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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.
There's a reason why there's always a queue snaking down the street. This is undoubtedly the best gelato in Sydney, with unique flavors that change all the time. There's now many Gelato Messina parlors across Sydney but this is the original. DIY sundaes available. No seating so grab and walk down the tree-lined Victoria Street.
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.
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.
Griddle pan dishes are the draw at this friendly, and slightly noisy, organic café and food store on the city fringe. Served in cast-iron skillets and topped with two baked eggs, the griddle choices include creamed corn with chorizo or their own home-cured smoky bacon. Cakes and baked goods are made on the premises; diners return time and time again for the coconut cake to savor with a great cup of tea or coffee. It's a perfect break after shopping in nearby trendy Darlinghurst. Much of the produce on the shelves are ingredients used in the meals, and the tea and coffee are grown on organic or biodynamic farms. Here's a place you can happily (and healthily!) browse.
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.
A charming slice of Italy nestled in Paddington, originally established as a delicatessen before evolving into a beloved local café. Serving as a bridge between Paddington’s retail and residential areas, it's become a second kitchen for many regulars who visit daily. The cozy interior, adorned with dried oregano and hanging prosciutto, exudes warmth and charm, creating a welcoming atmosphere where you can share benches, high tables, and small stools while enjoying paninis and Allpress coffee.
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.
Most people come to this buzzy bar at the end of Pier 4 for a quick bite before a show at the adjacent Sydney Theatre Company, but the views of the Harbour Bridge are so spectacular that it's worth coming here any time. It gets busy before a show starts, but then the crowd vanishes, leaving it a pleasant place to linger over a quiet glass of wine or cocktail and soak in the amazing view. The menu is split into small tapas-style eats to share or large mains, and there's plenty of variety from hearty pastas, fish-and-chips and antipasto boards.
The first of its kind, the iconic fashion magazine now has a chic café found at the heart of Darling Harbour. A gourmet menu features refined breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea options, along with specialty coffees and elegant cocktails. Its stylish interiors and fashionable atmosphere make it a popular spot for those looking to enjoy a luxurious café experience while looking out at the impressive yachts in Darling Harbour's marina.
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.
