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With more than a decade of experience covering the best restaurants in Sydney, we’ve curated a list of our favourites to help you find the perfect venue for your next birthday, date night, or client meeting. Maybe you’re just looking for a fun restaurant in Sydney? There’s more than one way to eat your way through the harbour city, with a selection of established venues and new openings from French to Japanese, Australian and Italian highlighted below. You’ll recognise names like Quay, Bentley, and Icebergs, but we’re also showcasing the more underrated places, such as I Maccheroni in Woollahra and Porteño in Surry Hills. Dine at any of these restaurants, and you’ll quickly realise the city is alive with delicious foodie haunts.
Best Restaurants in Sydney at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following options:
- Best overall: Quay
- For value-for-money: Ho Jiak Haymarket
- For fine dining: Bentley Restaurant & Bar
- For something unique: Good Luck Restaurant Lounge
Now you’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
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1. Quay
Price: $$$$$ (from $220+ per person)
- Pros: Combining fine dining and epic views of Sydney Harbour, Quay gives every guest the quintessential Sydney dining experience.
- Cons: Don’t come here expecting anything less than the best. You’ll pay for the privilege.
Venue and ambience: The dining room’s spectacular 270-degree views of the harbour provide much of the ambience. The vistas are complemented by a raw, architectural interior with a timber ceiling, spotted gum tables, and designer furniture. It feels warm and buzzy, no matter what time of day.
Food and drinks: You’ll find an eight-course menu ($385pp) for lunch and dinner filled with rare and fresh proteins that perfectly complement the harbourside location. Indulge in wild Blacklip abalone with young octopus, raw scallops, seaweed and aged vinegar, smoked oxtail with black garlic and chestnut purée, and Manjimup truffle emulsion. The ‘white coral’ dessert is our favourite, however, with a light white-chocolate ganache aerated in a vacuum and frozen with liquid nitrogen served with feijoa ice cream and coconut cream. The wine list is extensive, with more than 30 pages, and serves everything from Jura to Burgundy, Rheinhessen to Marlborough, and Meursault.
Address: Upper Level Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9251 5600

2. Porteño
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: This is a fun and refined South American-style restaurant with plenty of flame-grilled and charcoal-roasted meats. The chef’s selection menu, priced at $140 per person, represents outstanding value.
- Cons: This is a very popular restaurant, so book well in advance. Don’t expect much value for money in the wine menu, but they’re all good bottles.
Venue and ambience: Porteño is one of the best Restaurants in Sydney if you’re in the mood for outstanding steaks cooked over open flame. The space revolves around a large Argentinean barbecue in the centre. At the same time, the rest of the interior is decked out with glass, marble, tiled floors, South American movie posters, and old iconography—the perfect concoction of class and nostalgia.
Food and drinks: We’ve always leaned on the Chef’s Selection Menu ($140pp) during our visits. It brings great value for money, with a delicious dry-aged O’Connor Sirloin MB3+ being the highlight. If you want to go a la carte, we recommend the salted Cantabrian anchovies with smoked butter, chives and charred baguette to start before moving onto the ‘Culurgiones’ for a main with delicious potato, truffle and taleggio dumplings with parmigiano reggiano and Manjimup truffles. If you’re only here for the steaks, the O’Connor T-Bone and Westholme Wagyu always hit the spot, but you can go crazy with their weekly specials that include steaks from the best Australian producers, David Blackmore included. Couple this with a 300-strong wine list favouring drops from Italy, Australia and South America, and you’re set for a treat.
Address: 50 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 8399 1440

3. Bentley Restaurant & Bar
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: With so many openings, Bentley has somehow become one of Sydney’s most underrated fine dining establishments. It boasts arguably the best wine list in the city, and the food and service are outstanding, which makes it perfect for special occasions.
- Cons: While we’ve never had trouble with this, some online reviewers have mentioned slower-than-average service. Still, it’s hard to knock anything that Bentley does. It’s outstanding.
Venue and ambience: With a fireplace, dim lighting and elegant decor, Bentley Restaurant & Bar is the ultimate moody dining spot. The industrial-chic setting makes Bentley Restaurant & Bar stand out from other Sydney restaurants in the CBD, which is why we love it.
Food and drinks: The menu features a handpicked, gourmet selection of meats, cheeses and sides, only using the best products selected by Sydney’s top chefs. Standouts include the zucchini flower with yuzu and kelp and the Aquna Murray cod with king brown mushroom and lemon thyme. Don’t leave without ordering dessert – the roasted quince with rosemary ice cream, raspberry, and macadamia is life-changing. The wine list is expertly curated by the sommelier, only featuring the most acclaimed international and local drops.
Address: 27 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8214 0505

4. Saint Peter
Price: $$$$$ (from $275 per person)
- Pros: Relaxed and intimate pescatarian fine diner in the heart of Paddington, serving up fresh Australian seafood with Josh Niland’s unique nose-to-tail vision.
- Cons: The dishes are works of art with balanced flavours, but portion sizes are small compared to other restaurants on our list. It’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a hearty dinner.
Venue and ambience: The vibe is here relaxed, yet still refined – a hard balance to strike, but Saint Peter manages to pull it off. An open kitchen sits on one side to a Carrara marble-topped bench, with diners sitting across, able to watch on as the food is being prepared. It is cosy and intimate, with only 22 seats available.
Food and drinks: Saint Peter is one of the best restaurants in Sydney that serves sustainable seafood. Some of our favourites include salt and vinegar King George Whiting, the line caught bonito and cured Murray cod with sweet and sour radicchio, BBQ grapes and macadamia, as well as the big eye tuna with roast artichokes, cabbage and shiitake vinegar. The wine list emphasises Australian producers, and cocktails use locally-made gins and whiskies.
Address: 362 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021
Phone: (02) 8937 2530

5. I Maccheroni
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: We’d argue this is the best authentic Italian restaurant in Sydney. Expect house-made pasta and plenty of wine; some of it is natural, but all of it is delicious. The menu changes often, but you can’t surpass the spaghettoni, maccheroni, and tortelli.
- Cons: The atmosphere is family setting and can get reasonably loud and congested on busy nights, so don’t expect an intimate date-night dinner. Still, it’s fun!
Venue and ambience: This small restaurant feels like a traditional Italian eatery but is tucked away in an old building in the heart of Woollahra. Because it’s small, it is always loud and a little bit chaotic (just how the Italians like it), but that’s what makes it fun, in our opinion.
Food and drinks: For the full Italian experience, try the Mushroom arancini with paprika aioli and the Spaghettoni cacio e pepe in a cheese wheel before diving into the ricotta tiramisu with nuts crumbs for dessert. In terms of drinks, Italian wines are the hero here. However, they also serve six classic cocktails, Peroni, Menabrea and Nazionale beers.
Address: 3 Jersey Rd, Woollahra NSW 2025
Phone: 0403 478 995

6. Saké Restaurant & Bar The Rocks
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: This is a classic fine-dining Japanese restaurant in Sydney that’s stood the test of time with constant innovation, fresh produce, and quality. Obviously, the saké menu is extensive.
- Cons: Don’t expect to eat cheaply or have large portion sizes, we’re talking fine dining.
Venue and ambience: With moody, potential vibes delivered in a classy manner, Saké Restaurant & Bar The Rocks feels romantic and exotic. Its pristine location, nestled within The Rocks’ Argyle Precinct, also helps; the leisurely ambience of the historical streets and chatter from nearby bars creates a lively, joyful atmosphere.
Food and drinks: In addition to the sushi (which is some of the freshest, most delicious you will ever have), standout dishes include the miso-glazed toothfish, salmon yaki, and nori crisps, which always go down a treat. Regarding drinks, as perhaps the ultimate sake-drinking venue in Sydney, we recommend indulging in one of the 40 varieties on offer, and if you’re not experienced in the matter, let the sommelier guide you.
Address: 12 Argyle St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9259 5656

7. Bennelong
Price: $$$$$ (from $200+ per person)
- Pros: One of Sydney’s most iconic fine-dining restaurants, Bennelong champions great Australian produce with innovative dishes and desserts, including the famous cherry jam lamington.
- Cons: You’re eating fine dining food and overlooking Sydney Harbour; don’t expect to come here without spending a pretty penny. Most will reserve this for special occasions.
Venue and ambience: One of the best restaurants in Sydney to soak up views of the harbour, the elegant space feels almost ethereal. Soaring sail ceilings, honey-coloured brass and views of the city skyline make for an unforgettable ambience.
Food and drinks: The menu is overseen by Peter Gilmore, one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, and while it changes frequently, there are a few highlight dishes you should look out for. At the top of our list is the Roasted Maremma duck with Morello cherry, but the Tasmanian Southern Rock lobster with simple salt, pepper, native lime, and hollandaise supplement would be a close second. The desserts also stand out for their classic Australian theme, including the Pavlova, Chocolate Crackle, and Cherry Jam Lamington.
Address: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9240 8000

8. Amorica
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: This is an elegant French restaurant in Surry Hills that serves oysters, caviar, and plenty of high-brow steaks, seafood, and lobster. It’s a classy spot!
- Cons: Come here if you’re looking for the best and are willing to spend a little extra; there’s no cheap way to eat here.
Ambience and setting: Imbued with a captivating old-world charm, Amorica offers a lavish, elegant and luxurious dining experience. The space is large, with seating for 150 people with red-leather banquettes, dim lighting and an array of beautiful artworks by illustrator David Plunkert.
Food and drinks: To start, we recommend ordering the ousters with a champagne mignonette and the crab cake with garlic aioli and herbs. For mains, seafood is a big focus. Try the locally caught Murray cod or one of the five different steak frites options. Dessert is not to be missed here—the crème caramel is delicious. In keeping with Amorica’s old-world charm and classic vibes, the drinks list is traditional. Choose from a range of classic cocktails mixed to perfection, or indulge in the wine list, which is pretty much solely French wines.
Address: Shop 1 & 2/490 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9145 2990

9. Firedoor
Price: $$$$$ ($200+ per person)
- Pros: One of Sydney’s most famous wood-fired restaurants, Firedoor puts a unique spin on their cooking with an open flame. Expect vegetables, bread, and lamb all cooked over fire.
- Cons: Popularity has risen since the Netflix series, and so has the price. Still, compared to some Sydney restaurants, the experience is quite special and worth talking about.
Venue and ambience: The interior is intimate and cosy, with a direct view of the fire and kitchen and plenty of logs sitting on the windowsills to remind you of such. However, there’s nothing particularly stand-outish when you compare it to other venues on our list. You’re coming here for the food, not the interior design anyway.
Food and drinks: The menu from the legendary chef Lennox Hastie is seasonal and packed with sensational, smokey flavours. It changes regularly, but standouts during our visit included Murray cod with charred cos, paperback, and pil-pil, as well as the Hampshire down lamb with lentils and salsa verde. The drinks list is a big one, and while it’s always evolving, the wines are always mineral-driven, local and internationally sourced, artisan-produced and minimal intervention wines. Our go-to cocktail is the ‘peachy keen’ with Archie rose gin, charred peach, wild honey and lemon; it’s the perfect amount of smokey.
Address: 23/33 Mary St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 8204 0800

10. Oborozuki
Price: $$$$$ ($200+ per person)
- Pros: This is an innovative new restaurant in Sydney that blends traditional Japanese and French cooking techniques. It’s also home to the boujiest Teppanyaki in Sydney.
- Cons: Like any fine dining restaurant that overlooks Sydney Harbour, this is a high-brow affair, and the pricing follows suit.
Venue and ambience: Nestled on Sydney’s Macquarie Street, perched above Circular Quay, Oborozuki offers two levels of modern, sophisticated dining. With a subtle Scandinavian aesthetic and epic harbour views, you can’t pick a much better spot than Oborozuki.
Food and drinks: While French and Japanese aren’t typically cuisines you would think of together, Oborozuki is here to change your mind. Menu standouts? We’ve only heard good things about the poached lobster served in court-bouillon, the shio kombu bisque and the zucchini flower tempura filled with lobster, squid, and dill dusted with Sansho pepper togarashi. The Babar is next door and features a range of renowned and boutique wines and cocktails; the Smoked Oborozuki, a delicious infusion of Japanese green tea and whisky, is our top pick.
Address: Level 3/71 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 0426 111 999

11. Ester Restaurant
Price: $$$$ ($100-200)
- Pros: This is a trendy restaurant in Sydney’s Inner West with an honest menu and relaxed vibes. The menu features lots of unique fermented items.
- Cons: The menu lacks diversity in terms of options.
Venue and ambience: Some of the best restaurants in Sydney are the ones that keep things simple, like Ester. With its brick and concrete walls and wood-fired oven, the centrepiece of the cosy Chippendale eatery, coming here feels laid-back and unpretentious.
Food and drinks: We suggest ordering a few things to share; try the king prawns with fermented shrimp butter, the roast pork belly with woodfired leek and macadamia and the raw kingfish with nori and mandarin. The wine list is dominated by organic and biodynamic labels with plenty of options that pair perfectly with the menu, and spirits showcase local and international distilleries.
Address: 46-52 Meagher St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Phone: (02) 8068 8279

12. Ho Jiak Haymarket
Price: $$$$ ($100-200)
- Pros: This is an authentic Asian fusion restaurant serving delicious street food. Great for large groups, and lots of gluten-free and vegan offerings are available.
- Cons: There are limited alcoholic beverage options, but the milk teas are fantastic.
Venue and ambience: Inside Ho Jiak, it is bright, eclectic, and reminiscent of an unassuming Asian eatery somewhere in Penang. We like how it feels homey without feeling stuffy or dated; the knickknacks and framed photos of Chef Junda Khoo’s family are the perfect touch. It gets busy, so expect to line up on the street before you get in (we recommend booking ahead). Walk in, and you’ll end up on the ground floor of the two-story restaurant, which is inspired by the street Junda grew up on in Penang, Lebuh Ah Quee. Head upstairs, however, and the decor is styled like his grandma’s home.
Food and drinks: The menu features hearty, homestyle meals with a distinct hawker style that’s further combined with subtle Australian influences. We love everything here, from the steamed fish to the laksa, chicken wings, and indomie goreng are beyond comparable. Junda’s cooking is some of the best (and most underrated) in Sydney, and while it’s heavy on oils and sugars, the result is outstanding. We’ve been coming here for at least 5 years, and the quality hasn’t changed over time.
Address: 92 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8040 0252

13. Sixpenny
Price: $$$$$ ($200+ per person)
- Pros: This highly regarded restaurant serves contemporary Australian cuisine and fresh produce in a cosy setting. They partner with small-scale farmers, fishermen, and producers and curate their menu based on what’s supplied, so it’s always farm-fresh.
- Cons: This is fine dining, and portions are small, so don’t expect to roll out of here.
Venue and ambience: Like you walked into a living room on Million Dollar Listings, Sixpenny has an outstanding Scandinavian interior design. Somehow, it still manages to feel cosy and compact but not cramped. Ceramics from Mud Australia add the perfect hand-made touch to the space.
Food and drinks: One of the best restaurants in Sydney that relies on small-scale farmers, the menu here is seasonal. Indulge in yellowfin tuna with pistachio cream and preserved daikon, or opt for the Western Australia marron with fermented capsicum and sweet potato leaf. Wine is all a part of the experience here, with the list designed to pair with each menu item (from $180pp). If you don’t feel like wine, there is also an option for a sake pairing (from $190pp).
Address: 83 Percival Rd, Stanmore NSW 2048
Phone: (02) 9572 6666

14. Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: One of the few eateries with views overlooking the surf at Bondi Beach, matched by a delicious Italian-inspired menu.
- Cons: This place gets busy due to its unique location. You must book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Venue and ambience: Perched on the south end of Bondi Beach, it doesn’t get much more quintessentially Sydney than Icebergs. While the location is the main vibe, the sleek dining room is decked out in blue and green hues to blend into the coastal landscape it sits within, with large glass windows framing beautiful vistas of Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.
Food and drinks: You’re by the sea, so we highly recommend indulging in seafood – the ‘risotto ai gamberi’ with koshihikari rice, XO and royal red prawn crudo or the charcoal-roasted southern bluefin tuna with salmoriglio and caper leaves are both drool-worthy. The drinks menu is extensive, championing local wines with select drops from Italy and France and specialty cocktails; try the almond margarita with Don Julio Blanco tequila, Cointreau, rosemary and almond milk.
Address: 1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Phone: (02) 9365 9000

15. Le Foote
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: Le Foote is one of the newest restaurants in Sydney. It brings a refreshing European-style eatery to the historic The Rocks precinct, with classical jazz and Euro-tech groove music.
- Cons: This is a busy restaurant, but we felt a little rushed by the staff during out visit.
Venue and ambience: One of the best restaurants in Sydney, Le Foote is part Parisian wine bar, part Mediterranean grill. It transforms one of Australia’s oldest pubs (Phillip’s Foote) located in the historic The Rocks precinct into a wine bar and restaurant with jazzy tunes, live entertainment, and a romantic vibe.
Food and drinks: The menu is Mediterranean-inspired, with small plates and meat and seafood options cooked over charcoal. Start with the cheese pie with lemon and native berries before moving on to the pork cotoletta with sage, capers and parmesan, with pomme frites on the side, of course. This menu differs from many bars and restaurants in the area, offering plenty of small-scale producers and natural wine.
Address: 101 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9232 0881

16. Mr. Wong
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: One of the most popular and coolest restaurants in Sydney, this is fine dining Cantonese-style with a space large enough to fit big groups. Most would say that you haven’t eaten in this city until you’ve had Mr. Wong.
- Cons: Busy restaurant, which can get quite loud and rambunctious during Friday and Saturday dinner service. Personally, we think this adds to the vibe, but others might not agree. There’s quite a stringent and intense cancellation policy, so be wary.
Venue and ambience: While the space is massive, it feels intimate, with a 1930s aesthetic grounded in oriental themes. On any given day or night, expect moody jazz tunes wafting through the space and a vibrant, jovial atmosphere.
Food and drinks: Choose from banquet menus that may feature anything from prawn toast, sweet and sour crispy pork hock, or crispy Balmain bugs. Enjoy platters or individual dim sum, but only during lunch. Pair your meal with an international wine list or a cocktail, like the ‘Yuzu Dream’ with Havana 3 rum, Aperol, yuzushu, kumquat, and egg whites.
Address: 3 Bridge Ln, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9114 7317

17. Restaurant Hubert
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: Classic French dishes and jazz – there is always live jazz music in the main dining room.
- Cons: Some of the entrees are not obviously listed as single portions, so make sure you read the menu in-depth. The steak mains are fairly priced, but the more desirable options have to be pre-ordered 48 hours in advance, so keep that in mind, e.g. Boeuf en Croute and Fillet Steak au Poivre.
Venue and ambience: With vintage furniture and decor, low ceilings and dark timber furniture, Restaurant Hubert feels like stepping back in time. An underground parlour, this French eatery feels more like it belongs to postwar France, and that’s why we love it.
Food and drinks: You can’t go wrong with any French classics on this menu, but if we had to choose, we would recommend the octopus terrine with salted cucumber from the raw bar or the Gruyère soufflé. Desserts include crème caramel and soufflé, among others. Enjoy classic cocktails and a drop of one of their many French wines. Happy hour also runs from 5-6pm every day, and you can get a Dubonnet highball, a gin and tonic, a red or white glass of the house, or a lager for $6.
Address: 15 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9232 0881

18. mimi’s
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: One of the most famous Sydney restaurants lives up to expectations with a thoughtfully crafted menu featuring local ingredients and a great balance of flavours for its coastal setting.
- Cons: This restaurant is known for its fresh fish and seafood, so if you’re after steak by the sea, there’s only one option: Heritage Wagyu ribeye.
Venue and ambience: Set in the pristine beachside locale of Coogee, large arched windows frame beautiful views of the ocean and swaying pines so you feel connected to the outside, creating a calm and peaceful setting.
Food and drinks: Perhaps one of the best restaurants in Sydney has a menu that combines Mediterranean dishes with an Australian ethos, and Mimi knows how to satisfy customers. We can’t go past the Jersey milk halloumi with lemon, olive oil and Aleppo pepper or the zucchini tartlet with goat’s curd, lemon, kombu, and basil from the snack menu. While the wine and cocktail list is always changing, expect a mix of classic options as well as the more experimentative.
Address: 130a Beach St, Coogee NSW 2034
Phone: (02) 9114 7324

19. NOMAD
Price: $$$$ ($100-200+ per person)
- Pros: This is an iconic Sydney restaurant that serves classic wood-fired options with a focus on Middle Eastern flavours and upbeat vibes.
- Cons: You’ll have to book well in advance if you want a seat, especially from Friday lunch when it gets busy.
Venue and ambience: With the original venue closing down for a short period after a fire, the new and rejuvenated NOMAD looks sleeker than ever with a subtle Scandi vibe, banquette seating, and a wood-fired oven.
Food and drinks: The menu is packed full of goodies, like the infamous house charcuterie, which ranges from ocean trout basturma to duck mortadella. From the wood-fired oven, choose from abrohols scallops with our sujuk and curry leaf or the sate glazed wagyu tongue with labneh and chilli oil. The olive oil ice cream sandwich with halva, pistachio and honey is also a hit. The drinks menu highlights Australian and international produce, showcasing small producers and some of the country’s most iconic wine vignerons.
Address: 16 Foster St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9280 3395

20. Good Luck Restaurant Lounge
Price: $$$ ($60-120pp)
- Pros: The menu is adventurous and doesn’t limit itself to one cuisine. There’s a live tank for crab and lobster, as well as lamb ribs, BBQ pork chops, and 400gm 2GR wagyu rump cap. This underground prohibition-style bar has a bit of everything.
- Cons: It’s an intimate menu with poor acoustics, so don’t expect to have an easy conversation with the person next to you. If you’re not an adventurous eater, it’s not the best option on our list.
Venue and ambience: Three words—fun, kitsch, and eclectic—best describe this quirky joint in Sydney’s CBD. The space feels like a mix between a bar in Tokyo in the 1970s and a restaurant in Brooklyn in the 1980s. It’s a big space with two bars, live seafood tanks, and private dining rooms.
Food and drinks: Good Luck Restaurant Lounge is one of the best restaurants in Sydney for breaking any rules when it comes to sticking to a certain cuisine. Expect an entire section dedicated to noodles, grilled dishes, and fresh seafood from the live tank. A standout is the shishito pepper, whitebait, and shiso spaghetti. On the drinks side, enjoy an international wine list by sommelier Jacqueline Doucette and creative cocktails.
Address: 11 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8070 1311

21. Vogue Cafe Sydney
Price: $$$$ ($100-200 per person)
- Pros: Calm vibes, amazing service and the views aren’t to be missed on a Saturday night… Come here for the fireworks (but book ahead).
- Cons: It was a little too quiet when we went on a weeknight, but this could be a good thing.
Venue and ambience: As its name suggests, the Vogue cafe is modern, elegant, and stylish. With walls adorned with the magazine’s famous covers, it’s a bit of a fantasy for fans of the brand.
Food and drinks: The Vogue Cafe Sydney is a celebration of Australian cuisine, with a menu packed full of fresh seafood and local produce. For me, the lobster pasta was a standout, not only for its genius ‘The Devil Wears Pasta’ name but also for its stellar selection of a delicious combination of half lobster, tiger prawns and squid ink pasta.
For something a little more opulent, the venue also boasts a ridiculous full-scale ‘Vogue Cafe Deluxe Caviar Seafood Platter’, comprising signature Vogue Cafe caviar, fresh lobster, oyster, hokkaido scallop, king salmon, tiger prawn, xo lobster roll and salmon roe. Be warned, however, the monstrous serving size will set you back a whopping $298. Just looking for a good cocktail on a Friday night? This place is super atmospheric downstairs, attracting people from all over the world. Sit up at the bar, watch the sunset and enjoy their “Tokyo Runway”, this tasty cocktail has Glenmorangie original & yuzu infused with co2.
Address: Retail 05/35 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8529 8850
Alternatives to These Restaurants in Sydney
- Alberto’s Lounge, Sydney: A great late-night food spot in Sydney that is classy, alternative, fun and quirky. The food adventures will take you from the beef tripe, to house-made spicy potato chips, while the drinks menu is packed with local and international wine.
- a’Mare, Barangaroo: This Barangaroo Italian restaurant is headed by Chef Alessandro Pavoni and guarantees an authentic Italian experience with a menu that features hand-made pasta, wagyu beef carpaccio antipasti and homemade pesto. with a luxe interior and epic views, at around $150pp the a’Mare Experience for two or more people is also a no-brainer.
- Bar Vincent, Darlinghurst: Looking for somewhere to go with a group of mates? Look no further than Bar Vincent. This intimate eatery is known for its European fare, Italian flavours and shared plates. The drinks list favours natural and minimal wines and classic cocktails.
- Baba’s Place, Marrickville: A unique, laid-back eatery in a warehouse in Sydney’s inner west, Baba’s Place “explores suburban cuisine and the ‘Wog’ experience as it relates to art and food.” Expect home-cooked style meals such as beef tartare and curried potato salad alongside fun cocktails and craft beer.
- Bella Brutta, Newtown: Serving some of the best pizza in Sydney, Bella Brutta fuses simple cooking methods with Australian wholegrain and refined Italian flours to create their infamous pizzas. No matter what you pick from the menu here, you really can’t go wrong.
- Bert’s Bar & Brasserie, Newport: Perched above iconic Northern Beaches pub, The Newport, Bert’s is a light-filled bar and brasserie overlooking Pittwater with a fresh, seafood-heavy menu. We recommend indulging in the ousters, the crudo and the bannan souffle for dessert.
- Cafe Paci, Newtown: A cosy eatery with an à la carte menu and a wine list favouring natural and biodynamic labels. We love the creativity behind the dishes here, like the potato and molasses bread and herring and potato dish topped with sour-cream dressing and raw onion. Don’t diss it until you’ve tried it.
- Cirrus Dining, Barangaroo: Offering a quintessential modern Australian dining experience, the focus here is equal parts wine and equal parts food. Along with an extensive wine list with local and international drops, the menu is dominated by fresh seafood, including dishes like Moreton Bay bugs served with corn dumplings, sweet onion milk and buckwheat. There’s even a vegan menu ($110pp) for all the herbivores out there.
- Clam Bar, Sydney: It says it in the name, Clam is a bar in Sydney with a menu that is heavily seafood-leaning. The menu begins with a raw seafood bar followed by appetisers such as scallops casino with butter and pangrattato and a selection of steaks. On the drinks front, cocktails are a much bigger focus here than at the team’s other venues. Cocktails include New York classics and the wine list is designed to complement the seafood.
- Fred’s, Paddington: Fine dining, but make it simple. This farm-to-table diner keeps things simple, with most dishes cooked with fire, a local drinks list and a seasonal menu, depending on what the farmer have available at the time.
- Jane, Surry Hills: A wine bar with a casual vibe and jazzy tunes. With an effortlessly cool 1970s style, Jane is the perfect spot to try a few rare drops in a candle-lit booth, banquette and or at the bar.
- Kiln, Surry Hills: Located in Sydney’s Ace Hotel, Kiln is rooted in contemporary Australian and Italian-ish cuisine, with nods to Japan and Southeast Asia. When we headed in to test out the food menu, we couldn’t get enough of the beef carpaccio, and to drink, the heiwa nigori yuzushu (wakayama) cocktail (Zesty yuzu, fresh citrus, clean finish) is to die for.
- LuMi Dining, Pyrmont: Specialising in Italian and Japanese fusion, LuMi offers an experimentative menu packed with raw fish and Italian pasta bases. They only serve from their seven-course tasting menu, so it’s best to arrive with empty stomachs.
- Margaret, Double Bay: Located on a bustling street corner in Double Bay, Margaret is Neil Perry’s first solo venture. Expect a menu that focuses on seafood cooked over a woodfire grill; think oysters, lobster and smoked eggplant puree, and classic cocktails made with native Australian ingredients.
- Mjølner, Redfern: Scandinavian restaurants are few and far between in Sydney, but Mjølner is flying the flag high. You will find a Viking-inspired interior, over 450 whiskies and a menu of cured meats and hearty meals.
- Morena Restaurant, Sydney: An elegant Latin American diner in Martin Place, Morena’s menu features smokey, authentic Peruvian flavours. However, the biggest drawing card here has to be the wine list – featuring one of the biggest collections of Latin American wines in Australia.
- Oncore by Clare Smyth, Barangaroo: After a long wait, Britain’s first female three Michelin-starred chef serves up a menu that is both familiar and fresh by taking advantage of Australia’s best raw ingredients. The pristine location is just the cherry on top.
- Palazzo Salato, Sydney: This Italian trattoria offers an authentic Italian experience, serving hand-shaped pasta and a 500-strong wine list set across two storeys in a heritage building in the CBD. For food, we can’t resist the artichoke alla griglia with pesto Trapanese.
- Pellegrino 2000, Surry Hills: With a focus on Italian classics married with a creative spin, Pellegrino 2000 is Sydney’s answer to a modern, Italian garage-style trattoria, with a wine cellar that doubles as a moody dining room. We recommend the rigatoni bolognese, paired with one of the many Italian drops on offer, of course.
- Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater: Boasting stunning views of Freshwater, Pilu is known for its relaxed, beachy feel and fresh Sardanian menu. Standouts include the spaghetti alla chitarra with Australian Bay lobster, Pilu bottarga and preserved lemon.
- Poetica Bar and Grill, North Sydney: This local favourite serves raw and cooked starters, ‘charcoal’, ‘wood’, ‘dry-aged’, sides, and delicious desserts. Along with a drop from the 450-strong (mostly Australian) wine list, we always enjoy a smoky, hearty steak at this joint. While we love our steaks, it’s hard to look past the stand-out swordfish.
- Porkfat, Haymarket: This Thai restaurant has to be one of the best in Sydney, hands down. The menu is unique, with the base for most dishes being pork fat, as the name suggests. We love the Spanner crab fried rice and the laid-back vibes.
- The White Horse, Surry Hills: Completely revamped with a new restaurant downstairs, bar upstairs, rooftop garden terrace, and private dining room, the restaurant focuses on fresh, local flavours. Highlights include the dry-aged Aylesbury duck with rhubarb, native fruit, and cranberry hibiscus. The drinks menu features plenty of natty wines, biodynamic wines, and classic old-world wines from makers in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and worldwide. Our hot tip is to take advantage of the $75pp set menu, which includes three snacks, an entrée and main, two sides, and a dessert.
- Ursula’s, Paddington: An elegant Paddington eatery inspired by the neighbourhood bistros of Europe, Ursula’s menu favours dishes that merge Australian flavours with classic European techniques, with a drinks list heavily dominated by much-loved Australian family-run wineries and classic cocktails.
- Yellow, Potts Point: This is the ultimate spot for a vegetarian or vegan meal in Sydney. The dishes are sourced from local suppliers and are known for their simple combinations. The restaurant’s specialty is the mini tortillas; think crisp, sweet potato, blackberry, and lime yoghurt.
Why You Should Trust Our List
With a head office in Sydney, we’ve been eating at the best restaurants in Sydney for more than a decade. As such, we’ve compiled this list based on extensive personal experiences at the restaurants, and for this article, we’ve also considered price points, opening times, and menu options while also making a concerted effort to highlight a few spots around Sydney and in the Western Suburbs where some hidden gems reside.
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