Juniper
Gin bar
Wollongong's first dedicated gin bar: neon-lit and intimate, with a list of 58 boutique gins, handmade cocktails and bartenders who know their stuff.
📍 121 Keira Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Whisky, gin and agave: 7 bars
Swipe to see all 7 bars →
The Black Cockatoo
Hidden bar
A compact, amber-lit bar hidden behind a bakery, through a curtain, pouring Tromba tequila with crispy pork crackling.
📍 88 Kembla Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Howlin' Wolf Whisk(e)y Bar
Whisky bar
An Americana bar opened in 2017 with 260 whiskies, 18 gins, 13 rums, 50 craft beers, cocktails, burgers and live music.
📍 103/53-61 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Scoundrel's Rest
Tiki bar
A neo-tiki bar with a library of more than 50 rums for Mai Tais, Mojitos and Piña Coladas, Caribbean street food and a DJ on vinyl at weekends.
📍 2/74 Kembla Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Bóveda
Tequila bar and restaurant
In Thirroul's old Commonwealth Bank building, with more than 100 tequilas and mezcals, a VIP tequila tasting room and modern Mexican food.
📍 258 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul NSW 2515
Halfway
Tequila bar
A tequila specialist and late-night haunt known for its Margaritas and charcuterie boards, with a cut-price happy hour every day.
📍 Wollongong NSW 2500
🕒 Fri and Sat 4pm to 2am (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
Pepe's on the Beach
Beach bar
Right by the beach with a big alfresco deck, California-Mexican food and a long cocktail list with frozen options. Margaritas are cheaper in the afternoon happy hour.
📍 2-14 Cliff Road, Wollongong NSW 2500
Map: whisky, gin and agave
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Your questions
Where can I drink whisky, gin or agave in Wollongong?
Start with Juniper, The Black Cockatoo, Howlin' Wolf Whisk(e)y Bar, Scoundrel's Rest and Bóveda. Our full list has 7 bars.
More Wollongong bar guides
- Cocktail barsCocktail bars in Wollongong: Juniper, Howlin' Wolf Whisk(e)y Bar, Scoundrel's Rest and Hum
- Date nightDate night bars in Wollongong: Juniper, The Black Cockatoo, Bar Lina and Bóveda.
- Rooftops and viewsRooftops and views bars in Wollongong: Humber, Pepe's on the Beach, Georgia Rose and The S
- Live musicLive music bars in Wollongong: Howlin' Wolf Whisk(e)y Bar, Scoundrel's Rest, Franks Wild Y
- Fun bars for groupsFun bars for groups in Wollongong: Scoundrel's Rest, Humber, Night Parrot and Halfway.
- Cocktails and foodCocktails and food bars in Wollongong: Howlin' Wolf Whisk(e)y Bar, Scoundrel's Rest, Bar L
- Pubs and beer barsPubs and beer bars in Wollongong: Five Barrel Brewing, The Illawarra Hotel, North Gong Hot
- Late nightLate night bars in Wollongong: Night Parrot, Halfway and La La La's.
- Cocktail trailA ready-made Wollongong cocktail trail on foot: Wollongong CBD, with walking times between
Who wrote this guide
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland. Now we're bringing it to Australia. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. We put this guide together from our own research and trusted local guides, including Australian Traveller and Sitchu.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
Cocktail Week in Australia
Want your bar in this guide?
Run a bar in Wollongong that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.