From Today, You Can Officially Stand & Drink Outside Some Sydney Pubs Again

From today, Sydneysiders can now enjoy a cold one outside bars and pubs standing and drinking.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the phenomenal news on her social media pages, writing that the City of Sydney’s new outdoor dining guidelines have scrapped “outdated restrictions, like no standing without a table or shelf”.

The changes approved on 21 September 2026 come into effect today, meaning that standing and drinking is now allowed in “around 1000 business so far,” posted Moore.

But these changes are not Sydney-wide.

The guidelines only apply to outdoor dining venues in the City of Sydney Local Government Area, excluding a few NSW Government controlled areas. Patrons looking to enjoy a drink in the Rocks, most of Circular Quay, Barangaroo or Darling Harbour will have to take a seat or find a high table or shelf.

No longer will patrons in Alexandria, Darlinghurst, Erskineville, Glebe, Moore Park, Newtown (partially), Paddington (partially), Pyrmont, Redfern, Surry Hills and other suburbs of the City of Sydney have to move to another pub if they can’t find a table outside.

More changes for outdoor dining

The City of Sydney is also making the outdoor street dining areas permanent, so the ugly concrete barriers around the city are being removed and replaced by footpath extensions, planter boxes and pot plants.

Footpath extensions have already been implemented in George Street, Pitt Street, Castlereagh Street, Hay Street, Macleay Street and Darlinghurst Road. The Crown Street footpath extension is currently in progress, and future extensions will occur on Victoria Street, Stanley Street and Erskineville Road.

The changes will ensure that there are clear footpaths for pedestrian travel, and that outdoor dining venues can use space on both sides of the clear footpath. Some businesses will be able to extend their street dining areas to adjacent properties, if their next-door neighbour agrees.

This comes as a new addition in the City of Sydney’s previous outdoor dining reforms, including their removal of outdoor dining fees for businesses.