25 bars in Barangaroo and bites inspired by the bittersweet drink proved a golden end-of-summer pairing.
The sun may have set on daylight savings, but it was a celebration until the very last light across the Bars of Barangaroo.
The Uptown District partnered with Aperol to bring to life ‘Golden Hours’, a 3-week activation of spritz specials, curated aperitivo menus, live music and performances, held across the precinct to see off summer.
From 20 March to 5 April, more than 20 of Barangaroo’s venues glowed Aperol orange from 3pm-7pm, giving locals and visitors a chance to see the waterfront District in a new light.
“Barangaroo is such an extraordinary new District and still quite new to many Sydneysiders, but it’s been traditionally really thought of as dining only,” said Jacqui Stanton, District Coordinator of Bars of Barangaroo.
“What this activation is bringing to life is that it’s a casual District and it’s here for everyone. You can get the train, or you can get the ferry and experience it at whatever price point is your entry point to enjoying and experiencing your own city.”
The entertainment lineup during ‘Golden Hours’ saw 30 different DJs playing across the three weeks, including 20 female artists, and closing with an ‘Aperidisco’.
“We’re also supporting emerging artists and giving them that experience on a big stage that they need in order to progress their craft,” said Stanton.
Roving performers also handed out compliments to get guests glowing, while a beauty station offered ‘glow ups’ including free blow-dries and glittery makeup touch ups.
A collective of 25 bars, Bars of Barangaroo is a District supported by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner’s Uptown District Acceleration Program. The program, introduced in 2022, promotes the ‘district model’, encouraging neighbouring businesses to join forces under a shared identity to build stronger connections with audiences and brands.
As a District, Bars of Barangaroo’s most distinctive feature – a stunning west-facing aspect which allows you to watch the sunset over the water from the city – was exactly what attracted Aperol.
“Very few locations in Sydney get that full sunset experience and in a relatively new and contemporary precinct like Barangaroo, matching it with a brand like Aperol, it’s a match made in heaven,” said Anthony Wagstaff, Customer Marketing Director, Aperol.
The advantage of working with a District like Bars of Barangaroo rather than coordinating with multiple individual venues was another major drawcard, says Wagstaff.
“I think the fact you can coordinate up to 25 venues in the one activation is such a gamechanger for suppliers,”
Anthony Wagstaff, Customer Marketing Director, Aperol
“I couldn’t be more pleased with our investment here. The execution has been amazing; you couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
The District enjoyed over 30,000 visitors during the activation period, with March seeing a 9 percent increase (+$705,000) in food and beverage sales over the same period in the previous year, followed by an 11 percent increase (+$980,000) in April.
The activation, a collaboration between Aperol and several key players in Barangaroo, including Uptown District Bars of Barangaroo, retail collective Streets of Barangaroo, Crown Sydney and some venues in One Sydney Harbour, was brought together by Neon Marketplace.
Launched in 2024, Neon Marketplace is an Australian-first, innovative, B2B platform delivered by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner that facilitates collaboration between Districts across NSW and brands, creatives, artists, event producers and other players in the going-out economy.
Learn more about the Uptown District Acceleration Program.
Browse Districts and explore opportunities for collaboration on Neon Marketplace.