Marble Bar â Sydneyâs Iconic Underground Oasis of Glamour and Sound
Descending the stairs into Marble Bar is like slipping into another worldâone where time slows down and elegance takes the lead. Hidden beneath the Hilton Sydney, this heritage-listed bar is a true jewel of the city. Whether you're a local or a visitor, stepping into Marble Bar is an experience in itself.
The moment you arrive, youâre enveloped in history. Built in 1893 and carefully restored to preserve its Victorian opulence, Marble Bar is visually stunning. The hand-carved marble pillars, deep mahogany finishes, grand mirrors, and dramatic stained-glass windows make it feel like a portal to another era. Itâs rare to find a place with this much architectural character still operating as a barâevery detail tells a story.
Atmosphere is everything hereâand it delivers. Despite the grandeur, thereâs nothing pretentious about the vibe. The lighting is soft and moody, the music is just right, and the buzz of conversations is lively but never overwhelming. Itâs romantic, sophisticated, and just a little bit mysterious. Whether youâre dressed up for a night out or just dropping in for a quick cocktail, youâll feel welcome and wrapped in the glow of the space.
The service is a masterclass in professionalism. The staff at Marble Bar know their venueâand their craft. From the warm greeting at the door to the knowledgeable bartenders, everything runs smoothly. The team is attentive and well-trained, always ready to offer a recommendation or customize your drink without missing a beat. You feel genuinely taken care of, which is what elevates the experience from good to exceptional.
Cocktails here are as refined as the space itself. The drink menu offers a beautiful mix of classics and signature creations. Each cocktail is expertly balanced, beautifully presented, and made with premium spirits. You can tell the bartenders take their craft seriouslyâfrom the glassware to the garnishes, itâs all intentional. If youâre a whisky or martini lover, youâll be especially impressed. The wine and beer lists are also curated with quality in mind, so thereâs something for everyone.
Then thereâs the live musicâan unexpected delight. On select nights, Marble Bar hosts live performances that turn the space into a vibrant, soulful haven. Jazz, blues, R&Bâit all sounds better in this setting. The acoustics are rich, and the band fits seamlessly into the space rather than overwhelming it. It makes you want to stay all night, sip slowly, and soak in the atmosphere.
Price-wise, itâs on the higher endâbut itâs worth every dollar. This isnât your everyday bar, and the pricing reflects the level of service, craftsmanship, and setting. Youâre not just paying for a drink; youâre investing in a full-sensory experience, and it never feels overpriced for what you get.
Final Thoughts: Marble Bar is a rare findâa luxurious hideaway where history, style, and modern hospitality intersect. Whether you're looking for a romantic night out, a refined pre-dinner drink, or just a chance to unwind in an unforgettable setting, Marble Bar is everything you want it to be and more. Itâs not just a barâitâs a destination, and one Iâll keep...
   Read moreUnprofessional and rude staff!
My colleagues and I went for drinks at 4 PM on 12/10/2018, the place wasnât busy as it hadnât long opened. We ordered some cocktails which took the bartender what felt like a lifetime to make. She placed them on the counter and then started cleaning the equipment used to make the drinks. Iâm not talking about just rinsing the shaker which is normal but cleaning everything used. We were stood there trying to make eye contact with the bartender to signal that we will pay she avoided looking at us. My group starting looking at each other thinking âcan we just pay and sit down alreadyâ. Anyway, we eventually paid and walked away thinking it was weird but not a big deal if that was the only issue of the night. Turns out it wasnât...
Next round of drinks we order, two of the three cocktails ordered for a second time came out different, one was in a shorter glass and didnât taste of alcohol and the second which previously came with a chilli split and placed on the side of the glass now came with a passionfruit floating on top and no chilli.
All things considered, we stopped a staff member walking around collecting glasses and began by saying the first cocktail didnât taste the same as it did the first time, her response was every bartender does whatever they want, they put their own spin on each cocktail and to go and speak with the bar as she had just started her shift and it had nothing to do with her. I was honestly shocked. I understand subtle variations in the garnish like a chilli laying on top of the cocktail rather than on the side of the glass Iâd understand but it seemed like they were making it up as the went. A chilli definitely isnât a passionfruit and spending $25 per cocktail for there to be no consistency on the look or taste is unacceptable. Whatâs worse is the staff member was completely unwilling to offer a solution, everything was an excuse, telling us to go speak to someone else. Unsurprisingly I told her how unprofessional she had been and how disappointed I was with the service. We left after that.
Also, their glasses are plastic, I thought Marble Bar was a classy establishment. Stunning venue but serve is shocking, first and last time for me...
   Read moreHands down the rudest and most unprofessional âcustomer serviceâ Iâve ever experienced.
My sister booked a table for 7 people online for this Saturday at 7:30pm under her name. She even got an email saying someone would call to confirm. They did call, but because her English isnât great, she asked me to follow up.
I tried calling back several times â the number that my sister gave it to me but that number wasnât even in service. I sent an SMS, nothing. I emailed, no reply. Finally I called the main number on their website, and the woman who answered was unbelievably rude. She wouldnât let me finish a sentence, kept cutting me off, acted like it was a burden just talking to me.
She kept asking the same questions Iâd already explained (how many people, what time), and when I repeated myself, she got even sharper in tone. After I gave my details, all she said was âbooking confirmedâ and immediately hung up â no manners, no courtesy, no goodbye. I even had a few simple questions at the end (like whether thereâs parking nearby or if thereâs live music), but she didnât give me a chance to ask. She just slammed the call shut.
If this is how they treat customers before they even walk through the door, I want nothing to do with this place. Zero respect, zero professionalism. Absolutely disgraceful. And just to be clear â I donât want anyone contacting me now to try and smooth things over. At best, an apology would be appropriate. But really, I suggest you go back and listen to that call, hear how your staff spoke to me, and ask yourselves: if you were in my shoes, how...
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