The Rook is conveniently located on York Street and is a great spot for Friday lunch or after work drinks. This cool rooftop bar has a great selection of alcoholic beverages and decent food, especially the burgers. #therook
Great attentive customer service. The staff were so friendly and relatable. We had the banquet menu and the sides, burgers and entree was top notch quality. So damn filling and worthwhile!
You'd think that being hidden would detract from a restaurant's popularity, but that certainly didn't seem to be the case when I visited this one. I'm not too surprised however as this is a truly great eatery and one of the coolest restaurant finds I've had in recent memory. A unique atmosphere breathing with life and was savouring every last fork scoop of my macaroni cheese...yes, mac & cheese...I haven't tried the burgers but if they can make mac & cheese taste gourmet, I have no doubt their burger game is down also. Only thing that stops me from rating it higher are the prices. I really wanted that burger with the double bacon and fried egg but wasn't keen on the idea of parting with $26 for it. If a burger really has to go over $20, please keep it in the low 20s range...$30 for a burger and a glass of Coke just doesn't feel right.
This has got to be one of the best rooftop bar sin Sydney CBD! Come spring and it's standing room only if you venture out here at around 7 PM, come summer and you'd be queueing on the street to get in! No better place for a bit of chin wagging with your mates after work!
Word of caution - there is nothing on tap - everything's bottled up!
One of favourite hidden away bars in the CBD. Well made cocktails, good food and good vibe and atmosphere. Does get crazy busy so timing as always, can be important.
Midweek after work drink spot probably lets you experience it at its best.
Hidden away - this rooftop bar is worth finding. The space is dimly lit and you will have an open air view of centrepoint tower. The menu is primarily burgers and rolls with a few other shares. For something different I went the crab in a bag - spaghetti, crab and tomato. Whilst food is on offer this is the perfect spot for an after work cocktail or wine.
Eat Play Love Travel
+3.5
Walking into the drab office building located at 56 York Street, don’t expect to find any clues that you’re in the right place. We just followed a group of nicely dressed people into the lift hoping they weren’t Bradley Murdochs in disguise. After asking the lift to take us to level ‘R’, which was as good a guess as any, we shot into the sky and walked out (alive) onto a rooftop space that is all wood cladding and wall art.
Part bar, part eatery, The Rook serves cocktails of the fancy kind, along with diner food (burgers, fries and lobster rolls). They also proclaim to be gin wizards. I don’t drink gin, so can’t verify this claim.
With nacho sandwiches on the menu, you know this place is serious about their burgers. Whether it's the fried chicken burger, a burger toastie, the lobster roll, or good old fashioned cheese burger, you certainly get your fix of heart stopping cheesy, meaty, greasy, goodness.
The enclosed rooftop and cozy cocktail bar add the ambience and complete a great little venue.
The Rook is a bar with one of Sydney’s most secretive entrances. You enter an unassuming foyer of a plain office building and press the “R” button on the lift. Up you go, the lift door opens and you’re faced with a cool little rooftop cocktail bar.
The Rook is a hip rooftop bar hidden away at the top of a nondescript office building on York St in Sydney CBD. The venue features a seated dining space with an open air roof as well as a standard bar space. The Rook specialises in lobster on their food menu and has a great slection of drinks. Lobster & chorizo croquettes
Firstly, the venue and atmosphere are great and I'm really glad that I live down the road but it's not necessarily a rooftop, if anything it's partially open ceiling, that being said it's still a really awesome venue. The food is pretty good, we had the lobster roll, a double burger that has grilled cheese sandwiches instead of a bun, loaded fries, lobster croquettes and the glutton board (basically a dessert sampler) as well as a few cocktails, everything was good but nothing was amazing I think there could have been more lobster in the roll as well as the croquettes . I enjoyed everything but if I had to criticize I'd say the the prices are a bit on the steep side. I will be returning.
The Rook is a fun, vibrant rooftop bar that you wouldn't really know is there!
With seating room as well as standing, it does get crowded on a Friday night but if you can get there early enough you shouldn't have a problem.
Specialty cocktails here are a bit more on the expensive side, so don't expect to stay to budget, hopefully i'll try one next as they all looked damn delicious!
The opening of the roof really helps as it does get quite hot in there, and it offers a beautiful view.
Food is also available, it's very meaty and american style food so not that suitable for vegans but from what I saw as the food passed me was an elegantly presented modern take on bar food!
I had my usual Vodka Soda, the service here is really quick and efficient and staff are really nice.
I highly recommend for anyone looking for a bar to drink with a bunch of good friends!
Really good spot in a big city as Sydney!
We tried all the entrees witch were.. absolutely Delicious! The customer service was great!!👌👌 And the vintage European look is truly brilliant with a kind of secret spot!! Congratualations!!
Down the rabbit hole we go..🐰 This roof top bar certainly does some unique cocktails🍸👌🏻 If you're in York Street do yourself a favour! @mybondisummer @therook #mybondisummer
I've only been once but I will definitely come back. Awesome atmosphere and I love the fact it's hidden away. Decent wine list and super friendly staff.I'll be back for the food!
Greeted by a very friendly American waitress tonight, she had such a great upbeat attitude - arranged our table and orders with a smile - no doubt a great start.
Went with the 4pines ale, great drop. And chose the Uncle Sam burger. Awesome, awesome burger - melt in your mouth waygu Pattie, soft bun, pickles, cheese - happy days. Love the fries here too, massive, chunky, crispy on the outside soft in the middle.
One of the best burgers in Sydney.
Love this rooftop bar. I've been back quite a number of times for different occasions and it's always been a memorable experience. The cocktails are so creative and to die for. Burgers are pretty good too and you can't ignore the lobster dishes they offer- although the portions have gotten smaller over time.
Those Who Love To Eat
+3.5
At The Rook, when you ask for a share plate, you literally get a share plate in the sense that it's a full plate sawed-off into two halves. The look on our faces when we saw half a plate! (picture of half plate provided for the readers of this review, to purely entertain)
We were here last night for a girlfriend's birthday celebration. It's a funky place, hidden on the rooftop of an office building. You would not know that it's there unless you have been there before. One of those city bars that's incognito and uber 'trendy' at the same time.
When you walk into the bar, you feel like you're in some sort of a time warp, like you're in the 90s somewhere in America. Possibly a cross between a prim and proper garden party New York because all the fairy lights and what not, versus Texas where it has that rough southern edge to it. It's hard to describe but, it somehow kind of worked. Couldn't work out the theme of the place but it hard a very yuppie vibe to it.
Their cocktails...
They were ok, had better cocktails else where but it was still nice, just not the best. Ordered Royal Mistress, milk and cookie (this one is quite strong in taste and alcohol. Could really taste the rum) and return from India which i enjoyed the least. Didn't love the flavour combination, but it was worth a try!
As for their food, if you are not a seafood lover, you will be in strife trying to order something at this place. Almost everything is lobster and /or prawn base. I was in heaven, because I looooove seafood!
To share between two, the others ordered their own stuff. We ordered the lobster, prawn and chorizo croquettes (3), prawn and lobster pie and onion rings which I think was a little too much, could have made do with the onion rings which were quite heavy. However, the croquettes and pie were absolutely delicious.
This place is a cool for after work drinks and to graze on some upper class bar food.
Randomness_of_existence
+4
The Rook has a great ambience to unwind after a long day at work. With a half bar and half seated restaurant area, you can order from the menu anywhere you sit.
The lobster dish are very popular here. You can choose between a grilled lobster or a roll. I ordered the lobster roll and was delighted. The filling seemed decent enough, you could definitely see and taste the lobster in it. Also ordered the truffle fries which was a good portion to share.
Sizzle your appetite with a lobster feed topped with aromatic truffle, which is currently in season. Start off with the classic lobster roll, stuffed with lobster meat and various garnishes, plus a side of crisps. Cream with a half lobster, which was unfortunately a considerably small serving for its value, or stack with one of their loaded burgers including the Lone Ranger.
Went for an after work dinner with the boyfriend. So good! I had their pesto chicken burger and he had their seafood pasta. We also added onion rings which were fresh!We both enjoyed it all! 😁
Will definitely be coming back here!
Upper level ninja!!
Located on the roof top of a building this little bar and food venue is hidden away. To enter this building you would not expect it to be inside a Office building so you will walk pass without knowing it existed.
The food here are decent and abit pricey but they have truffle and lobsters so ofcourse it would be slightly expensive!
Known for their lobster rolls and lobster but they also have a large range of burgers so it will make anyone happy. Add a little truffle in you life to make it fun!!!
Until next time .... Keep eating !!
Dropped roped in tonight looking for somewhere after arriving in Sydney late.. What a hidden little gem.. Best atmosphere, best service, simple but great tasting food... Made me want to live in Sydney (nearly).. Fantastic.
Loved this hidden gem. Very intimate rooftop bar. Great ambiance with a great selection of desserts and cocktails that were amazing. Would definitely return.
The Rook is such a great venue for a casual date. It's not so secret now and the Rook has become very busy. I quite like the Rook when the sun is still out in the evening. It's a lovely open roof top bar, there's a wait for a table so I wait at the bar with a few drinks. For $50, I order the Lobster with salad and truffle salted fries. When it arrives, I see a big lump of salad that sits on the lobster (above). The lobster looks quite appetising but is slightly over cooked so it's a bit rubbery. The chips are good, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The salad is fresh. I think my friend is mildly disappointed by the lobster. All the other food we order is quite nice so perhaps save your money for the other dishes.
The Rooks is a rooftop bar located in the heart of Sydney CBD, offering better than average pub food, some delicious burgers and most importantly lobsters than won’t cost an arm and a leg.
Being in the middle of the business district The Rooks makes it a perfect place for business lunches, social events or just a simply a chilled lunch with friends.
Lobster and Bacon Roll ($25) was my choice, as anything lobster will do for me. Absolutely delicious, im not too sure about the bacon though, it felt a bit out of place, i’d rather have more sauce, more lobster and maybe some green with that. But to each their own, i highly recommend it, let me know if bacon was a good choice to add to the roll!
Summer Prawn Salad ($27) looked absolutely amazing, all my favourite things on one plate. Massive prawns, mango, kiwis and lots of greens. Perfect healthy summer salad.
I've got some pics and more review on my blog thenarcissistblog.com/2016/03/27/the-rooks-work-lunch-perfection/
Nice place with a cool vibe. Catch the elevator up and drink up. The food here is great and the customer service is very attentive. I highly recommend the cheesy lobster and the onion rings.
Lovely staff, delicious food! Great atmosphere and vibe on a rooftop bar with visible view of the sky through the glass. There are awesome neon sighs and really pretty art, good place to have drinks and a feed. Went here for my 21st :) was a very happy girl.
One of Sydney's few hidden bars.
Nestled up amongst the floors of very boring looking office building The Rook is a cosy escape from the mundane commercial riff raff below.
The venue is split in two with one area a kind of cocktail bar / socialising area the other half a sit down restaurant. I always take out of town guests here as it is always happening. Finding a space / table / chairs can be a challenge especially after 8.30pm
I absolutely love hidden bars and this hidden rooftop bar has such an amazing vibe! Great service and cocktails, this place will not disappoint :)
Such a great, unique rooftop eatery! I came here with a bunch of work colleagues and really enjoyed the lobster roll and gin cocktails on offer. The ambience is great and despite the long wait for food, the service was fantastic. Would highly recommend!
Liquify your taste buds with some of the best and creative gin cocktails including the ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ which was so entertaining for me to see the clear bottle become purple poured in to the cup. Sweeten with the ‘Peg Leg & Sweet Disposition’ cocktails and smoke with a theatrical and enlightening bowl of alcohol.
SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
+4.5
Love the menu and drinks here ( a tad on the pricey side, however good quality).
The rooftop vibe is fun and relaxed, and perfect for a meal with a group of friends - (if the aforementioned group like lobsters and burgers that is).
The lobster thermidor is my favourite menu item, along with the lobster croquettes.
The truffle fries are decadent, and the onion rings are super crunchy.
My beverage of choice is the 'Down the rabbit hole'.
However, they also have other cocktails and mocktails to choose from.
Giving a 4.5 because I found the cocktails a tad pricey. Nevertheless, I'll be back.
I've been here once before but had massive order envy when my mates received their lobster rolls, so came back to try one for myself. It was absolute heaven. The bun was soft, they weren't stingy with the lobby and the bacon, jalapeños and dill perfected the dish. $25 is a lot to pay for a roll but definitely worth it. Tried a couple of other dishes as well (lobster croquettes and lobster lettuce cups) which were delicious but the lobster roll absolutely made my day. Highly recommended.
I really love The Rook!! Going up the elevator you can't help but feel sorry for the floors in between that must deal with the drunks strolling in and out of this cool CBD hideaway. The rooftop is a great drinking hole for any occasion, weekday lunch or weekend drinks.
They had a delicious cocktail with strawberry weis which I virtually inhaled and they have table service which was handy when I wanted to avoid the line for an aperol spritz.
Blanch your taste buds with the exquisite taste of creamy lobster in every form. Cream with the soft lobster gnocchi whilst crunching on the deliciously flavoursome lobster chorizo croquettes. Whip your appetite to indulge in the truffle butter half lobster dripping with creamy sauce.
Hidden roof top bar in Townhall. Good place to chill and best place to chat with your friends!
Came here for after dinner, saw lots of ppl were having delicious burgers! Should try next time. Just had a beer this time.
Love the ambiene and nice staff.
The Rook is an intimate roof bar in the middle of Sydney's CBD.After work, I met up with one of my gal pals for a cheeky glass of wine and some snacks in the city. She suggested The Rook which is known for their burgers and lobster menu. In Spring/Summer, there is beautiful natural light that comes through and then becomes dark. In Winter/Autumn, the Rook bar can be quite dark.
Deglaze into lobster glory at this hidden rooftop treasure whether it be a juicy and refreshing lobster roll or a delicious burger. Distill with one of their many unique cocktails.
Friendly fun staff that have the right sense of sarcasm and how can I help you today.
Can make any drink ever thought of to absolute perfection
House cocktails are amazing and unimaginable.
Try the burgers. Ask the staff for at their favourite and you can't go wrong.
Good times is a guarantee weather it be Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.
Great bar to indulge yourself with a couple of interesting and very well presented cocktails. Food is pretty good but a tad overpriced in my opinion. My personal fav is the lobster pasta. Avoid weekends if you want to have a nice conversation without shouting to each other's face.
We came here for our team lunch. Known for it's menu that boasts a modest range of lobster dishes and an elaborate selection of gin, this place did not disappoint. The ambience was very vibrant, warm and had great natural lighting. I'd like to make a special mention of their summery gin concoctions which were bloody delicious! I ordered the lobster roll which looked great but the taste of lobster was kind of lost in the dressing of the filling. I called for a classic Southside gin cocktail which was really refreshing and delicious. The cocktails that my collegues ordered were presented in a very unique fashion. Overall the experience was very enjoyable and I will definately visit this place again for it's gin cocktails!
Spice up your tastebuds with the chilli bean wagyu bandito burger served with super crunchy and seasoned wedges. Dredge with soft and flavoursome soffrito arancini and make sure you choose a gin cocktail to complement.
I was actually taken here on my first date with my boyfriend and we have gone back several times ever since. There are such great vibes as soon as you enter, the food is delicious and you can't miss the unique and seasonal cocktails of course. Spice up your tastebuds with the chilli bean wagyu bandito burger served with super crunchy and seasoned wedges. Dredge with soft and flavoursome soffrito arancini and make sure you choose a gin cocktail to complement.
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Did you know lobsters was once considered to be peasant food? Now they are like seafood royalty. At The Rook, you will find lobster everything - risotto, salad, roll, lettuce cups, croquettes. But before you get to dive into crustacean-y goodness, you have to find The Rook. It's located on the 7th level of an office building on 56 York Street. Enter through the sliding doors and ride the elevators up. Make sure you book ahead as this spot is very popular with nearby office workers at night. After we were seated, I started with a Peroni ($7) and KZ had a cocktail named Down the Rabbit Hole ($19) - a colourful concoction. Having already drooled at the menu the night before, I knew I had to get the lobster risotto ($27). KZ went with the lobster roll ($25), which was packed to the top with chunks of lobster. My risotto was also very generous in the lobster department. Hidden underneath the rice were big pieces of perfectly cooked lobster. The crispy seaweed was more than a garnish as it provided a nice crunchy texture to the dish. A few weeks later, I returned to The Rook with a colleague for a quick lunch. During lunch time there's less of a crowd, so it's great option if you work nearby and want to escape the food courts. We both picked the Uncle Sam ($22) burger which comes with a side of truffle fries. The Wagyu patty was cooked medium rare, as it should be. The cheese was thoroughly melted blanketing the beef. The pickles, which were perched on top of the burger, added a nice touch of acidity to cut through the richness of the burger. The thick, hand cut fries were seasoned well and accompanied by a flavourful truffle sauce. The Rook is a hidden gem boasting an impressive array of lobster dishes and burgers. It has an equally impressive bar with kooky cocktails, as well as my normal beers and wines. Will I Return? Heck yeah. Lobster and burger galore Perfect for: Small groups, casual date night & after work drinks
I also tasted my colleague’s Lobster Risotto which although wasn’t as generous in terms of lobster, it was one of the better risottos I’ve had in Sydney.
I was instantly reminded of my hidden sake bar adventure in NYC, Sakagura . To enter The Rook, you walk into the foyer of an office building. There is signage, but you need to know what you are looking for, it is simply ‘R’. Head over to the lift, press the up button, hop in and then press ‘R’. You will be transported up four levels to the roof, which also is The Rook. On exiting the lift you’re greeted with a dimly lit wood heavy bar are, which is a cozy and rustic space. If you keep continuing to your left, The Rook opens up into a light and airy rooftop space. The Rook’s self-proclaimed specialties are lobster, burgers and liquor. The menu is small with the addition of specials. There are burgers with truffle fries, choice of wagyu, chicken or haloumi ($20). Lobster in the half shell, with salad and truffle fries ($50), lobster roll ($25), lobster salad ($25), prawn & mango salad ($22) and of course sides, truffle fries ($9.50), onion rings ($10.50) and house side salad ($11)
Does My Bomb Look Big In This
+4.5
Jason Williams, Group Bars Manager for The Keystone Group can now add ‘world cocktail champion’ to his curriculum vitae after taking out the London final of the Beefeater 24 Cocktail Competition.
Lobster. Get the garlic butter dip.
Righteous Rook. The Rook is one of my favourite restaurants/bars in Sydney. I go here whenever I can, and I can't fault it.
From the moment you find it, it feels like you've been let in on a secret (it's top story of what looks like a bland apartment block). The music is great, the service is amazing and the food is to die for!
I brought my dad here for his birthday and the waiters brought him out a cake and sang happy birthday. I emailed them later to thank them and say I'd had a great time and they were so pleased. They offered me a free drink when I came back. I didn't take up the offer but I was super impressed they made the effort!
The next time I went I brought a big group of friends, we didn't make a reservation but luckily there was a table free. The waitress let us order specially made cocktails (not from the menu) and she felt more like a friend than anything else. We left her a tip, I hope she got it :)
Loved it!. Went there on a Friday night with a bunch of friends and we loved it! Great food and cocktails, such a hidden little gem. Only down side were the waitresses - very slow and kept forgetting our order. Will definitely visit again though.
Cool place for a light meal and drinks.
Came here for lunch and drinks on a Saturday noon, staff was super friendly and everything we ordered was good, especially the cocktails.
We shared fish tacos, arancini and ravioli, all were well executed and flavourful
Super trendy rooftop bar with a vibrant feel and clientele to match. Not a place to go to for a quiet relaxing drink, but if you want something fun and hip this is a good place to be. Food is quite good - especially the Arancini, wagyu burger, and lobster roll. Drinks aren't bad but not mind blowing either, also a little pricey. Staff are super attentive and absolutely lovely. The coolest part is the fact you don't even know it's there, you basically walk in to a little old office lobby and catch the lift to the roof.
They serve such yummy food!! It's a bit pricy, but considering the location and vibe as well as delicious food and alcohol, it is always great plae to hang out casually. I really love the small outdoor space there, I always sit there for a bit when there's no people.
Thia is one of my favourite rooftops in Sydney. Super chilled. Not pretentious. Just friendly staff good drinks list and great food menu.
The burgers are really good. I really enjoyed being able to order via the QR code at the table.
Pretty location and nice vibe. Was hard to locate the restaurant as it was our first time and couldn’t find any large board downstairs. Food was good and service was quick.
Food and atmosphere was good. Cocktails were a highlight. The service could be improved but its more to do with them being understaffed.
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