57 Best Restaurants in Sydney, New South Wales

With windows overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Aria could easily rest on the laurels of its location. Instead, celebrated chef Tom Gorringe creates a menu of extraordinary dishes that may be your best meal Down Under. There's inventive seafood dishes, premium meats, and beautifully presented desserts. The dining experience is focused on different four-course tasting menus, with matching wines. And this dining experience doesn't come cheap but fine fare rarely does, especially in Australia. 

Sitting at the edge of newly completed Barangaroo like an elegant stack of wide, plant-filled bowls clad in charred timber, this three-level spaceship has a seating capacity of 900 people and offers three ways to dine: the House Bar at the pedestrian promenade level offers craft beers, cocktails, or coffee and share plates, Rekōdo restaurant & Vinyl Bar, a sprawling fine-dining restaurant offering Japanese fusion with both indoor and outdoor dining, and the buzzy rooftop bar, Smoke, which has good views across the harbor and an outstanding cocktail list.

Balmoral Beach is blessed—not only does it have an inviting sandy beach and great water views, but it also has one of the best eating strips north of the Harbour Bridge. Queen of the strip is Bathers' Pavilion, which includes a restaurant, café, and lavish private dining room. Here you'll find a menu packed with the best local ingredients no matter if you're dining for a casual breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. There's a choice of fresh light salads, wood-fired pizzas, and seafood dishes. No reservations taken for the café.

One of Australia's most renowned chefs, Peter Gilmore, oversees the kitchen at possibly the most superbly situated dining room in town. Tucked into the side of the Opera House, the restaurant affords views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city lights. Gilmore's creations are as special as the view and showcase the best of Australia's produce with a focus on terroir, with dishes like aged Kurobuta pork or Tasmanian southern rock lobster. Whatever you do, leave room for dessert, with the cherry jam lamington, a clever interpretation of the Australian classic cake, which has been a constant on the menu for almost a decade. It's that good. Pretheater dining is available if you are going to a performance in the Opera House but booking is essential.

Named after celebrity chef and cookbook author Bill Granger, this sunny corner café is so addictive it should come with a health warning. It's a favorite hangout of everyone from local nurses to semi-disguised rock stars, and you never know who you might be sitting next to at the newspaper-strewn communal table. If you're not interested in the creaminess of what must be Sydney's best scrambled eggs, try the ricotta hotcakes with fresh banana and honeycomb butter or the corn fritters. The coconut-poached chicken sandwich with cucumber and lime mayonnaise makes an ideal lunch. 

It's named after a cloud, but with its floor-to-ceiling-windows looking out on Cockle Bay, timber fencing (both on the floor and strung in different lengths from the ceiling) akin to what you might see in sand dunes, a suspended/flying vintage speedboat, and perhaps the best and freshest seafood offerings in Sydney, Cirrus may as well be named for the sea it floats above. The five-course, degustation-style menu is very popular, with courses involving high-end fare like caviar, oysters, and scallops. The grilled Moreton Bay bug on the à la carte menu is sumptuous and a must try. The wine list is carefully curated with a focus on pairing white wines, with red limited to those light in body.

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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Quay has been Sydney’s top restaurant for 30 years and it's still going strong with chef Peter Gilmore's experimental Mod Oz cuisine created with seasonal, local produce. The menu has carefully created seafood dishes, like wild blacklip abalone or native freshwater marron or crayfish. But it’s the White Coral dessert, which is what Quay has become known. It's a white chocolate ganache shell filled with feijoa fruit ice cream and coconut cream. Add in the sweeping vista of the Opera House and the sparkling harbor, and it's perhaps no surprise that prebooking is essential.

A meal at Rockpool is a crash course in what Mod Oz cooking is all about, conducted in a glamorous, long dining room with a catwalk-like ramp. Thai, Chinese, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern influences can be found in the dishes here. The menu is extensive, with caviar from around the world to start. The Wagyu beef is butchered on-site, with the premium oyster blade cut costing A$125; the tagliatelle with a rich mushroom and truffle sauce is equally satisfying. Don't miss the date tart for dessert—it's been a Rockpool favorite since 1984.

Head chef Justin Wise’s focus here is celebrating the elements of air, land, and sea in a menu that celebrates local farmers and fine Australian wines. Even the name "12-Micron" refers to the micrometer scale used in scientific measurements, a nod to the chef's attention to detail and precision in his culinary approach. The menu typically includes a range of innovative dishes and a curated selection of fine wines, creating a memorable dining experience for guests. Menu highlights include the Wagyu beef tenderloin, served with truffle mash, or the divine seared scallops. There's a seven-course dessert tasting menu if you prefer to skip dinner.

It's hidden behind huge black doors in one of the city's historic sandstone buildings, but once you're inside you'd swear you were in Paris. Dark-wood paneling, black-and-white photographs, and mirrors bearing the day's specials in flowing script lend a bistro feel. The fare is predominately Italian with a sprinkling of French and Mod Oz dishes. Try the Bambini spaghettini with sauté of Spencer Gulf King Prawns that has just the right amount of heat from chilies. A pre- or postmeal drink in the marble-lined, chandeliered Bambini Wine Room is a must.

The creation of three Italian brothers, this trendy Paddington eatery is a winner for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu is designed to offer a genuine taste of Italian home cooking no matter what time of day you dine. At breakfast, a light polenta porridge arrives with figs. For lunch, a fresh caprese salad and dinner, their self-titled "best lasagne ever." You can even grab a takeaway, with a wide range of Italian baked treats which are baked on-site daily and good coffee.

You can find better basic Chinese food elsewhere in town, but for duck and pork, barbecue-loving Sydneysiders know that this is the place to come. The poultry hanging in the window are the only decoration at this small Chinatown staple, where the food is so fresh you can almost hear it clucking—make sure you sample the duck pancakes. Barbecued pork is the other featured dish, and the suckling pig is especially delicious. It's open from 11 am until late at night, when the average customers are large groups of mates sprawled at the Formica tables feeding their drunken munchies, or Chinatown chefs kicking back after a day in the kitchen. The service can be a little brusque, but it's all part of the low-budget charm.

Bondi is known for being the health epicenter of Sydney and, unsurprisingly, the cafés are all about packing as much healthy food into a dish as possible. Breakfast bowls packed with eggs, vegetables, toasted seeds, and gluten-free toast is a popular option here. There's also fresh juices, smoothies and kombucha, which most grab-to-go and take to the nearby grass bank opposite the beach.

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.

Blackbird Café is great place to take a break while exploring Darling Harbour. The weekday lunch specials are a good value. There are great views from the balcony, so try and nab a table there. The à la carte menu includes starters of salt-and-pepper squid, or grilled prawns and crab, and there's a wide range of pizza, pasta, burgers, and grills.

Located on a jetty that juts out into the ocean, this café is a favorite with Sydneysiders who travel up on weekends and tuck into hearty breakfasts, like poached eggs on sourdough with avocado and pesto, and its trademark coffee that comes with a cocoa anchor on top. It's licensed, with many enjoying a long champagne lunch with fresh seafood. A great spot for spotting Australian celebrities.

With wide verandas providing tranquil views over the gardens, the sound of birdsong filling the air, and a menu created by celebrated chef Luke Nguyen, Botanic House is a top choice for a long lunch or a sunset dinner. The menu is modern Asian, leaning more toward Vietnamese, with dumplings, bao, and grilled meats usually on the menu. The restaurant is within the Royal Botanic Gardens; it can be accessed from either the Palace Gate on Macquarie Street or from Lion Gate on Mrs. Macquarie's Road.

One of eight or nine eateries in the buzzy café strip opposite Bronte Beach, this is a great place to refuel after the Bondi-to-Bronte cliff-top walk. All share the same postcard-perfect view, but Belo is worth seeking out for its consistently good coffee and spicy sticky chai. It has a little more elbow space between tables than some of its neighbors. The menu has all the standard breakfast and brunch selections, many with a slight Brazilian twist, like the poached eggs served with a spicy tomato ragù.

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.

This northern beaches gem is most popular on Tuesday nights, when a hearty slab of lasagne is on special at just A$20 a slice until the restaurant runs out (and they always run out). This neat Italian restaurant is meticulous in creating the very best hand-rolled pasta including a kale pesto spaghetti adorned with walnuts, soft cured yolk, and truffle pecorino, as well as duck ragù stracci pasta with currants and lemon thyme. Start your meal with the irresistible focaccia and a selection of antipasti, such as kingfish crudo and gnocchi fritto. The interiors are modern, the space a little cozy and it is BYO or you can choose from the extensive wine list of Italian wines.

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.

Drawing inspiration from New York's legendary steak houses, this CBD venue is brought to life by head chef Sam Galloway. The starters are focused on extravagant raw seafood, showcasing premium caviar, prawn cocktails, and oysters served three ways. A standout is the scallops casino with butter and toasted breadcrumbs. You can also enjoy table-side filleted fish with your choice of sauce and the restaurant’s signature dish, spaghetti and clams. But really, this spot is popular thanks to its focus on fine cuts of steak, cooked in a state-of-the-art Josper charcoal oven and paired with delightful wines from around the world.