Restaurants – Dining Guide for Sydney, NSW
What distinguishes Australian cuisine is that you can satiate your taste buds for superb European fare, exotic Asian, daring aboriginal in their purest forms, or amuse yourself with food that draws brilliantly and wonderfully from all three traditions… such as chiko rolls, jaffas, tim tams, and damper bread! Use this complete approach to acquire yourself some cuisine that’s as enjoyable to eat as it is to say.
Discover a variety of delicious experiences, including gourmet restaurants, alleyway cafes, bustling markets, opulent cocktail bars, and traditional neighborhood pubs. Sydney’s ethnic background, a local enthusiasm for cuisine, and the abundance of fresh produce and seafood on its doorstep combine to make it one of the world’s top locations to eat and drink.
Sydney, with its stunning harbor and vibrant culinary scene, offers a delightful array of dining options. Whether you’re seeking fine dining, waterside eateries, or late-night spots, here are some top recommendations for Central Sydney, Lakemba, Bondi Beach, Coogee, Paddington and Manly.
Restaurant Hubert
The wood-paneled staircase, decorated with cabinets of tiny liquor bottles, leads deep into the subterranean bowels of Restaurant Hubert where chefs eat in Sydney. It’s a love letter to Paris in the 1930s. Live jazz music blends with delicious French cuisine, candlelit tables, crimson velvet draperies, and attentive hipster service – even the sommelier is tattooed and wears thick-rimmed glasses. The banquet meal is a cost-effective option that includes a scrumptious whole chicken fricassee in bread sauce to share. It does not include the kimchi gratin, but if you can stomach the heat, request it separately.
Located in downtown Sydney, Restaurant Hubert is a French-inspired gem. The ambiance is lovely, and the ribeye steak and mushrooms are must-tries.
Address: 15 Bligh Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000
Open Hours: Monday to Saturday, lunch and dinner
Chin Chin
This Asian fusion spot offers rice noodles and a rooftop setting. Try their tapas-style dishes and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Address: 69 Commonwealth Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010
Open Hours: Daily from noon until late
Quay
There is nowhere else in town that can create a feeling of occasion like Quay. For almost 15 years, it has held a special place in the hearts of Sydney diners due to its unparalleled vistas, service, and delectable cuisine. With the Opera House and Sydney Harbour as backdrops, securing a table is as difficult as you may assume; book at least three months ahead of time. Diners can choose between a six- or ten-course menu featuring celebrity chef Peter Gilmore’s sensitive approach to rare foods, which remains as appealing as the famed vista.
Bennelong
The Sydney Opera House’s premier restaurant is carved out of one of the famed Utzon sails, making you feel as if you’re dining within a whale’s belly. Pop in for a pre-show drink and a dozen oysters at Bennelong Bar, or stay for the night and enjoy the three-course fine-dining experience, which is one of Sydney’s best. The pavlova takes the prize for cutest dessert. Aside from being a must-try Australian delicacy, it is designed like a little Opera House.
Black Bar & Grill
Enjoy stunning views of Sydney Harbour at Black Bar & Grill. Their menu features the finest steakhouse cuisine, emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Address: Harbourside, The Star, Level G/80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont, New South Wales 2009
Open Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, dinner
Fratelli Paradiso
If there is one restaurant I return to more than any other, it is Fratelli Paradiso. Perhaps it’s the kindness of the owners, the Paradiso brothers, who are usually there, kissing locals and pouring drinks from their small, natural-leaning wine selection. It could be the rapid pace; proactive and friendly workers keep this well-oiled machine running with razor-like precision. Perhaps it’s the people watching—up-and-coming artists brush shoulders (intimately) with elderly politicians. Perhaps it’s the calamari Saint Andrea, which has been on the menu since the restaurant’s inception over 20 years ago, which, in Sydney’s volatile dining scene, makes Frat Paz the kind of restaurant you give your seat to on the bus. But, most likely, it is the spaghettini.
Oncore by Clare Smyth
Clare Smyth’s Antipodean debut, Oncore, took years to develop. Bushfires, floods, and a global epidemic prevented Smyth from launching her highly anticipated follow-up to Notting Hill’s Core. But here it is: perched high on the 26th level of Barangaroo’s Crown Casino complex, Smyth’s distinctive comfortable-yet-opulent interiors, this time set against one of the world’s most audacious panoramas. The majority of the menu has been translated from London (yes, you can have your potato and roe), but done with uniquely Australian food and under the skilled touch of Kiwi-born head chef Alan Stuart.
Whalebridge
Perched on the harbor, Whalebridge serves oysters, French fare, and unbeatable views. Perfect for sunny afternoons or impressing out-of-towners.
Location: Circular Quay
Totti’s
Totti’s Italian-style courtyard in Bondi is ideal for enjoying mortadella, salami, prosciutto, and woodfired bread. Pair it with organic wines or a Riot Spritz.
Location: Bondi
Remember to explore these outdoor dining gems and savor Sydney’s culinary delights!