Wollongong & Illawarra Cocktails. Find the Best Cocktails Near Me…
What’s on in Wollongong’s local guide to Bars, Pubs and Clubs for Amazing Cocktails. Let us shortcut you to our best cocktails and cocktail happy hours in Wollongong & the Illawarra. Celebrate, unwind and reconnect. Get your mates on board and sample our region’s finest cocktails – we loved researching this article!
You may also like our Best Happy Hour deals in Wollongong and the Illawarra area.
Cocktails at Restaurant Santino
Cocktails – Restaurant Santino
The Restaurant Santino has an impressive range of cocktails on offer. They are known for their exceptional service, food and drinks. Their Margarita is a popular hit with the locals. A night at Restaurant Santino won’t disappoint.
Cocktails at The Icon, Wollongong
Cocktails – The Icon, Wollongong
Discover The Icon – Wollongong’s Best Bar, Cafe and Restaurant for DJs, Dining, Cocktails and Functions. Located in the heart of Wollongong, The Icon is the perfect spot to kickstart your weekend with drinks, delicious food, and tunes in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Happy hour is every Friday & Saturday from 3pm – 7pm: $6 tap beers and wines as well as $10 cocktail specials – PLUS- every Thursday all Cocktails are $10! Choose any of your favourite classics or one of their amazing creations on their extensive cocktail menu.
Cocktails at Wests Illawarra Leagues Club
Cocktails – Wests Illawarra
Wests Illawarra has a signature cocktail menu to start your night off right; choose from a selection that includes (but isn’t limited to) Aperol Spritz or a Malibu Breeze. While there, make a night of it and have dinner or take in the band for the evening in The Lounge.
Cocktails at The Bally Hotel
Cocktails – Balgownie Hotel
The Bally Hotel is “comin’ in hot” with cocktails this party season and has a bunch to choose from, like the Mai Tai, Cucumber Gimblet, Cosmopolitans, and many more. Enjoy your evening or afternoon with a view at the brilliant Balgownie Hotel. It has a great atmosphere, a fab pub garden and delicious food to go with it.
Cocktails at Steamers Bar & Grill
Cocktails – Steamers Bar & Grill
Steamers Bar & Grill for when you want the finest cocktails with stunning ocean views. They also have gift cards for a friend or family member who you might not know what to buy for, and they offer a great night out for drinks and dinner. They have a five-star restaurant and an array of cocktails to choose from.
Cocktails at The Lake Illawarra Hotel
The Lake Illawarra Hotel’s Bistro is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week, serving up all your favourite and classic cocktails. Indulge in one of their handcrafted cocktails – from timeless classics to unique house creations — they’re shaking things up all day long.
North Nowra Tavern
Sip in Style at the Newly Renovated North Nowra Tavern! Come and experience their fresh new look—and their stylish classic cocktail menu that’s turning heads! From the smooth sophistication of an Old Fashioned to the refreshing zing of a Tom Collins, their bar team is shaking and stirring all your favourites to perfection. Great vibes, classic drinks, unforgettable moments—only at North Nowra Tavern.
Cocktails at The Shellharbour Club
Cocktails – The Shellharbour Club
The Lounge Bar at The Shellharbour Club, serving up sophistication and classic cocktails, it is your perfect, mid-week spot. Try one of their amazing cocktails today – we know you will love it!
Have you tried their large selection of signature cocktails? Simply head to the Velvet Bar located in the Precinct to discover some of the region’s best mixes!
Cocktails at The Lagoon Restaurant
Cocktails – Lagoon Restaurant
Enjoy the perfect blend of exquisite cocktails and a beachside dining experience at The Lagoon Restaurant. The drinks menu features everything from sparkling champagne cocktails and sophisticated martinis to beloved classics.
Cocktails at The Imperial at Clifton
Enjoy a seaside date with a cocktail in hand at the stunning and scenic, The Imperial at Clifton. Enjoy one of their amazing cocktails, made with the finest ingredients, ready to tantalize your taste buds. Ask their team about their weekly specialty cocktail.
This stunning, historic and iconic venue is perched along the scenic escarpment of the Northern Illawarra, and just over 500m from the Sea Cliff Bridge, and is home to one of the many stunning sunsets the Illawarra has to offer….
Sundowners – Discounted Bar Snacks & $15 Cocktails: Wed, Thu & Fri at The Imperial at Clifton. Pastel hues. Sun-drenched views. Golden hour just got better! Watch the sun go down while enjoying our discounted bar snacks and $15 cocktails that you’re sure to love!
- WHEN: Wed, Thu, Fri from 30 April 2025
- TIME: 3.00pm – 5.30pm
Cocktails at Kneading Ruby
Kneading Ruby on Crown Lane is nestled in the heart of Wollongong and part of the town’s cheery dining & cocktail scene.
Kneading ruby is a casual modern take on a pizzeria, featuring rustic dishes & authentic traditional pizzas made with fresh locally sourced produce, designed to share. The food is accompanied by an impressive wine & cocktail selection complimenting the flavours of the menu. Their popular Espresso Martini is always a hit and worth the dinner reservation for!
Dapto Leagues Club
Pull up a seat at The Mill at Dapto Leagues Club and sip on some of our all-time favorites and fresh new highlights. All the cocktails on their Plonk Menu are equally delicious – each one crafted to impress. Whether you’re after something fruity, fizzy, bold or smooth, there’s a sip for every mood at The Mill. Learn more here
Cocktails at Scoundrel’s Rest
An exciting, brand new specialty cocktail bar & eatery has landed in Wollongong!
Behind the bar at Scoundrel’s Rest, you’ll find a selection of over 50 rums from around the world, exploring a variety of styles, localities and flavour profiles. These provide the driving force for their cocktail menu, which features tropical classics such as Mojito’s, Piña Colada’s & Mai Tai’s, along with a number of original creations. They offer carefully curated renditions of classic Tiki/Tropical Cocktails and innovative takes on the genre. Check out their cocktails and drinks menu here.
On Tap Cocktails available 7 days a week: $15 Piña Colada’s, Frozen Strawberry Daiquiris and Miami Vices, $12 Moijitos and Dark & Stormy – and all made in house from scratch using quality ingredients.
ilu ilu Bar, Wollongong
ilu ilu is an exciting Indian inspired cocktail bar serving Indian tapas, located in the heart of Wollongong!
Their Signature Cocktail List is based around Indian flavours and themes such as exotic fruits, spices and Indians love for whiskey, tea and coffee!
Look out for their fortnightly cocktail specials and food specials that are only available for a limited time and meant to ignite your taste buds. PLUS Happy Hour is Wed – Fri 5pm – 6pm and Sat 2pm – 4pm, with 15% off cocktails + 20% off beer & wine. Bookings essential for lunch and dinner here.
Cocktails at Woonona-Bulli RSL
Cocktails- Woonona-Bulli RSL
Woonona-Bulli RSL has a range of cocktails available at the bar from Thursday – Sunday, along with great meals and a family atmosphere; the cocktails are a delicious addition to any evening. Cocktails are only $15 for members and $18 for non-members. There is a great beer garden for enjoying warm or cold evenings (with heaters available) and playgrounds if you bring the kids.
Cocktails at Centro CBD
Cocktails – Centro CBD
Centro CBD has a fantastic menu; they know their stuff, and their cocktail menu doesn’t disappoint. Enjoy some live music and a cocktail. While there, sample some of Centro’s tasty menu and have a fantastic night.
Andie’s Thirroul
Say hello to your new local favourite! Nestled in the heart of Thirroul, Andie’s brings a bold Mediterranean–European twist to the local dining scene. What to order? The Rhubarb Plum Spritz or the Watermelon Margarita (both pictured above) — fresh, vibrant, and absolutely irresistible. Trust us, you’ll want both. From share-style small and large plates to indulgent set menus, there’s something for every mood at Andie’s.
Other Recommended Cocktail Bars in Wollongong & the Illawarra
The Fitz is a great cafe in Bulli that turns into a cocktail bar on weekend evenings. They have amazing espresso martinis. But their other cocktails look incredible too. The food here is also really delicious and upstairs under the fairy lights sets a beautiful atmosphere. They even have blankets if you get cold.
Moominn is a Czech Pub with $12 cocktails and $12 burgers on Saturdays. They have bottomless brunches and jazz nights. Check out their website (on the link) for details.
Dagwood is a vibey bar with friendly staff. They have happy hour on weekdays from 4-6 pm, including beer pints at schooner prices, wine at $10/glass, and $13 cocktails. Their margaritas are amazing by the way…
Juniper Wine Bar has yummy cocktails and happy hour on Sundays from 5-6:30 pm, and their cocktails are $12. Juniper Bar is somewhere you will want to return to again and again.
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About the Author: Lisa Hagan
Lisa grew up in Thirroul and is a mum of four children. She loves exploring the Illawarra and surrounds.
