NOW EXPERIENCING:Joji
Drinks Directory|Date night|Bar|After work drinks

Joji

Level 5, 388 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
Phone
(02) 8353 9788
Website
jojisydney.com
Instagram
@jojisydney

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 06 Mar 2025

By
Matty Hirsch

The deck at Joji has impressive views over the Sydney CBD

Japanese inspiration, an outstanding drinks list, city views and standout snacks make for one heck of a late-night party at this CBD rooftop.

Inside Joji in Sydney
Why you goSydney’s love of rooftop bars knows no bounds. More and more, however, that love has extended to bars that embrace Japanese culture, too, be it through sharp design, cracking tunes, precise cocktails or on-theme eats. It’s hardly a surprise, then, to find all these ideas colliding at Joji, the seventh offering from the enterprising ESCA Group, the brains behind benchmark restaurants like Aalia and Nour. While this marks their first foray into more bar-like territory, it’s just as polished as it is playful – and with some of the CBD’s most singular views up its sleeve, and a 2am closing time on most nights, you’ll want to get in on the fun ASAP.
Why you stayHere, you’re not so much peering over the city as you are perched right in the thick of it, which makes for an attention-grabbing panoramic outlook you don’t see every day. That said, there’s just as much eye candy in the curvy, swervy and semi-alfresco room thanks to Matt Darwon’s schmick interior design. And how about that mirrored DJ booth?
The cosy booths inside Joji in Sydney
What drink to orderYou’ve got on-theme beers and Boilermaker combos. Several technique-heavy non-alc options. A cellar that runs to 50-ish classically minded labels. And, as if that weren’t enough, stockpiles of sake and spirits besides. Really, though, the calling cards on this altogether outstanding drinks list are the cocktails, inspired by principles of Japanese design philosophy. If that sounds a bit lofty, they really are something, put together with real finesse and as elegantly presented as it gets. The highlights? A simple Whisky Soda bolstered by apple and earthy-sweet rooibos tea, or the more tricked-up Joji Hardshake, which layers light rum, coconut and pandan with mirin (rice wine) and almond amazake, a milky traditional fermented rice brew.
What to eat Executive chef Paul Farag breaks his menu down into three tidy sections – “raw”, “not raw” and “robata” (charcoal grill) – and the best approach is to pick ’n’ mix a little bit from each. To start, perhaps a bite-sized beef tartare mined with pear and heaped onto a hash brown, or a whole sashimi plate. Maybe some meat hot off the custom two-metre-long grill – a chicken skewer with fermented chilli, perhaps, or a nugget of A5 wagyu beef, with the taste and texture of a melting butter cube. While it’s all very snacky, you can easily make a meal of it (and maybe should), but consider yourself warned: both the bug-and-prawn sando and signature Sloppy Joji – a wagyu cheeseburger dripping with tonkatsu-ish, Bolognese-like sauce on a potato bun – from the late-night menu are meals unto themselves.
Regular’s tip If the early days are any indication, reservations between 6:00pm and 9:00pm are hard to come by, and walking in at prime time is likely to result in a lengthy wait. So, even if you’re only having drinks, it pays to book ahead, and be on time – bookings are 90-minute slots. If you’re keen to stretch the session a bit longer, rock up past 10:00pm or consider a lunch booking when the vibe is substantially more subdued.
Authour image
Matty HirschMatty Hirsch is a Sydney-based writer, critic and editor whose work has appeared in Time Out, Delicious and Gourmet Traveller.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryGreat tunesRestaurantGood for groupsOutdoor areaCasual catch-upBarSydneyWheelchair accessibleParty vibesRooftopAfter work drinksRecently openedKiller cocktailsTop notch wine listDate nightVego Food OptionsSydney – CBDMeal and a bevNon-alc Options
REPORT A VENUE CLOSURE/REPORT AN ERROR
Related Articles