Old Mate’s Place Sydney: Entrance, Reviews & Rooftop Guide

Sydney’s bar scene has no shortage of hidden gems, but Old Mate’s Place proves that the best discoveries still require cracking a code. This rooftop tucked four floors above Clarence Street opened in September 2018 with a mission to be the bar everyone wants in their neighbourhood—and the crowds followed fast.

Location: Level 4, 199 Clarence St, Sydney · Tripadvisor Rating: 4.6/5 (31 reviews) · Facebook Likes: 4,224 · Yelp Reviews: 38 reviews · Venue Type: Rooftop bar with 360-degree views

Key operational details and review metrics for Old Mate’s Place paint a consistent picture of a high-volume venue with polarized visitor experiences.

How do I get into Old Mates’ place?

The entrance to Old Mate’s Place is part of its appeal—and its frustration. You won’t find a flashing neon sign or a branded doorway. Instead, the venue sits behind the door on the right at level 4 of an otherwise unremarkable office building at 199 Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Most visitors describe the approach as feeling like they’ve stumbled onto something secret.

The process is straightforward once you know it: take the lift (or the stairs if you prefer) up to level 4. Look for the unmarked door on the right. Push through, climb the internal stairs, and the rooftop opens up above you. According to Aalta (architecture firm behind the fit-out), the setup was deliberately designed to feel like a hidden discovery rather than an obvious venue entrance.

Entrance location details

The building at 199 Clarence Street sits near Wynyard Station, making it relatively accessible for city workers and visitors alike. Tripadvisor reviewers consistently flag the “odd lift” and “dodgy-looking building” as part of the rite of passage. One reviewer noted they nearly gave up before spotting the right door—a sentiment echoed across user reports.

Reservation options

The World’s 50 Best Discovery reports that Old Mate’s Place accepts limited reservations but encourages walk-ins. The official stance, as posted on their site, reads: “We do take limited reservations, but feel free to just rock on in!” For groups larger than six or for special occasions, booking ahead remains advisable.

Hidden bar access tips

• Instagram @oldmatesplace posts regular entry updates, crowd levels, and rooftop status—worth checking before heading out on weekends.
• Thursday through Saturday nights draw the longest queues. Weekday evenings (Tuesday–Thursday) offer a calmer experience with easier rooftop access.
• Some reviewers mention “Ginnis Canoe Club” as a reference point for entry—a bar that previously occupied adjacent space—which can cause confusion if you’re relying on word-of-mouth directions.

Who are the owners of Old Mates pub?

Celebrity ownership rumors have followed Old Mate’s Place since its opening—Hugh Jackman, Ed Sheeran, Guy Ritchie. None of these connections hold up under scrutiny. The verified owners are Gabrielle Walters, Andres Walters (sometimes credited as “Dre”), and Daniel Noble, all three hospitality industry veterans who built this bar from the ground up.

According to Australian Bartender, the trio deliberately set out to create “a bar for everyone”—not a gin bar, not a rum bar, but an all-rounder where every spirit and style finds a home. Co-owner Daniel Noble, in a one-year anniversary interview from October 2019, described their philosophy as hospitality-first: the drinks matter, but the welcome matters more.

Celebrity ownership rumors

Search results and social chatter frequently tie Old Mate’s Place to high-profile names, most notably Hugh Jackman. No credible source—neither major hospitality publications nor verified business records—confirms any celebrity stake in the venue. The confusion likely stems from the bar’s popularity among Sydney’s well-heeled crowd and its reputation as a celebrity-frequented spot.

Actual ownership details

Andres Walters came from Lobo Plantation and Kittyhawk, two acclaimed Sydney cocktail venues. Time Out Sydney documented his background ahead of the 2018 opening. Daniel Noble previously worked at Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern. Gabrielle Walters rounds out the trio, with all three committed to the neighbourhood-bar-for-everyone ethos that defines the venue’s character.

Is the food at Old Mates any good?

If you’re heading to Old Mate’s Place primarily for the food, temper your expectations. The kitchen operates as a support act rather than a headline. Tripadvisor reviews consistently describe the fare as “so-so”—adequate bar snacks and share plates, but nothing that would draw a crowd on its own merit.

The drinks program, by contrast, commands serious attention. Concrete Playground describes a “delicious, unique, fun” cocktail selection with a broad, rotating list backed by 300 spirits on the back bar. Average cocktail price sits around $16 per drink, on par with comparable Sydney rooftop venues.

Menu highlights

Without a full food menu currently published online, visitor reviews and venue descriptions point toward gastropub-style offerings—think sliders, boards, and comfort bites that pair well with the cocktail program. Exact dishes vary seasonally.

Yelp and Tripadvisor feedback

38 Yelp reviews and 31 Tripadvisor reviews paint a consistent picture: the ambiance and drinks earn enthusiastic marks, while the food scores “fine” or “average” from most diners. A common refrain: “It’s a drinking bar, not a restaurant—know what you’re getting into.”

What are Old Mate’s Place reviews like?

Old Mate’s Place holds a 4.6/5 rating on Tripadvisor, placing it at roughly the 91st percentile among Sydney restaurants—but ranked #411 out of 4,704 establishments on the platform. That gap between star rating and overall ranking reflects a high-volume venue with polarized experiences: regulars love it; first-timers on busy nights can feel the squeeze.

Facebook engagement tells a similar story. 4,224 likes reflects a loyal local following rather than a tourist-destination fanbase. Time Out Sydney calls it a “long-time favourite thanks to the complete package: drinks, service, style and a rooftop”—high praise from a publication known for selectivity.

Overall ratings

• Tripadvisor: 4.6/5 (31 reviews) — #411 of 4,704 Sydney restaurants
• Yelp: 38 reviews — consistent positive sentiment on drinks and ambiance
• Facebook: 4,224 likes — strong local community engagement

Visitor photos and experiences

Photo galleries across Wheree.com and YouTube reviews showcase the two-level setup: a dark, speakeasy-style indoor lounge with books, plants, cosy booths, and candlelight, transitioning up to the rooftop terrace. The contrast between the moody interior and the open sky above is the visual signature of the venue—and the element most visitors photograph.

“This old mate is our long-time favourite thanks to the complete package: drinks, service, style and a rooftop.”

— Time Out Sydney (Sydney’s leading bar publication)

Old Mate’s Place rooftop and drinks

The rooftop is the main event. Spanning the top level of the two-bar setup, it delivers 360-degree views across the Sydney CBD skyline—a genuine selling point for a city center venue. Aalta, the architecture firm, designed and installed a retractable roof that lets the space breathe on warmer nights while staying protected when weather turns.

The space is intimate by design: capacity sits around 100 people, and during peak hours—particularly Saturday nights—the rooftop fills fast. Closing time typically falls between 10 and 11 pm depending on the night and crowd. Tripadvisor reviewers describe the vibe as “lovely, cosy, continental”—a pocket of calm four floors above the street.

Rooftop features

• Retractable roof for weather flexibility
• 360-degree CBD skyline views
• Treehouse-inspired greenery and cozy seating
• Intimate capacity (~100 total venue capacity, rooftop portion smaller)
• Two-bar system: indoor speakeasy + rooftop terrace

Drinks menu overview

The cocktail list changes regularly, anchored by a 300-spirit back bar that gives the team room to experiment. Concrete Playground describes the selection as “delicious, unique, fun”—praise backed by industry recognition. Average cocktail price runs $16, placing it competitively alongside other Sydney rooftop venues. Service receives consistent praise: attentive, knowledgeable staff who know their way around the menu.

Public drinking rules in Sydney

Old Mate’s Place operates as a licensed premises with full alcohol service. The rooftop is private property—drinking occurs within the venue’s licensed area. Sydney’s public drinking restrictions do not apply within the venue’s boundaries, provided patrons remain on the licensed premises. The retractable roof does not alter this status.

How to get the most out of Old Mate’s Place

Walking into Old Mate’s Place unprepared is easy to do—and easy to regret on a packed Saturday. The gap between first-timer confusion and regular confidence is narrow, and a handful of practical moves closes it.

Step 1: Locate the building

199 Clarence Street sits near Wynyard Station in the Sydney CBD. The building looks like an ordinary office tower from street level—exactly as intended. Don’t expect signage. Don’t expect a queue outside. What you should expect: to walk past it once before the door on the right at level 4 registers.

Step 2: Take the lift or stairs to level 4

Both options reach the same floor. The lift is the more obvious choice. Once at level 4, the door on the right leads into the indoor bar area. Internal stairs connect to the rooftop above.

Step 3: Decide your level strategy

• Weekday evenings (Tue–Thu): Walk-ins generally fine; rooftop access likely without a wait.
• Friday–Sunday: Peak traffic. Rooftop fills quickly. Consider arriving before 7 pm for best access.
• Saturday nights: Highest demand. Reservations help but don’t guarantee rooftop access. Instagram crowd updates become essential.

Step 4: Order from the 300-spirit back bar

Let the staff guide you. The rotating cocktail list changes regularly; the back bar gives the team flexibility to accommodate tastes on the fly. At $16 per cocktail on average, prices track with comparable Sydney rooftop venues. Service quality is consistently flagged as a highlight—ask questions, share preferences, and the team typically delivers.

Step 5: Know when to leave

The rooftop closes between 10 and 11 pm depending on the night. Last drinks are served ahead of closing. If you’re chasing the sunset views, aim for arrival before 8 pm on weekdays or before 7 pm on weekends.

What people say about Old Mate’s Place

The venue has attracted coverage from Sydney’s leading bar and lifestyle publications since opening. Their characterizations of the space and its owners provide useful context for what to expect.

“When Old Mate’s Place opened in Sydney back in 2018, its aim wasn’t to be a gin bar or a rum bar or a cocktail bar; rather, owners Gabrielle and Andres Walters and Daniel Noble wanted to open an all-rounder—a bar for everyone.”

— Boothby (hospitality industry publication)

“They’re hospitality lifers, the lot of them, and they bring that passion for the industry—and a laid-back irreverence—to what they do at Old Mate’s Place.”

— Australian Bartender (Sydney hospitality publication)

“Old Mate’s Place is pretty much just a bar for everyone—I’d love to make a bar that we wanted to drink at, that we’d love to feel comfortable sitting at. Just something for everyone, you know.”

— Dre Walters, co-owner (YouTube interview)

The pattern across these sources is consistent: Old Mate’s Place built its identity on accessibility, hospitality experience, and a deliberate rejection of spirit-specific specialisation. Rather than chasing a cocktail bar trend or niche, the owners wanted a venue where every drinker felt at home—which explains the 300-spirit back bar and the broad, rotating menu.

For anyone navigating Sydney’s bar scene—local worker or visitor—the practical calculus is straightforward: if rooftop access matters, weekdays win. If you’re chasing the cocktail program and the speakeasy vibe, Saturday nights work if you time your arrival early. Either way, the entrance is a rite of passage, the owners are hospitality veterans, and the drinks program punches above what a 100-capacity venue in a non-descript office building has any right to deliver.