diff --git a/packages/playground/personal-wp/README.md b/packages/playground/personal-wp/README.md
index 8ed37d748fc..ee306b245c8 100644
--- a/packages/playground/personal-wp/README.md
+++ b/packages/playground/personal-wp/README.md
@@ -93,6 +93,21 @@ Response:
 Blueprint URLs must be `https:`, `data:`, or local `http:` URLs. Dependent tabs
 cannot install blueprints and will return an error result.
 
+#### Open Site Tools
+
+Use `personal-wp-open-site-tools` to ask Personal Playground to open the Site
+Tools panel.
+
+```js
+window.parent.postMessage(
+	{
+		type: 'relay',
+		relayType: 'personal-wp-open-site-tools',
+	},
+	'*'
+);
+```
+
 ### Offline Support
 
 Works as a Progressive Web App (PWA) for offline use. Install it on your device for a native app-like experience.
diff --git a/packages/playground/personal-wp/playwright/e2e/smoke.spec.ts b/packages/playground/personal-wp/playwright/e2e/smoke.spec.ts
index f65a1ad45f0..7311a43e204 100644
--- a/packages/playground/personal-wp/playwright/e2e/smoke.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/playground/personal-wp/playwright/e2e/smoke.spec.ts
@@ -19,14 +19,32 @@ test('should apply a blueprint passed via URL hash', async ({ website }) => {
 	await expect(website.page).toHaveURL(/sample-page/);
 });
 
-test('should display the seamless viewport and Site Tools latch', async ({
+test('should display the wp-admin Site Tools admin bar item', async ({
 	website,
+	wordpress,
 }) => {
-	await website.goto('./');
+	await website.goto('./wp-admin/');
 	await expect(
 		website.page.locator('.playground-viewport:visible')
 	).toBeVisible();
 	await expect(
-		website.page.getByRole('button', { name: /Open Site Tools/ })
+		website.page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Open Site Tools' })
+	).toBeHidden();
+	await expect(
+		wordpress.getByRole('link', { name: 'Open Site Tools' })
+	).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('should open Site Tools from the wp-admin admin bar item', async ({
+	website,
+	wordpress,
+}) => {
+	await website.goto('./wp-admin/');
+	await website.ensureSiteToolsIsClosed();
+
+	await wordpress.getByRole('link', { name: 'Open Site Tools' }).click();
+
+	await expect(
+		website.page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Close Site Tools' })
 	).toBeVisible();
 });
diff --git a/packages/playground/personal-wp/src/components/playground-viewport/index.tsx b/packages/playground/personal-wp/src/components/playground-viewport/index.tsx
index a1e5e3b9271..650bdf27520 100644
--- a/packages/playground/personal-wp/src/components/playground-viewport/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/playground/personal-wp/src/components/playground-viewport/index.tsx
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ function SeamlessViewport({ siteSlug }: { siteSlug: string }) {
 		clientInfo?.mainTabStatus ??
 		(isDependentMode ? 'missing' : 'connected');
 	const hasLocalRuntimeClient = !isDependentMode && !!playground;
+	const showViewportLatch = !siteManagerIsOpen && !isWpAdminUrl(url);
 
 	const [installingBlueprint, setInstallingBlueprint] = useState<
 		string | null
@@ -230,6 +231,11 @@ function SeamlessViewport({ siteSlug }: { siteSlug: string }) {
 			);
 			if (installBlueprintMessage) {
 				void installBlueprintFromRelay(event, installBlueprintMessage);
+				return;
+			}
+
+			if (isOpenSiteToolsMessage(relayValidation.data)) {
+				dispatch(setSiteManagerOpen(true));
 			}
 		}
 		window.addEventListener('message', handleMessage);
@@ -239,6 +245,7 @@ function SeamlessViewport({ siteSlug }: { siteSlug: string }) {
 	}, [
 		applyBlueprint,
 		applyBlueprintInMainTab,
+		dispatch,
 		hasLocalRuntimeClient,
 		isDependentMode,
 		siteSlug,
@@ -331,7 +338,7 @@ function SeamlessViewport({ siteSlug }: { siteSlug: string }) {
 
 			<div
 				className={classNames(css.sidebarLatch, {
-					[css.sidebarLatchHidden]: siteManagerIsOpen,
+					[css.sidebarLatchHidden]: !showViewportLatch,
 				})}
 			>
 				<Button
@@ -415,6 +422,10 @@ function confirmBlueprintInstall(blueprintUrl: string): boolean {
 	);
 }
 
+function isWpAdminUrl(url: string | undefined): boolean {
+	return !!url && /^\/?wp-admin(\/|$|\?)/.test(url);
+}
+
 type RelayMessageData = {
 	type: 'relay';
 	relayType?: unknown;
@@ -429,6 +440,11 @@ type InstallBlueprintMessageData = {
 	requestId?: string;
 };
 
+type OpenSiteToolsMessageData = {
+	type: 'relay';
+	relayType: 'personal-wp-open-site-tools';
+};
+
 type ApplyBlueprintOptions = {
 	allowNavigation?: boolean;
 };
@@ -494,6 +510,12 @@ function getInstallBlueprintMessageData(
 	};
 }
 
+function isOpenSiteToolsMessage(
+	data: RelayMessageData
+): data is OpenSiteToolsMessageData {
+	return data.relayType === 'personal-wp-open-site-tools';
+}
+
 function getRequestId(data: RelayMessageData): string | undefined {
 	return typeof data.requestId === 'string' ? data.requestId : undefined;
 }
diff --git a/packages/playground/remote/src/lib/playground-mu-plugin/0-playground.php b/packages/playground/remote/src/lib/playground-mu-plugin/0-playground.php
index f74245e5017..7fbd1a99f0c 100644
--- a/packages/playground/remote/src/lib/playground-mu-plugin/0-playground.php
+++ b/packages/playground/remote/src/lib/playground-mu-plugin/0-playground.php
@@ -189,6 +189,72 @@ function playground_report_url_to_parent() {
 add_action('wp_head', 'playground_report_url_to_parent');
 add_action('admin_head', 'playground_report_url_to_parent');
 
+/**
+ * Adds the Personal WP Site Tools latch inside wp-admin.
+ */
+function playground_personal_wp_should_render_site_tools_admin_bar_node() {
+	if ( empty( $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] ) ) {
+		return false;
+	}
+	$path = parse_url( $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], PHP_URL_PATH );
+	if ( ! is_string( $path ) ) {
+		return false;
+	}
+	return (
+		$path === '/scope:default/wp-admin' ||
+		strpos( $path, '/scope:default/wp-admin/' ) === 0
+	);
+}
+
+function playground_personal_wp_add_site_tools_admin_bar_node( $wp_admin_bar ) {
+	if ( ! playground_personal_wp_should_render_site_tools_admin_bar_node() ) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	$wp_admin_bar->add_node(
+		array(
+			'id'    => 'playground-personal-wp-site-tools',
+			'title' => 'Open Site Tools',
+			'href'  => '#',
+		)
+	);
+}
+add_action( 'admin_bar_menu', 'playground_personal_wp_add_site_tools_admin_bar_node' );
+
+function playground_personal_wp_render_site_tools_admin_bar_script() {
+	if ( ! playground_personal_wp_should_render_site_tools_admin_bar_node() ) {
+		return;
+	}
+	?>
+	<script>
+		(function () {
+			function openSiteTools(event) {
+				event.preventDefault();
+				window.parent.postMessage(
+					{
+						type: 'relay',
+						relayType: 'personal-wp-open-site-tools'
+					},
+					'*'
+				);
+			}
+
+			var item = document.querySelector(
+				'#wp-admin-bar-playground-personal-wp-site-tools > .ab-item'
+			);
+			if (!item || window.parent === window) {
+				return;
+			}
+			item.addEventListener('click', openSiteTools);
+		})();
+	</script>
+	<?php
+}
+add_action(
+	'admin_footer',
+	'playground_personal_wp_render_site_tools_admin_bar_script'
+);
+
 /**
  * The default WordPress requests transports have been disabled
  * at this point. However, the Requests class requires at least