23 Best Restaurants in Inner City and the Eastern Suburbs, Sydney

Locals rub shoulders while eating no-fuss Chinese food at TV chef Kylie Kwong's trendy restaurant. Kwong prepares the kind of food her family cooks, with Grandma providing not just the inspiration but also the recipes. The prawn wontons with brown rice vinegar are always popular, but the standout dish is the deep fried whole sand whiting with black bean and sea parsley. If you have a big appetite, indulge in a variety of dishes with the seven-course banquet (A$75).

The fashionable and famous just adore perching like seagulls over the swimming pool at the south end of Australia's most famous beach. It is one of the must-visit restaurants in Sydney, for both the sensational view and the exquisite food. The menu featuring modern Italian- and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, with signature options like spaghetti vongole and crispy skin barramundi. The elegant space includes a stylish bar with a broad selection of cocktails, fine wines, and craft beers. But it's the floor-to-ceiling windows providing breathtaking views of the iconic surf and coastline that is the true drawcard here—along with celebrity spotting. 

It's always a fun night at this fashionable post-industrial Thai eatery because you never know who you'll end up meeting at the large communal table. The generous-size innovative mains—some say the best Thai food in town—are designed to be shared. Begin with a simple starter of either betel nut leaf with prawn-toasted coconut or a freshly shucked oyster with red chili and coriander. Mains include the stir-fried pork belly with chili and ginger, while egg nets—lacy omelets filled with prawns, pork, peanuts, and bean sprouts—are also a popular choice. Longrain's cocktails are legendary for their generous pours; try the ping pong—a luscious mix of passion fruit, lychee, and vodka.

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This bistro in the Woollahra Hotel spills over with happy-go-lucky patrons—mostly locals from around the leafy suburb of Woollahra—who have been coming back for more than 20 years now. The best dishes are inspired takes on Parisian fare, with the steak frites often hailed as one of the best in Sydney. But the French onion soufflé gratin, and port sausages with potato puree and Lyonnaise onions, are also divine. The casual café and bar, Moncur Terrace, serves mains such as Wagyu beef burgers and gourmet pizzas.

Incredibly chic, this is where the hippest of the city come for early dinner during the week or a late-night nibble with cocktails on the weekend. The feel is Parisian bistro, with a lively atmosphere and traditional French cuisine like steak frites.

You have to seek out this Bondi Beach restaurant, as it's situated several hundred feet back from the beach. You'll quickly find out, however, why locals love this place: organic, seasonal, handcrafted food with an Asian influence. Start with dishes like Peking duck pancakes or salt-and-pepper squid, followed by mains such as char-grilled Angus beef or crispy skin barramundi. The menu also includes flavorful sides like fried rice and garlic broccolini, and desserts such as sticky date pudding. Complement your meal with a selection from their creative cocktails and curated wine list.

In the famous buttercup-yellow Bondi Pavilion, this beachfront restaurant has broad appeal—there are gatherings of families having brunch; lunchers enjoying the spectacular views; twentysomethings in for an early evening cocktail at the swanky bar; and couples tucking into seafood under the stars. A bucket of Australian tiger prawns are there to be shared; larger dishes include fish-and-chips, hake, and fish burger with fries. And, yes, the cutlery comes in colorful little buckets and the beachy interior includes surfboards and funky fish artwork.

Chef Armando Percuoco established this Italian gem in 1987 and continued to run it until 2018, when longtime head chef David Wright and his wife Rosalba Bertocci took over. The menu remains rooted in traditional Neapolitan cuisine, featuring small starters of raw or lightly cured seafood, handmade pastas, whole fish, and rich, meaty mains such as slow-cooked lamb shoulder with ricotta, mint, and lemon. Ingredient sourcing is meticulous, with dishes often showcasing a light touch and frequent use of lemon, olive oil, capers, and Parmesan. The stand-out dish is the renowned truffle-egg pasta with only a few skilled staff members trained to prepare it. The extensive wine list, with over 200 selections, predominantly features Italian wines, though a selection of local options is also included.

Tucked away on a pretty backstreet in Potts Point, this restaurant is packed with the beautiful people on the weekend soaking in its buzzy atmosphere, sweeping vistas of Sydney’s cityscape, extensive cocktail list, and excellent menu. Prebook a table on the balcony, as they go quickly, and then pick a few sharing plates. The chicken and kale tacos in salsa verde with brown butter crema is a must try. The mains are shared and the Butler’s signature lamb barbacoa, lamb shoulder cooked overnight in adobo and avocado leaf, is a star favorite to those who visit. 

This harbor-front restaurant occupies the site of the old "airport" (back in the days when the fastest way to get to England was by flying boat), and has ringside views of the harbor and Shark Island. Patrons can watch modern seaplanes take off and land just steps away while dining on fine seafood. Perched on piers over the water, with a distinctive white profile, Catalina has been one of Sydney's standout fine-dining establishments since it opened in 1994. A unique concept for Sydney, the restaurant kitchen is open from midday to midnight (except on Sunday), allowing diners to turn up at any time; patrons can also pop in for a drink and graze on a casual bar menu. Seafood lovers relish the oysters, sushi, and sashimi created by the sushi master chef, while the signature dish of Catalina’s famous miso-marinated John Dory is a sensation. The views from the floor-to-ceiling windows, the open deck, and the cozy fire in winter make this a restaurant for all seasons.

For a long time, those wanting to experience Chin Chin had to head to Melbourne. But in 2016, a sister restaurant finally opened its doors in Surry Hills, and it has since elbowed its way to epicurean cult status among foodies. The Southeast Asian fare here is truly standout and so are the funky interiors, resulting in weekend tables being booked-out a month in advance. There are several "must" dishes on the 50-plus menu, including the massaman (a Thai curry) brisket and the chili salt chicken wings. There’s also an on-site cocktail bar open until late, serving weird and wonderful concoctions.

A firm favorite of Sydneysiders, this waterfront restaurant is a lively affair on weekends, especially in the outdoor eating area. It's renowned for its exquisite pan-Asian cuisine, with the menu crafted for sharing, featuring delectable dishes such as dumplings, Peking duck, crispy pork belly with chili caramel, and Asian greens. And there's a good chance you'll spot a celebrity while you're enjoying your meal.

Few central Sydney restaurants have access to their own homegrown produce, but here in trendy and leafy Woollahra—just a few kilometers east of the city—is an all-white and refreshingly bright restaurant surrounded by formal gardens and a large kitchen garden. Chiswick is all about stylish casual dining using the freshest of produce and a wonderful place to linger over a long lunch on a sunny day. There are small plates for sharing, such as the grilled octopus; large plates for sharing with a group of four (try the lamb from celebrity chef Matt Moran's own farm); and main courses such as the spanner crab casarecci.

This gem for pasta aficionados, offering a delightful journey through artisanal Italian flavors, offers a range of freshly made pasta crafted daily with meticulous attention to detail. From rich, velvety tagliatelle to perfectly stuffed ravioli, every bite reflects a dedication to quality and authenticity. The atmosphere is charming and rustic, capturing the essence of Italian culinary tradition while nestled in the lively Darlinghurst neighborhood.

At this cute, popular little pub in Paddington, chef Colin Fassnidge (an Irishman who emerged as the most controversial guest judge on Australian TV cooking show My Kitchen Rules) has been wowing patrons for years with his shared dish for two of slow-braised lamb shoulder with kipfler potatoes, baby carrots, and salsa verde. His whole suckling pig is also a popular Sunday long-lunch treat. Starters and mains change monthly, and the restaurant's popularity has seen it open for lunch and dinner six days a week.

This classy restaurant has four levels in total: the ground offers traditional Australian pub fare, the second is a private dining area that can seat up to 250 people, and then there's a swanky cocktail bar. But the real jewel here is the rooftop bar and restaurant offering trendy cocktails and a modern Japanese menu of sushi, sashimi, and sizzling plates.

Few restaurants have the magnetic pull of Otto, a place where radio shock jocks sit side by side with fashion-magazine editors and confirmed foodies. Yes, it's a scene, but fortunately one with good Italian food prepared by chef Richard Ptacnik. The homemade pastas are menu standouts; try the spaghetti, baby octopus with trapanese, a Sicilian pesto sauce. The selection of Italian wines is expensive but rarely matched this far from Milan.

You'll probably have to wait to get one of the tiny tables in this rustic hole-in-the-wall café and wine bar on the northern end of Bondi Beach, but it's worth waiting for as it's one of the best (and healthiest) breakfasts in Bondi. Once you've got a seat and a cup of the fabulous coffee, the service is fast and efficient. Breakfasts range from porridge with flaxseed, amaranth, and quinoa to bowls of kale, spinach, coriander, mint, and avocado, with a couple of eggs thrown in for good measure. After sundown, the café morphs into a hip little wine bar on weekends.

This South American--inspired restaurant offers a wide range of flame-grilled and charcoal-roasted meats that come with a variety of fresh sides, like char-grilled vegetables or light salads. But it's the wine list that is the star of the show here, with more than 300 wines from South America, Italy, and Australia to choose from.

Owned by Vietnamese TV chef Luke Nguyen, this restaurant is popular with his legions of TV fans. The menu focuses on a modern take on Vietnamese cuisine, blending traditional flavors with contemporary presentation. From aromatic pho to inventive banh xeo (crispy pancakes), all crafted with high-quality ingredients. The restaurant’s chic, stylish interior creates an elegant dining experience  complemented by attentive service. The Feed Me Banquets are for two people and offers a tasting menu cross sampling the menu's top dishes. 

North Bondi Beach wouldn't be the same without Sean's, perched on a slight rise a stone's throw from the famous beach. It's been there since the mid-1990s and owner Sean Moran loads his menu with fresh produce grown on his farm in the Blue Mountains. Dishes change regularly and are only featured on a blackboard: they may include baked blue-eye fish with roasted cauliflower, or a ravioli of zucchini, mozzarella, and lemons. The many fans in Sydney means it can be difficult to secure a table but if you're lucky enough, Sean's is the epitome of Bondi—cool and laid back.

Found a little farther up Bondi Road, away from the beach, this restaurant has been a bit of an unexpected hit since opening in 2018. Unexpected because it's housed above a run-down pub called The Royal, but once you're up the stairs it's an incredibly classy restaurant serving Italian-inspired wood-fired mains. The chef Khan Danis has worked at some of the best restaurants in Sydney and is hailed as the king of wood fire in the city. Each dish is impressive, with pizza-size flatbreads arriving with house-made charcuterie, pickled fish, and seasonal fruit. There's also alfresco dining available, and there's lunch and dinner served every day.

Once just a standard pub in Surry Hills, this spot was completely gutted and renovated and recently opened as a high-end dining experience. Upstairs you can start with a cocktail or two, which gets very lively on weekend. Then downstairs, the dining space is expansive but feels intimate with low lighting. Each dish is carefully prepared and a taste explosion. Roasted chicken skin with liver mousse and sweet Davidson plum is a must to start, followed by the dry-aged Aylesbury duck with rhubarb. The wine list is extensive, the cocktails carefully mixed and for art lovers, there's a vast array of bold art throughout the restaurant.