Sydney Restaurants

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.

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  • 1. Aria

    $$$$ | Circular Quay

    With windows overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Aria could easily rest on the laurels of its location. Instead, celebrity chef Matthew Moran creates a menu of extraordinary dishes that may be your best meal Down Under. It doesn't come cheap but fine fare rarely does, especially in Australia. This foodie favorite enjoyed a recent multimillion-dollar refurbishment, with the restaurant now being one of the most stylish in Sydney.

    1 Macquarie St., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    02-9240–2255

    Known For

    • Foodie favorite
    • Seafood like Skull Island prawns and surf clams and eel
    • Incredible views of the harbor

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Reservations essential, Jacket required
  • 2. Barangaroo House

    $$

    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 a variety of spaces for casual and fine dining. The House Bar at the pedestrian promenade level offers craft beers and share plates, like barramundi bites; In the middle is Bea, a sprawling fine-dining restaurant with elevated Australian fare and both indoor and outdoor dining; the buzzy rooftop bar, Smoke, has good views across the harbor.

    35 Barangaroo Ave., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-8587–5400

    Known For

    • Excellent design
    • Bea's whole roast duck from the Southern Highlands
    • Lively rooftop bar
  • 3. Bathers' Pavilion

    $$$ | Balmoral

    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 for around A$30. No reservations taken for the café.

    4 The Esplanade, Sydney, New South Wales, 2088, Australia
    02-9969–5050

    Known For

    • Great views
    • Casual dining at the café
    • Superior seafood

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 4. Bennelong

    $$$$ | Circular Quay

    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. Whatever you do, leave room for dessert, with the cherry jam lamington, a clever interpretation of an Australian classic, 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.

    Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-9240–8000

    Known For

    • Incredible views
    • High-end dining experience
    • Opera House–shape pavlova

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Reservations essential, Jacket required
  • 5. bills

    $ | Darlinghurst

    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. Dinner selections at the Surry Hills location (359 Crown Street) are similarly gourmet comfort food.

    433 Liverpool St.
    - 02 - 9360–9631

    Known For

    • Ricotta hotcakes
    • Hip atmosphere
    • Great service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
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  • 6. Cirrus

    $$

    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 named Alvin, 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 but the seafood platter of oysters, fat Skull Island prawns, strawberry clams, ocean bugs, and pipis (triangular clams) with seaweed mayo ponzu and red-wine vinaigrette is a must. The wine list is carefully curated and all about the white wines, with red limited to those light in body.

    23 Barangaroo Ave., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-9220–0111

    Known For

    • Five-course menu
    • Seafood platter
    • Views of the harbor
  • 7. Gelato Messina

    $ | Darlinghurst

    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.

    241 Victoria St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2010, Australia
    02-9331--1588

    Known For

    • Authentic gelato
    • Friendly staff
    • Unique flavors
  • 8. Icebergs Dining Room and Bar

    $$$ | Bondi Beach

    The fashionable and famous (including celebrities like Mick Jagger and Paris Hilton) 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. Take a seat on a low-back suede chair, check your reflection in the frosted glass, and prepare to indulge in sophisticated Mediterranean creations like buffalo mozzarella air-freighted from Campania, wood-fried artichoke hearts, aged Sicilian salted anchovies, and ligurina olives served with bruschetta and an array of fresh seafood pasta dishes. The focus here is on sustainable fish so the menu is ever rotating in its offerings. Those who just want to drink in the view, and a cocktail or two, can enjoy delicious morsels—such as oysters and mini-ciabattas—in the bar.

    1 Notts Ave., Sydney, New South Wales, 2026, Australia
    02-9365–9000

    Known For

    • Bondi institution
    • Amazing views of Bondi and the beach
    • Superior food and drinks

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
  • 9. Quay

    $$$$ | The Rocks

    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 greenlip abalone. But it’s the White Coral dessert, which is what Quay has become known. It's a white chocolate ganache shell filled with feijoa 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.

    Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-9251–5600

    Known For

    • Experimental cuisine
    • White Coral dessert
    • Harbor views

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Reservations essential
  • 10. Rockpool

    $$$$ | City Center

    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. Chefs Neil Perry and Corey Costelloe weave Thai, Chinese, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern influences into their repertoire with effortless flair and originality. 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 spanner crab with semolina noodles is equally satisfying. Don't miss the date tart for dessert—it's been a Rockpool favorite since 1984.

    11 Bridge St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-8099–7077

    Known For

    • Date tart
    • Wide caviar selection
    • Dramatic interiors

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and Tues. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential, Jacket required
  • 11. Tetsuya's

    $$$$ | City Center

    It's worth getting on the waiting list—there's always a waiting list—to sample the unique blend of Western and Japanese-French flavors crafted by Sydney's most applauded chef, Tetsuya Wakuda. The serene, expansive dining room's unobtrusive Japanese aesthetic leaves the food as the true highlight. Confit of ocean trout served with unpasteurized ocean-trout roe is a signature item on the set 11-course degustation menu, while other dishes may include New Zealand Scampi with chicken liver parfait, or roasted breast of quail with quail leg rillettes. Views of a Japanese garden—complete with bonsai and a waterfall—make this place feel miles from the city center. It's open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, and lunch on Saturday only.

    529 Kent St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-9267–2900

    Known For

    • Incredible Japanese fare
    • Degustation meals
    • Quiet atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed. No lunch Tues.–Fri., Reservations essential
  • 12. 12-Micron

    $$$

    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. Menu highlights include the pork jowl with black pudding and riberries and lamb neck with potato and broad beans. There's a seven-course dessert tasting menu if you prefer to skip dinner, and the specialty dessert bar is so popular that it’s available through Uber Eats, so you can get the flourless chocolate cake with salted caramel wherever you are in the city.

    100 Barangaroo Ave., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-8322–2075

    Known For

    • Superior wine pairing
    • Dessert bar
    • Tasting menu

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.
  • 13. Altitude

    $$$$ | The Rocks

    The lure of this decadent restaurant high above Sydney Harbour on the 36th floor of the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, is the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but the Mod Oz dishes presented with a strong European influence are equally impressive. The produce hails from local farmers. For a special occasion, gather a dozen friends to dine in the opulent, egg-shape private dining room, or indulge in the seven-course degustation with matching wines. On weekends the adjoining bar can be a little noisy as the night wears on, so it might be a good idea to beat it early or join in the fun.

    176 Cumberland St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-9250–6123

    Known For

    • Stylish dining
    • Locally sourced produce
    • High-end prices

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
  • 14. Aqua Dining

    $$$$ | Sydney Harbour

    Tucked beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge with views of the harbor and Sydney Olympic Pool, this is a popular restaurant for both lunch and dinner. And it is open seven days a week for both. The menu features a lot of fresh seafood, which you can pair with a choice of over 300 Australian wines. Reserve a balcony seat at sunset for a truly unforgettable experience.

    Northcliff St. and Paul St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2061, Australia
    02-9964--9998

    Known For

    • Incredible views
    • Outstanding seafood
    • Smooth service
  • 15. Bambini Trust

    $$ | City Center

    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. Being in the heart of the city, it's also popular at breakfast where the delicious crab omelet makes an exotic start to the work day. At dinner you can't go wrong with the pan-grilled John Dory with Jerusalem artichoke. A pre- or postmeal drink in the marble-lined, chandeliered Bambini Wine Room is a must.

    185 Elizabeth St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-9283–7098

    Known For

    • Great location
    • Outdoor dining options
    • Open late

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No breakfast or lunch Sat.
  • 16. Barbetta

    $ | Paddington

    The creation of three Italian brothers, this trendy Paddington eatery is a winner at both breakfast or at lunch. The menu has truly unique creations, like the breakfast burger with poached eggs, truffled mushrooms, and crushed peas. There's substantial mains for lunch like lasagne or risotto, including light salads. But for a takeaway option, go for the Italian baked treats, which are baked on-site daily and a coffee.

    2 Elizabeth St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
    02-9331--0088

    Known For

    • Substantial mains
    • Unique meals
    • Warm and welcoming atmosphere
  • 17. BBQ King

    $ | Haymarket

    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.

    18–20 Goulburn St., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    02-9267–2586

    Known For

    • <PRO>duck pancakes</PRO>
    • <PRO>late-night feed</PRO>
    • <PRO>quick turnaround</PRO>

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 18. Bennett St Dairy

    $ | Bondi Beach

    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.

    73 Bondi Rd., Sydney, New South Wales, 2026, Australia
    02-8592--4415

    Known For

    • Healthy eats
    • Convenient location
    • Fresh juice
  • 19. Bistro Moncur

    $$ | Woollahra

    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, like the grilled Sirloin Café de Paris, French onion soufflé gratin, and port sausages with potato puree and Lyonnaise onions, although the signature dish you must try is the much-loved, twice-cooked soufflé. The casual café and bar, Moncur Terrace, serves mains such as wagyu beef burgers and gourmet pizzas.

    116 Queen St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2025, Australia
    02-9327–9713

    Known For

    • Great atmosphere
    • Friendly staff
    • Caters to a long lunch
  • 20. Bistro Rex

    $$ | Potts Point

    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.

    50 Macleay St., Sydney, New South Wales, 2011, Australia
    02-9332--2100

    Known For

    • Chic interiors
    • Delicious eats
    • Lively atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch. Closed Sun. and Mon.

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