You could use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+B) for the sidebar which is visible in the "View" menu of the menu bar. See the keyboard shortcuts article for more info.

Keyboard shortcut is better but my first instinct is still to look for a button up top.

You can look at the Classic Theme Restorer extension to restore some functionality that was lost with the arrival of the Australis style in Firefox 29.

• Classic Theme Restorer: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/classicthemerestorer/

This extension also has a toolbar button to open the bookmarks in the sidebar in the Customize palette (3-bar Firefox menu button).

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-to-make-new-firefox-look-like-old-firefox

I want the bookmarks sidebar button. This should be a BASIC feature available, not something I need to install an add-on for to revert to some "classic restore". Why is something so straightforward and easy to use considered "classic", and everything has to be hidden and hard to see in this new version? All the colours in the new tabs BTW are are BLUE, and they blend in with the background at the top, you can't see the tab edges - whose bright idea is this?

View Bookmarks Sidebar is available in the drop-down list of the Bookmarks button that is positioned next to the bookmarks star button on the Navigation Toolbar.

I already know you can open the sidebar via the drop down menu but I want a one step way of opening the sidebar.

Please tell me Mozilla is not following others to decide what is best for users. Real improvements in ease of use and functionality are welcome, but not removing of basic features. Google maps ignore the "I want to stay with old version" button, Facebook decide what my Top Stories should be when all I want is latest news feed. So bring Back One Button Sidebar , and Bobs your uncle

Agree with those above. It's ridiculous that Firefox is removing the option for a one click button to open a sidebar. Now opening and closing a sidebar is a 4 step process. It's convoluted and ridiculous that you now have to get an add-on for such an important feature. One of the biggest reason people don't switch to the other major browser out there right now is because it has no sidebar functionality, and now Firefox is slowly weeding it out themselves by making it difficult to get to.

I agree as well, Does any one ever take any notice? Why fix it if it aint broke. Just took me ages to find how I can register as well, rediculous. So come on if you are listening lets have one button please to show the bookmarks

Yeah, me too. And actually itz even worse: turns out history button doesnt even have an option for sidebar view. I will have to rebrand :" 1buttBM&HM2perv"...

You can find the option to open the history in the sidebar as "View History Sidebar" in the History button drop-down list.
The History button is by default in the 3-bar Firefox menu button list, but you can click Customize and drag this button on a toolbar for easier access.

See also "View Bookmarks Sidebar" in the "Show your bookmarks" drop-down list next to the bookmarks star on the Navigation Toolbar.

Yes, helpful in a way. And forgiving as in regard to the design which is obviously then coherent. Perhaps I should cease fire on this issue. And start looking for other drawbacks... Yours 1butttBM&HM2perv

Firefox 30 beta has a new Sidebar button for the toolbar. One button for whatever uses the Sidebar; Bookmarks, History, Stylish (if you have it installed), and others. Click to open a small menu, click again to select the sidebar view you want to see.

Not "one-click" as before when there were separate buttons, but not "4-clicks" either.

Wow - shame on whoever came up with the idea of removing one of the most convenient features of Firefox. As another person stated, one of the main reasons people stick with Firefox instead of moving on to Chrome, is specifically because of Bookmark Sidebar. Now some 'genius' changed what used to be a simple operation into a multi-click process using tiny menus. How about at least giving us an option to get the button on there using 'Customize' menu?

I was seriously going to switch to Chrome, after spending close to an hour looking for a solution. (No - 'classic theme restorer' doesn't work so don't waste your time). Thankfully I finally found one not mentioned in this thread. It's called 'OmniSideBar' and does exactly what should've never been removed from Firefox in the first place - it restores the Sidebar Button - take that you silly Devs! Here's the link:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/omnisidebar/

Excellent thanks for that, I feel a lot better now. Bit like going to the doctors and he gives you something to make you feel better. Does any one from the developers actually read any of these & realise they have made a mistake? or is it owned secretely by microsoft!!!!!!!!!!

This is stupid. There is a star to select when you customize the tool bar labeled "Bookmarks". But when you move the star to the toolbar and then click on the star, you get "Edit This Bookmark" instead. An obvious screwup. That designer should recognize that he/she made a mistake and fix it. Selecting "Bookmarks" should get you to Bookmarks, not Edit This Bookmark. Is anyone at Mozilla reading this, or even care?

Don't tell me all I have to do is click on View and then select Sidebar and then select Bookmarks. All I want is one click to get to the Bookmarks sidebar. And don't tell me all I have to do is leave go of my mouse and use two hands to select Ctrl and B. All I want is one click to get to the Bookmarks sidebar. And don't tell me all I have to do is click on Bookmarks and get a drop down menu in the center of my screen blocking my present screen. All I want is one click to get to the Bookmarks sidebar. Is that too hard?

Thanks. OmniSideBar mentioned above really works.

Firefox 30 and later will have a Sidebars button in the 3-bar Firefox menu button drop-down list. You can move this button via Customize mode to a more convenient position on a toolbar if necessary. The menu list of the Sidebars button shows the same toolbar choices as the "View Sidebars" menu and allows to show and hide all available sidebars.