The Best Rainy Day Activities in Sydney for When the Drizzle Won’t Stop

Whilst we all adore a sunny day in the city, sometimes a rainy day is a good excuse to sample the swathe of groovy indoor activities available to us here in Sydney. We’re blessed with plenty of bars and restaurants in which to while away a dreary day but sometimes eating and drinking just doesn’t cut the mustard. So let us sort you out. 

Stuck for what to do in Sydney on a rainy day? From arcade frivolities and gallery-hopping to indoor golf, these are our picks for the best rainy day activities in Sydney. 

Hang at the Arcade

Hide away from the cruel winter weather at one of Sydney’s rad arcades. Not sure where to go? Try the treasure trove that is B. Lucky & Sons. Not your average drinking spot, hidden behind a vintage pawnshop façade you’ll find a luxurious bar and arcade. Work your way through the comfort food menu whilst you play on retro arcade games. And to quench your thirst, the extravagant drinks menu features an array of creative concoctions.

If pinball and beer sounds like your ideal combination, try the Beercade in Redfern that boasts a swathe of themed pinball machines and craft beer on tap. 

B. Lucky & Sons: Shop 207, The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park

Beercade: 113-115 Regent Street, Redfern 

Hit Up  a Micro-Brewery 

Microbreweries have been enjoying their moment for a little while now and we’re thrilled to see the trend continue. The best way to enjoy a brew is to settle in for a while and soak up the ambience. Try their wares on a tasting paddle, drink a pint or grab some beers to go.

Manly-based 4 Pines Brewing Company creates distinct, handcrafted beers. See the brewers in action as you drink great beer, eat delicious food and listen to live music. Or head further north to Mona Vale where Modus have set up shop. Settle in for craft beer on tap, high-quality pub food and live music.

Be sure to also add Redfern-based Atomic Beer to your list. If you’re all about fancy flavours, hit these guys up. 

4 Pines Brewing Company: 29/43–45 East Esplanade, Manly

Modus: 14 Harkeith Street, Mona Vale 

Atomic Beer: 158 Regent Street, Redfern 

Spend the Day Gallery Hopping

As the rain pours, head to a gallery to fill your soul with culture and art. The Art Gallery of NSW is more than just a beautiful building. Inside, you’ll find carefully curated collections of Australian, European and Asian art. Gallery-hop your way quayside to the MCA, which reps Aussie and international artists plus blockbuster exhibitions by the likes of Yoko Ono and Jeff Koons.

Art Gallery of NSW: Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney

MCA: 40 George Street, The Rocks

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Sip on Spirits

When the weather’s cold, take a trip to the distillery door for a drink direct from the barrel. One of the first distilleries on the scene, Archie Rose Distilling Co is a Rosebery institution known for their limited release batches and distillery tours. If you’re feeling fancy, book in for one of their tasting or mixing experiences. Manly Spirits is an award-winning boutique distillery on the Northern Beaches where you can taste their gin, vodka and whisky that have been crafted using foraged coastal ingredients. For a full list of our favourite gin bars head over here. 

Archie Rose Distilling Co: The Cannery, 85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery

Manly Spirits: 4a/9-13 Winbourne Road, Brookvale

Indulge in High Tea

Paying homage to the city’s colonial history, Sydney has perfected the art of high tea. One of the best experiences can be had at Gunners Barracks in Mosman – bite-size sandwiches, cakes and pastries paired with tea and Champagne, all with views over Sydney Harbour.

Alternatively, Alibi in Woolloomooloo dish up a plant-based high tea offering. You will get to indulge in the same mini-delectables but with a healthy twist. If it’s a champagne high tea you’re after, you can’t go past QVB sensation Reign which serves nibbles and tipples in a super luxe setting. 

Gunners Barracks: Suakin Drive, Georges Heights, Mosman 

Alibi: 6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo

Reign: Level 1, Queen Victoria Building, 455 George Street, Sydney

Challenge Your Pals to a Round of Mini Golf

Grab your clubs and make your way around everyone’s favourite putt putt and games bar, Holey Moley. Practice your aim and putting technique as you complete the 18-hole, Happy Gilmore-approved mini-golf course. Keep hydrated with Holey Moley’s array of colourful cocktails which are sure to bring out the big kid in you. 

82-94 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point and 87 King Street, Newtown 

Get Lost in an Escape Room

For an out-of-the-box rainy day activity, book an Escape room experience. The general idea is that you’re locked in a room and fed clues so you can get out. Next Level Escape in CBD has two themes, The Artefact and Ex Libris is the perfect date for crime show lovers and puzzle solvers, while Newtown’s The Cipher Room has different scenarios that require you to solve a mystery and is a great way to wade out the storm.

Next Level Escape: LG, 23 O’Connell Street, Sydney

The Cipher Room: 640 King Street, Newtown

Head to the Movies

Elevate your movie-going experience at Golden Age Cinema and Bar. Housed in the former Paramount House building in Surry Hills, Golden Age emanates Art Deco vibes with heavy splashes of old Hollywood glamour. The bar is the perfect place to indulge in a themed cocktail or classic tipple before heading into the petite theatrette. Select from a curated selection of current cult favourites or take a trip down memory lane with one of Golden Age’s regularly screened classics. 

80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills 

Loved this edit of the best rainy day activities in Sydney and looking for more suggestions? Be sure to check out our favourite date ideas and the best things to do in Sydney this weekend. 

Book In a Little “Me Time”

With the sun on hiatus, it’s the perfect time to get those treatments in! Whether you fancy an indulgent massage, a fresh mani or just need to sort out your brows, Sydney is a treasure trove when it comes to beauty treatments. Our personal favourite? The humble foot massage. Keen to save some cash? Give these at home beauty treatments a go. 

Curl Up With a Good Read 

Absolutely nothing beats curling up in a cosy corner on a rainy day and getting lost in a book. Well…heading to the bookstore to browse the shelves comes pretty close. Sydney is blessed with an epic selection of bookshops, each with their own quirky characters. Pop on your rain boots and score yourself a treasure that will be sure to amuse you for many rainy days to come. Check out our list of top Sydney bookstores here and be on your way. 

Give Bouldering a Go 

If staying indoors is a struggle for you, consider heading to an indoor climbing gym for a bouldering sesh. Beginners are always welcome (we find rock climbing gyms to be some of the friendliest out there!) and it’s a great way to exercise both your body and mind. There are plenty of gyms located across Sydney but one of our fave is 9 Degrees which boasts multiple outposts across Sydney. Easily one of the best rainy day activities in Sydney! 

Alexandria, Paramatta, Lane Cove