With more than 10 venues, just a short walk from the National Maritime Museum, SEA LIFE® Sydney Aquarium, and more, Cockle Bay Wharf makes a handy stop for lunch by the water. Harbor views mean the venue is also a great sunset choice: Café del Mar boasts a rooftop sundeck with comfy sofas and classic cocktails. On the nightlife front, Tokio Hotel and Rouge serve live music, while Home provides one of Sydney’s biggest and most dynamic Saturday nights.
Cockle Bay Wharf is a good choice for nightlife fans.
Most eateries have options for dietary preferences, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.
Australia’s drink-drive limit is just 0.05% BAC—barely half the federal US limit of 0.08% BAC. It’s safest for drivers not to drink alcohol at all.
There’s wheelchair access to Cockle Bay Wharf, but different venues have different levels of accessibility.
Cockle Bay Wharf sits on the southeastern side of Darling Harbour, west of Sydney’s Central Business District, just north of Chinatown. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from Town Hall and Pyrmont Bay stations. Wilsons Parking on Sussex Street, a 5-minute walk away, has parking for a significant daily or nightly charge. If you decide to drive, prebook a spot.
Cockle Bay Wharf’s bars, clubs, and restaurants come into their own in the evenings and are liveliest at weekends: the space faces west, so sunset can be a great time to visit. Cockle Bay Wharf is also a prime vantage point for viewing the Darling Harbour Fireworks most Saturday evenings. Note that some venues only open at weekends, and others close on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Very much the younger sibling to iconic Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour is undergoing an A$2-billion (US$1.3-billion) redevelopment to turn the site into a world-class entertainment and shopping destination, with homes and offices too. Besides Cockle Bay Wharf, options include the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, the National Maritime Museum, and an enormous IMAX cinema with a 7,450-square-foot (693-square-meter) screen.
