Sydney does rooftop bars the way it does everything: with one eye on the harbour and the other on its own reflection. But Mexican at Melba’s, the limited-time Don Julio pop-up sitting atop Cruise Bar at Circular Quay, earns its view.
The Vibe
Imagine a burrito made from sparkling diamonds (bear with me) – that’s the best way we can explain Melba’s. A warm, unpretentious and energetic venue, like your favourite classic local, exuding a level of well known comfort (hence burrito) but world class views of the Opera House with floor to ceiling class, a balcony for the warmer nights, and a bar dressed in Don Julio (hence the diamond…promised it would make sense in the end) is the venue we didn’t know we desperately needed. From Thursday to Sunday the DJ sets play low key EDM, and Don Julio in every cocktail, beckoning you, lasciviously, into a good night.
Nobody’s taking themselves too seriously, and yet everything around you is quietly, confidently excellent. During Vivid Sydney (on until 13 June), the harbour transforms into a light show you get front-row seats to, cocktail in hand. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve been handed the keys to the city.
The Drinks
Ex-Spice Temple and Margaret bartender, Seine Cheung, has built a Don Julio-forward list that takes tequila from your favourite margarita to a more sophisticated, thoughtful, layered, and genuinely generous set of cocktails. The knock-it-out-of-the-park cocktail is Old Money ($29). The crowd pleaser is a spiced coffee cream on Don Julio Aneja with coconut cream and whipped coconut. Is it a grown up milk-shake? Is it an Iced-Coffee, Irish Style…You decide, but you best have one – as it delivers theatrically as well as in a big, delicious taste.
The 3am ($26) is a tequila espresso martini made with Don Julio Reposado, cold brew, coffee liqueur, dark muscovado and cinnamon, and it’s the kind of drink that makes you question why you ever ordered the vodka version – and so never will again.
The Clocked Out ($27) a passionfruit and hibiscus sour with aquafaba is bright, beautiful and dangerously easy to drink. The best thing about all of these is that you can taste the tequila, and you want to, because Don Julio is delicious. Someone once wrote an advertising slogan that said, “is Don is good” and while it’s not about tequila…it should be.
The Food
2025 AHA Metro Chef of the Year, Han Chen, has put together a menu that’s produce-driven, share-friendly, and genuinely exciting. There are some surprising elements to the menu, for instance the Crispy Cactus ($18). Lightly battered, served with avocado crema and agave syrup, it hits that sweet-savoury spot in a way that feels genuinely innovative, not a gimmick, just a really good idea executed moreishly well.
The Chipotle Chicken Tacos ($10 each) are Chipotle-grilled, loaded with guacamole and a proper aioli, they’re the best version of what a taco should be: messy in the right way, a distinct fresh crunch of lettuce, and gone embarrassingly fast. The queso is mandatory with the Corn Chips ($18 + $3 for the queso) it’s creamy, cheesy and melty…Excuse me while I wipe the saliva from the keyboard.
Save room for the tres leches, cake soaked in Don Julio and topped with compressed pineapple and burnt citrus agave ($14), the popularity of this beauty is real – and while sharing tacos is fine, sharing this dessert is a no-no.
Overall
Mexican at Melba’s runs until the end of July, which means you have absolutely no excuse and if we’re lucky it just might stay (so please go, Sydney needs this space so much right now). The food is creative and delicious, the cocktails are innovative and enormous, and the setting is as good as Sydney gets. Book it for a sunset session and stay until the harbour lights up.
What we are Addicted to: The Old Money, the Crispy Cactus, and that view at golden hour.
What we need to be more Addicted to: This as a permanent fixture in the Quay. The good vibes, the music, the lights, the show, the general good time without pretence. More please.
Melba’s rooftop
Overseas Passenger Terminal
LEVEL 3, CIRCULAR QUAY W, NSW 2000
MON TO THU 4:00pm – late
FRI TO SUN 12PM – LATE