By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Neighbouring Kings Cross may be known for its underworld antics, but Potts Point is taking a sky-high strategy to socialising. This Summer, the surburb is wearing its heart on its sleeve (and salsa on the chips) with the relaunch of the high-rise hideout formerly known as Sweethearts.
Reborn as Sweethearts Terraza, this rooftop rendezvous delivers a sun-soaked slice of the Yucatan floating above Sydney, with views of the skyline and flavours bold enough to rival the midday Mexican sun.
From the moment you step onto the terraza, it’s clear this is no fleeting fling. Designed for long lunches, golden-hour aperitivos and nights that drift into manana, Sweethearts Terraza blends Sydney’s breezy rooftop rhythm with Mexico’s fiery soul. Picture terracotta hues, lush greenery and the kind of coastal energy that has you falling fast.
"For me, Yucatan is fire, citrus, and celebration,” says Chef Roberto Garcia. "I wanted to bring those flavours to Sydney - not as a postcard, but as something alive and contemporary. The menu is fresh, visual and designed to be shared, capturing the spirit of the Yucatan while feeling right at home on a Sydney rooftop.”
Roberto’s pedigree runs from Alpha to the luxury seclusion of Saffire Freycinet and the culinary playground of Sea Island Resort. He pours that star-calibre finesse into a 120-seat space that manages to feel intimate and intoxicating at once. San Pancho fans will spot his hallmarks - modern Mexican that does not play coy. Expect dishes that go all in, no mixed signals.
Start with the ceviche Yucateco, which lands like that first kiss on holiday - unexpected and impossible to forget. Barramundi softened by coconut milk and citrus, brought to life with passionfruit and habanero, finished with mango, onion and crunchy maiz crackling.
The tikin xic fish arrives whole and unapologetic, roasted barramundi bathed in citrus and annatto, served with charred lime and pumpkin seed mole that lingers like a great love. If you are after something richer, the slow-braised beef short rib glazed with sour orange and honey over pumpkin purée may just be the one you introduce to your parents. This is not nachos by the skyline. This is dinner that turns into devotion.
What’s a love story without a little liquid courage? Enter Mixologist Neilson - Maybe Sammy alum and resident heartbreaker behind the bar. "Mexico to me is a contrast of citrus, bright tropical fruits and hot, smoky flavours - it’s that interplay that sets your taste buds alight,” says Neilson.
The Sol Fuego does exactly that, marrying cilantro-infused tequila with chipotle fat-wash for a slow-burning finish. La Resurreccion, his fiery riff on a Bloody Maria, uses achiote annatto and chipotle to channel the essence of the Yucatan. El Claro, a clarified twist on Tommy’s Margarita, is crisp, zesty and built for that moment when the light hits the skyline just right. It’s the kind of cocktail that whispers just one more.
The interiors mirror the menu - relaxed yet refined, terracotta textures and tropical finishes that flirt with the skyline. Days feel like lounging beside a coastal plunge pool, nights settle with an amber glow and the low hum of diners who have cancelled their next plans because the only thing hotter than the salsa is the atmosphere.
Together, Roberto and Neilson have crafted a rooftop that feels effortlessly Sydney while honouring Mexico’s long-standing affair with flavour, festivity and late-night storytelling.
Climb the stairs (with conviction), sip something cool and let yourself be swept up in the heat of the moment. If things get steamy, blame the habanero. If you fall head over heels, hey, that may be the tequila talking. If you are still thinking about it tomorrow? It may be time to declare ‘Te Amo’ Mexican style!
