Bar Lettera named NSW’s top accommodation bar

The celebratory cocktails have been flowing at North Sydney’s Bar Lettera since it claimed bragging rights as NSW Accommodation Bar of the Year.

The accolade was handed down at the 2025 NSW Accommodation Australia Awards for Excellence, held last week at Darling Island Wharf in Sydney. It was a big night for the hotel and accommodation scene, with more than 380 nominations across 42 categories, but it was Bar Lettera that stirred and shook its way to the top of the bar list.

Located inside Citadines Walker North Sydney, Bar Lettera is far from your standard hotel watering hole. It’s a slick, modern Italo-Australian bar and eatery that’s quickly earned a reputation for blending smart hospitality with real drinks cred. Locals love it, guests rave about it, and the interiors are just as curated as the cocktail list.

“We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition,” said David Mansfield, Managing Director of The Ascott Limited, Australasia. “Bar Lettera was designed to be more than just a hotel bar – it’s a meeting place, and a celebration of local flavour and craft. This win reflects the passion our team pours into every drink, every plate, and every guest moment.”

And when he says craft, he means it. The drinks program leans into thoughtful, locally focused wines and cocktails with an Italian accent, all served up in a stylish, layered space that feels more like a city-side bar than anything tied to a check-in desk. From aperitivo hour to late-night pours, it’s a venue that’s hitting all the right notes.

With this latest gong, Bar Lettera has secured its place not just among NSW’s best hotel bars, but in the wider conversation of top-tier Sydney drinking spots. One to watch, and definitely one to visit.