at night, this IS the place to come. It gets quite busy in here, chairs and tables near the windows are the most poplar. Be patient and then be rewarded to stunning views beneath you and beyond. The also have an good range of cocktails too.

Had a wonderful girls night out here. Expensive, but worth it to go once. Amazing view of the harbor and bridge, especially at night and sunset.

There are few bars I'd bother with in the Rocks region - those that line George Street are tourist targeted booze dens, while the slightly classier Lowenbrau and Argyle venues are so big and usually really crowded. Blu Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel, however, is a destination unto itself. I often surprise friends visiting from out of town with this place - the view is phenomenal. The bar's location on the 36th floor of the hotel means you are literally on top of Sydney Harbour, with a near bird's eye view of all the city's major attractions and across to the Anzac Bridge and beyond. The bar is usually a magnet for hotel guests, so try to book a table ahead of time and request a seat by the window for some gazing while you sip away on a cocktail. The bartenders are great here - while waiting for a table, a friend and I stood at the bar for a few minutes and the staff insisted on creating us custom drinks to suit our favourite spirits and fruits. Who needs a menu when you've got a view like this anyway? This is a great special occasion spot that is sure to impress on all fronts.

Its one of the places i always go when i am in hong kong. They have a very good lychee martini. And tapas. The ambience is perfect after a long walk in hong kong.

This place arguably has one of the best views in Sydney. Situated on the 36th level of the Shangri-La hotel, the Blu Bar on 36 won the "Bar of the Year" Award for Excellence, 2010. Next to their fine dining restaurant Altitude, the bar and lounge area gives you a panoramic view of Darling Harbor with a clear picture of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the City below. The service at the bar is a little tough because the bar tends to get quite busy during the evening (one of the best times to see the view). Once you get your drinks it's nice to enjoy the beautiful view. I suggest booking a table in advance to get a seat in the lounge area. Seating in the bar area is limited and not as comfortable as the table service. Not your everyday bar, but I like to get a little romantic from time to time, have a drink and share a kiss way above the Sydney skyline.

For my 20th I took a group of my best friends out for a night of well chosen cocktail bars. My friend recommended this place for the view and because they know how to make a proper cocktail, with all the novelty of cocktail making paraphernalia and showmanship. First impressions made the place out to be somewhat pretentious, louder than I expected, and definitely overcrowded. They don't take bookings for the lounge area, it's on a first in, first served basis, so we had to wait about half an hour for a seat. It's really not worth the trouble unless you grab a seat early on and plan on sitting for a while (if you can handle constant cocktails that average $20). Luckily their bar serves drinks while you wait. I was after something chocolatey as opposed to fruity, and the only item on the menu that mentioned chocolate was a cocktail called 'old-fashioned Ron' - it was pretty much a highball glass of rum with a shot of dark chocolate bitters. I think my face said it all. The bartender was incredibly helpful - he told me that only seasoned drinkers ever ordered the Ron - and offered to exchange my drink for something more suitable. He asked me what I liked, and I told him something chocolatey. Problem solved, two minutes later I had a concoction of (from memory): Kahlua, Baileys, Frangelico, Tia maria, dark chocolate bitters, a tangy whipped cream and milk mix and sprinkled with dark chocolate shavings. The glass' inside had a spiral of honey - with this new mix shaken through, with the rim decorated with a strawberry. It was his own creation - The Honeyken. It was as delicious as it sounds. I was in heaven and will be returning.

The cocktails here were amazing, mixed with the amazing views made this place a great place to go before you dine at Altitude restaurant. They also have a 10,000 dollar cocktail for those with big pockets haha. I had the 'italian job' and the 'tropicana cabanna'. Both were delicious and hella strong.

You can't beat the view here and it's always slammin. Good cocktails and a swanky setting. Hard to get a table and the bar is small. That's my only negative, but it's due to their popularity.

After a night out in Sydney visiting a restaurant that was highly recommended and turned out to be at best mediocre, then a bar that charged but didn't deliver we ended up at blue bar... The bar in our hotel (shangri-la Sydney)after ordering one drink at 11.20 pm we were told that was it.thankfully after much smoozing we got another round of cocktails(the same as the previous order)this time no garnish and the bill with the drinks:(.... Not good enough for a $400 a night hotel..... Don't bother

Got a watered down dirty martini but Lamar made it right and got me a new one. Good on him.

Views are nice but service is slow -- at least on a weekday happy hour. Would recommend the bar management to employ more bar tenders for peak hours and understand that at these drink prices, patrons do not want to wait very long. Common sense when it comes to a "high end" establishment.

Going to a Hotel for a drink in Sydney is sort of unheard of, with the exception of Blu Bar on 36 at the Shangri-La Hotel in The Rocks. This infamous bar sits atop the hotel (level 36, if you didn't catch on) and boasts a pretty spectacular view of Sydney. The Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour are some of the highlights if you manage to snare a window seat here. I've enjoyed Blu Bar more when I've been there with a small group, walking in from the street. I actually tried booking a function here a couple of months ago and it ended up going in the too hard basket. There were strict rules around where my group could sit, till when and the minimum bar tab I had to spend (which seemed to have no logic at all). I did debate just telling my friends to show up but decided against it because Blu Bar on 36 turns away parties of 10 or more. Great place to visit but best make it a 'one drink' occasion with a date only.

Drinks and A-mazing views....A MUST! We arrived around 7 pm on a sat. night (4/27). We didn't have to wait long for a table, along the window...facing the opera house. First class service!!

Everyone wants to sit by the window so being there is a bit like playing musical chairs. People leave and then somebody swoops in to take up the window vacancy. It is a very nice view though. Get there earlier and you'll get a better shot at having time near the window. The wait staff is very courteous. The cocktails are rather pricey but the beer isn't much more than average from what I remember. I was really just there for the view and for the price of a couple of beers it was definitely wroth it. They make a big deal about dress code on their website but there were people there in T-shirts. It doesn't seem like they make a big deal about that. I've only been once though so I can't say for sure. Maybe if I was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans and only ordering beers they would ask me to leave.

One of the best views in Sydney and a great bar for chilling out.

I had been meaning to come here for some time, and we finally attended Saturday night, prior to attending a dinner engagement. It's a stylish place with a good range of drinks and the view is world class. Will try and make this a regular treat in future.