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Sydney's dining scene is as sunny and cosmopolitan as the city itself, and there are diverse and exotic culinary adventures to suit every appetite. Mod Oz (modern-Australian) cooking flourishes, fueled by local produce and guided by Mediterranean and Asian techniques. Look for such innovations as tuna tartare with flying-fish roe and wasabi; emu prosciutto; five-spice duck; shiitake mushroom pie; and sweet turmeric barramundi curry. A meal at Tetsuya's or Rockpool constitutes a crash course in this dazzling culinary language. A visit to the city's fish markets at Pyrmont, five minutes from the city center, will also tell you much about Sydney's diet. Look for rudderfish, barramundi, blue-eye, kingfish, John Dory, ocean perch, and parrot fish, as well as Yamba prawns, Balmain and Moreton Bay bugs (shovel-nose lobsters), sweet Sydney rock oysters, mud crab, spanner crab, yabbies (small freshwater crayfish), and marrons (freshwater lobsters).
There are many expensive and indulgent restaurants in the city center, but the real dining scene is in the inner city, eastern suburbs, and inner-western suburbs of Leichhardt and Balmain. Neighborhoods like Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Paddington, and beachside suburb Bondi are dining destinations in themselves. Plus, you're more likely to find a restaurant that will serve on a Sunday night in one of these places than in the central business district (the city center)—which can become a bit of a ghost town after offices close during the week. Circular Quay and The Rocks are always lively, and the Overseas Passenger Terminal (on the opposite side of the harbor from the Opera House) has several top-notch restaurants with stellar views.
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).
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.
Sign up for one of the monthly cocktail classes to learn the barman's secrets.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With a yacht-club theme, this new Sydney venue features a spacious setup with indoor and outdoor seating for over 350 guests, a 20-meter (65-foot) stone bar, and lush greenery making you feel a little farther away from the bustle of the city than you are. Head chef Kyle Quy crafts a menu that combines classic pub cuisine with Mediterranean flavors. There's also theater-style kitchen and a DJ deck, making it a vibrant spot for both dining and evening entertainment.
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.
For two hours—or as long as it takes for you to consume delicately steamed prawns, luscious mud crab with ginger and shallots, and pipis (clam-like shellfish) with black-bean sauce—you might as well be in Hong Kong. This restaurant has a cult following, having closed its doors in Chinatown only to open in nearby Star Sydney, a luxury hotel with many restaurants, bars, and a nightclub. The same menu attracts here, with a more upmarket interior in line with the hotel. Come for the big-ticket seafood or a simple meal of deep-fried duck. Supper is served until 11 pm so it's popular with late-night revelers.
This hidden gem is the city offering of the popular Grounds of Alexandria, a dog- and kid-friendly eatery with a on-site urban farm that's found just outside of the city. This French-style café is less country rustic and more city slick. It's all low lighting, vintage interiors, with soft velvet seating and intimate booths. And the menu edges toward Parisian-bistro influence, with its croque monsieur a favorite dish. There's outstanding coffee, fresh juices, and breakfast and lunch cocktails. The service is always exceptional.
The cocktails are legendary, the view is captivating, and the food, a traditional Chinese/Malay fusion, is extraordinary. After over 50 years in the business (first opened in 1963), in different venues around Sydney, this modern Asian restaurant still does a roaring trade. Signature dishes include beef rendang (Indonesian-style beef curry), and the spanner crab san choy bow, a fabulous twist on a classic Chinese lettuce wraps. Try one of the four set menus (for a minimum of three people) for a true feast on the extensive menu's flavor combinations.
Fast but fancy fare, that's what this Darlinghurst café has become known for since opening in 2020—and has since expanded with three other locations, including Barangaroo. The crab omelet is a standout for breakfast and comes with avruga caviar. The cheese toastie comes topped with black truffle, there are poached lobster rolls and caviar sandwiches. The service is slick, the interiors trendy and the coffee rich, but it comes at a price.
Celeb-chef Matt Moran’s much-celebrated beachfront offering is so much more than just standard fish-and-chips. The ocean views enhance a small and select seafood menu that includes fresh Sydney rock oysters, charcoal-grilled snapper, prawns, salmon, and whole fish of the day. The fancy fish fingers, fish burgers, and classic beer-battered fillets are musts.
A charming restaurant located known for its cozy ambience and refined cuisine. There's a range dishes at breakfast, lunch, or dinner and each focus on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. The three-egg omelet from breakfast is a standout. With a reputation for excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a great spot for a relaxed meal in a picturesque setting.
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.
A vibrant, beachside atmosphere with stunning harbor views is the draw here, and the outdoor eating area is a popular spot at sunset. The menu features a variety of options including seafood platters, fish-and-chips, barbecue ribs, and vegetarian pasta, along with fresh salads and indulgent desserts like chocolate brownie and lemon tart. The drinks menu is focused on cocktails, local and international wines, craft beers, and nonalcoholic beverages. Often there's live music or a DJ playing as the sun goes down. And you can even stay in the on-site accommodation for A$250 a night, or simply grab a coffee to go from the kiosk.
