15 Best Restaurants in Sydney, New South Wales

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This French restaurant oozes old-school glamour, with live jazz playing each night as diners tuck into traditional French fare, like soufflé and beef tartare. There are five rooms that make up this classy eatery, which include two bars serving classic cocktails, two dining rooms, and an old-school theater where classes and workshops are held.

The culinary focus of this chic basement eatery is regional China. There are dishes from far-flung Yunnan, Hunan, and Sichuan provinces, and as the names suggests, they all have a kick. The food is meant to be shared, and the menu features innovative dishes like tea-smoked duck and kung pao chicken, alongside a selection of dim sum and small plates. The elegant, contemporary interior provides a sophisticated yet relaxed dining atmosphere. Complementing the food, the extensive wine list and creative cocktails enhance the dining experience. It's a busy, trendy eatery (down a somewhat steep flight of stairs), so if you have to wait at the bar for a table, grab a cocktail and a spicy pork bun and take in the opium den ambience.

Found inside the Roslyn Packer Theatre, the Walsh Bay Kitchen offers light Asian fusion fare, with flavors of miso and wasabi-crumbed fish often found on the menu. It gets busy here before a show, due in part to the fact that the food here is so much cheaper than at neighboring restaurants. It's a pleasant spot to linger and enjoy a quiet wine from the extensive list when the crowds empty out.

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.