Restaurants & Cafes
Restaurants in Sydney, fine dining, fun dining and restaurants with food for all tastes.
Sydney is rapidly emerging as one of the culinary capitals of the world, thanks to inventive chefs, top ingredients, top restaurants and a city that's prepared to try anything once.
Explore Sydney’s restaurant scene and you will savour an array of mouth-watering international flavour sensations where restaurants have captured the authentic recipes, ingredients, service and atmosphere of their homelands and have proudly brought them to the harbour city. Seafood Restaurants are very high on the agenda, with a multitude of seafood restaurants placed to take advantage of water views. However you'll also find plenty of Modern Australian restaurants, Asian restaurants, Mediterranean restaurants, European restaurants and many more ready to delight your taste buds. Make it a night to remember by enjoying dinner and a theatre show.
Not confined to the city’s CBD, areas all over Sydney are packed with hip bars and world-acclaimed restaurants brimming with delicious, produce-driven dishes so why not get out and explore areas such as Darling Harbour, King Street Wharf, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Quarter, Woolloomooloo Wharf, or travel north of the Harbour Bridge to areas including Kirribilli, Mosman and Manly. Sydney has so many places to eat and things to do. You are spoiled for choice!
Nicks' captures the essence of Sydney dining - the freshest seafood and a stunning harbourside location. The tempting array of seafood, including fish, prawns and oysters, comes from the fish market each morning and the dishes are inspired by flavour and simplicity. Specialties include freshly shucked oysters and superb local lobsters.
360 Bar and Dining is the preeminent restaurant space in Sydney Tower Dining, boasting unsurpassed revolving views of the Sydney skyline. The restaurant has set industry benchmarks for revolving restaurants worldwide and continues to impress diners with innovative modern Australian inspired menus and excellent service. With dark mahogany wood finishes and soft ambient lighting, 360 Bar and Dining provides a breathtaking setting with an unbeatable backdrop.
Bistro Lilly is perfect restaurant for all manner of occasions - a romantic dinner, corporate lunch or that special private function. Located in the Sydney’s prestigious Observatory Tower in the historic Rocks area, Bistro Lilly offers modern Australian cuisine with French influences matched with a wine list that exemplifies the cosmopolitan nature of Sydney.
Sydney’s no.1 Chinese Seafood and Yum Cha restaurant. Established since 1986 with a capacity of over 500 and over 100 dishes to choose from. Head Chef Xu Zheng has made East Ocean famous for its Salt and Pepper Giant King Crab/Lobster. Situated right in the heart of Chinatown, East Ocean offers the leading style of Yum Cha in Sydney with such delicacies as Prawn Dumpling and Shanghai Pork Dumplings. East Ocean is an absolute must when visiting Sydney.
Hard Rock Sydney is ready to Rock! Superbly located at Harbourside, Darling Harbour with prime waterfront and cityscape views. An extensive menu is offered including the famous Legendary Burgers and Smokehouse grill selection. Try a signature cocktail whilst listening to great music and being surrounded by rock memorabilia from icons of the past and today’s hottest artists. Don’t forget to stop by the retail store Rock Shop to commemorate your visit.
With amazing service and some of Sydney's best Modern Italian cuisine, Italian Village is at the forefront of Australian dining. The ever changing menus offer something for everyone, yet is carefully chosen to tantalise and delight the most discerning food critic. Experience Italy’s charm, romance and the passion for great food all within the heart of the historic Rocks precinct overlooking Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House.
Kamikaze Teppanyaki located in Harbourside serves healthy and contemporary style Asian food against a backdrop of breathtaking views of Darling Harbour and the city skyline. All dishes are prepared using the freshest seafood and finest meats. Be entertained as the chefs of Kamikaze combine cooking with showmanship flair. The harmonious combination of fine food and friendly service makes Kamikaze a spectacular and enticing dining experience. It’s an ideal venue for a romantic dinner or celebration with friends.
Ocean Room’s breathtaking harbour side view and interior offers diners a taste of contemporary Japanese dining. Inspired by the sea, Executive Chef Raita Noda’s cutting edge menu features modern Japanese cuisine with an innovative culinary approach.
Selah is relaxed and stylish city dining at its best. The philosophy is simple, create spectacular contemporary Australian dishes by tapping into flavours and techniques from around the globe. Selah’s Head Chef Gavin Foster embraces the best local seasonal produce to craft an inspiring menu of bistro simplicity allowing the food to be the hero, all set in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Selah, the perfect pause from the hustle and bustle of Sydney.
Steel Bar and Grill offers a unique dining experience within a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. A renowned venue in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, it’s a sleek urban oasis offering a delicious and tempting Modern Australian menu. Every aspect of the main dining area, outdoor balcony and Private Dining Room is dramatic and awe inspiring.
Sydney Tower Buffet is the contemporary self-select restaurant in Sydney Tower Dining. Offering an extensive banquet-style dining experience with uninterrupted revolving views of the city, Sydney Tower Buffet provides the perfect relaxed dining environment for locals and visitors alike.
With more than 40 freshly-prepared dishes on offer, guests can sample food from a range of cuisines including succulent fresh seafood, modern Australian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Thai.
Teras Bali on Hickson Road offers a new concept in Indonesian contemporary dining. Offering you a touch of Bali, it is housed amongst Sydney’s rich heritage and contemporary design at Walsh Bay. The warm Balinese atmosphere and airy ambience makes Teras Bali the place for great views, amazing food and relaxation.
With its relaxed bistro feel and new menu from executive chef Jacqui Gowan, The Burlington Bar and Dining is the perfect choice for dining on the North Shore. This 90 seat restaurant has two distinctly different rooms, one that is a modern take on the classic bistro setting, the other a more contemporary space, as well as a private dining room that seats 25. Adding to the appeal, the recently opened Wine Bar offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a drink before dinner or relaxing cocktail in the bar.
Waterfront's authentic menus are inspired by the classics - French, Italian, Spanish and Mediterranean with seafood being their specialty. Situated within the historic Rocks precinct with views across Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House, dining at Waterfront is a truly unforgettable experience.
Dine like a star in this waterfront restaurant at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay, with amazing views of the Sydney Opera House and harbour. Wildfire Restaurant offers a delicious menu of contemporary Australian dishes and traditional Churrasco.
Wine Odyssey Australia is the most unique wine experience you’ll find in Sydney, showcasing the perfect combination of modern Australian cuisine and premium boutique Australian wines. The unique wine flights expertly marry Chef Grant McGregor’s culinary creativity with 3 premium white, red or sparkling wines.
Wolfies invites you to dine on a wide array of Australia's famous prime grain fed beef and local seafood prepared in the char grill kitchen. Wolfies has a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere. Great food, superb wine and friendly staff combined with views over the iconic Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House, makes for a perfect experience for anyone at any time of year.
Located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Acqua Pazza, is an Italian restaurant serving the best in classic, Neapolitan food. Mario Percuoco is the chef and restaurateur of this elegant yet comfortable restaurant and bar. Together with his wife Katina, an effervescent and welcoming host, they aim to provide Sydney with a touch of old school charm with modern conveniences. By day Acqua Pazza showcases a fresh Antipasto table, perfect for the hustle and bustle of a CBD lunch. At night, the mood is romantic and inviting, where patrons are encouraged to take their time and enjoy the experience of eating at one of Sydney’s finest Italian restaurants.
Adria Rybar and Grill captures the essence and hospitality that has made the Adriatic seaside region famous. The mouthwatering menu includes flavours from Venice in the north to Crete, south of Greece, showcasing meat and seafood centred around the chargrill. Tasting plates are the perfect way to sample more of the menu, and there are also pastas. The Fisherman's Bar is a great spot for a pre-dinner cocktail.
Captain Cook Cruises' 'MV Sydney 2000' takes romantic dining to a whole new level, with a range of lunch and dinner options - from a seafood buffet to an elegant six-course degustation menu. One popular choice is the three-course Captain's Club Dinner, while for pure opulence, it has to be the Sky Deck Gold Dinner, complete with vintage Australian wines.
Experience the charm and romance of Italy at this King Street Wharf eatery. Inspired by simple fresh ingredients, the menu incorporates the traditional robust flavours of Italy with an innovative approach. There is an extensive menu, as well a superb list of Italian and Australian wines. Add the spectacular waterfront views and you have a culinary affair to remember.
With unbeatable views of Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House, Cruise Restaurant is one of Sydney’s finest dining experiences. Offering premium modern cuisine, an inviting atmosphere, alfresco dining and a fantastic cocktail lounge, this stylish yet relaxed venue is one of the hottest spots on the harbour for drinks or dinner.
 For an authentic Korean BBQ experience try Dae Jang Kum. They not only serve Korean BBQ, but also many delicious Korean meals such as kimchi, marinated beef rib, bulgogi, bibimbab and ginseng chicken soup. Dae Jang Kum offer more than 150 menu choices with a kitchen manned by four experienced chefs.
This family-owned restaurant is utterly dedicated to the sea, using images of the early 20th-century fishing boats once moored in the area to set the mood. Standout dishes include the chef’s signature dish of whole baked baby barramundi stuffed with prawn and vegetables, as well as the Fish at The Rocks tasting experience for two. There are also traditional seafood offerings of oysters, lobster, prawn and scallops plus the daily specials board.
With its bleached wood fittings and open doors, Flying Fish seems to merge into Jones Bay Wharf. The food itself is at the upper end of the fine-dining experience, with a not-unexpected emphasis on seafood. Worth a visit just for the toilets, with walls of scarily translucent glass, until they frost over once you're inside.
The Georges series of restaurants are owned by the Vardis family, who have parlayed a love of simple and fresh Mediterranean cuisine, combined with hospitable ambiance, into an important name in restaurants. Enjoy small selections from the mezedes menu, and spin the experience out over hours so you can enjoy the water view.
A steak house with a difference, I'm Angus is a stylish restaurant that has a well-established reputation for its premium quality steaks and extensive selection of fine Australian wines. There is a vast range of all your favourite cuts, cooked to perfection by a team of chefs on the kitchen's open-flame chargrill.
Owner Zahi Azzi and his wife Penny opened the now famous Kazbah On Darling in 1998. The popularity of Kazbah inspired a second and third venue; Kazbah Top Ryde and Kazbah Darling Harbour. The dynamic duo and their team are a force to be reckoned with receiving accolades from Restaurant & Catering Australia/NSW.
Their menu is compiled by Zahi and his chefs using only the finest produce and ingredients, while the cuisine reflects the flavours and
aromas of the Middle-East and Northern Africa.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily from 8am.
Housed in a three-level heritage-listed sandstone building, Kingsleys is the ultimate Australian dining experience. There's a selection of over 20 different steaks - including kangaroo - and the wine list offers an outstanding variety, all designed to complement the fine food. Not just for meat lovers, the menu also features seafood such as oysters, calamari, prawns and barramundi.
Chef Gregori (Greg) Akridas has designed a menu to showcase authentic Greek food, and added individual touches to every dish. Start with the Greek dips and octopus or prawns, followed by the house speciality of whole slow-baked lamb - you won't find a more tender meat. The wine list offers both Greek and Australian wines.
If you’re planning a special celebration Mizuya is the ideal glamorous venue, complete with touch-screen menu ordering, a bar and karaoke. There are 24 private rooms with true izakaya style
dining - choose from over 200
contemporary and traditional Japanese dishes, such as soft-shell crab, marbled beef and grilled Alaskan black cod, created by executive chef Atsushi Nishibuchi and a team of 20 fully trained chefs.
This Sydney institution, right on the water near Darling Harbour, offers the best in alfresco dining, combined with spectacular vistas. Nick's is renowned for its Mediterranean chargrills, as well as the freshest seafood. This stunning open-plan restaurant is ideal for a casual lunch or a romantic dinner.
Nicks' captures the essence of Sydney dining - the freshest seafood and a stunning harbourside location. The tempting array of seafood, including fish, prawns and oysters, comes from the fish market each morning and the dishes are inspired by flavour and simplicity. Specialties include freshly shucked oysters and superb local lobsters.
For a special Sydney experience, take a 20-minute water taxi ride from Circular Quay to Orso's private jetty on Middle Harbour. Spend a languid afternoon dining on fine seafood on a sun-drenched balcony, listening to the waters rippling below. Situated 15 minutes from the city by road, the restaurant focuses on fresh seafood with Italian and Mediterranean influences.
The Doyle family name means a lot in Sydney, because they've been creating seafood excellence for generations - and in a city awash (no pun intended) with creatures from the ocean, standing out takes some doing. The waterfront ambiance of Peter Doyle's restaurant certainly helps, along with the deft touch with the produce.
A former bond warehouse, Pony's building has been transformed into modern diner, with exposed brick walls and clever use of glass. The food is Modern Mediterranean/Australian, with a wood-fired grill for the meat. With mains at around $30 this isn't cheap, but it's a tasty night out in a historic area.
Right on the beach at Balmoral, on Sydney's north shore, this stylish architecturally designed restaurant offers a contemporary a la carte menu. Dishes include oysters and other seafood, meat and salads, pasta and risotto, as well as tapas. The dining here is relaxed and beach-style. Balmoral is just a 15-minute taxi ride from the city centre, and also accessible by water taxi.
Just a short stroll from the city you'll find this modern steakhouse with some amazing water views. But the views are only the beginning. Open up the leather-bound menu and you'll discover more prime meat than you ever knew existed - from the tenderest Wagyu to beef sourced from specific locales. The menu is rounded out with pasta and seafood.
Experience Australia’s finest modern kaiten-zushi dining bar at Umi Kaiten-Zushi. This is a culinary experience not to be missed. Their highly-trained expert suchi chefs create traditional and modern sushi using the freshest ingredients. Their produce comes straight from the Sydney Fish Market daily. Relax in their stylish surrounds whilst their attentive staff see to your every need.
Umi Sushi + Udon, is a casual dining Japanese restaurant in Darling Harbour, set with traditional Japanese Kyoto style décor and a sense of nostalgia taking you back to the historic days. It offers over 100 traditional and fusion sushi dishes, and specialises in Sanuki udon made fresh daily.
Xathi is the creation of award wining chef and owner David Tsirekas. He has expertly crafted a menu that is a fusion of traditional Greek recipes with modern flare. The standouts are filo parties made to order, the spit that daily roasts pork, goat or lamb, and Ouzo cart with more than 20 to choose from and Australia’s first traditional sandpit coffee. If you love Greek cuisine, Xanthi is a must on a trip to Sydney.
Located on the 36th floor of the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, Altitude Restaurant offers commanding views over Sydney Harbour through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Chef de Cuisine Steven Krasicki has made a name to match the surrounds with his European-inspired Australian cuisine. For an intimate dining experience, the glass-encased private dining room, seating up to 16 guests, is a dramatic alternative.
Aria is one of the most stylish addresses in the world to dine in, with an unparalleled view of the Opera House, the Harbour and the Bridge. Chef Matt Moran is an acknowledged star of the Australian gastronomy firmament, and the impeccable service and attention to detail at every level complements the haute cuisine.
The Athenian has a warm, inviting ambience with a great selection of authentic Greek dishes, such as pan-fried whitebait, moussaka and lamb souvlaki. Their signature dish is the succulent roasted Greek lamb which falls from the bone. The Anthenian is reasonably priced and is a halfway point between Circular Quay and Darling Harbour.
The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2009 awarded Becasse its coveted 'Restaurant of the Year rating'. It's not the most beautiful restaurant you've ever seen, but that's because all the excitement is in what's on the plate - Modern European food - and how it's served. Chef Justin North and front of house/sommelier partner Georgia North have created one of the city's most exciting restaurants.
One of Sydney's best-known chefs, Bill Grainger, has created a corner space that's light, airy and intimate. Sit around the central table with fellow diners reading the latest magazines, while you wait for Sydney's best brunch. If you can try only one dish, make it the ricotta hot cakes. Bills also offers a fine dinner and wine menu at its Surry Hills restaurant.
Blue Fish Seafood Restaurant, which sits on the water's edge at Darling Harbour, offers breathtaking views of the city skyline. Dine inside the modern restaurant or outdoors alfresco-style, choosing from a selection of delicious Modern Australian dishes, including the famous seafood platter (for two), barbecued barramundi, fillet of kangaroo and fresh oysters.
Experience Sydney's freshest sashimi and sushi at Busshari. Enjoy the wide selection of Japanese saké and Australian wine, while indulging in delicious dishes such as 'Wagyu Beef Sizzling Tobanyaki', grilled scampi or sashimi salad. For those with a sweet tooth, try the original sesame tart or the traditional Japanese-style parfait, anmitsu.
Located on the rooftop of the historic Customs House at Circular Quay, Café Sydney offers more than just spectacular views. Executive Chef Matt Bates has created a menu of contemporary classics with a seasonal, produce-driven approach and a special focus on seafood.
Did you know there are more than 50 tequilas in the world? And you can get nearly every one of them at this Tex-Mex restaurant, where it feels like a fiesta every night. If there's a group of you, indulge in a banquet that will cost around $40 per person. Located conveniently between the city and Kings Cross.
An exciting addition to Sydney's dining scene, this Manhattan-style restaurant offers a stylish interior, a mezzanine dining room and a wine bar - as well as outstanding alfresco dining. The menu features top-quality contemporary fare - including the freshest fish, boutique farm birds and lamb, and premium beef from top local growers - all simply grilled or roasted.
The very architecture of this restaurant suggests a boat, with the sliding glass doors making the most of the spectacular water views. The food is stylish and modern with a definite seafood emphasis - oysters, sushi and sashimi are much in evidence - but with touches of both Asia and the Mediterranean. The food must be good - a nearby pelican keeps its eye out for scraps!
This expansive light-filled restaurant offers splendid views over Cockle Bay. The menu includes a traditional salumi selection; oysters opened to order, according to seasonal availability; and an imaginative selection of pastas and risottos, among other culinary offerings. The impressive wine list and professional and informed service make it a fine-dining experience.
Dragon Boat is a modern Asian,
Chinese fusion restaurant
headed up by award-winning chef Yeung Ping Yan. Dragon Boat is
located in Harbourside at Darling Harbour with stunning views of
Cockle Bay and the Sydney city skyline. This truly memorable dining experience combines the highest quality ingredients with traditional culinary techniques, to ensure that the finest of the Orient are present in every dish. Choose from the exotic menu comprising a variety of Asian cuisines and live seafood, plus a superb wine list.
Dunbar House, one of Australia’s oldest standing buildings, has recently opened a sophisticated, fully-licensed restaurant that boasts million dollar harbour views, excellent service and a chic daytime dining menu offering breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.Â
Renowned as a pre- and post-theatre hotspot this waterside bar is small and stylish with a delicious tapas menu and an extensive international wine list, with 25 wines available by the glass. There are also stunning harbour views, and Firefly is just a short walk from The Rocks and the acclaimed Sydney Theatre Company's home base.
This Sydney institution, opened nearly two decades ago, is still routinely packed. From the moment you walk in and smell the spices and see the Raj-like decor, you know you're going to get a special experience. Critics almost unanimously agree that it offers some of the best Indian food in Sydney. It's also a celebrity hangout.
Galileo is one of Sydney’s most acclaimed five-star restaurants renowned for its fine French cuisine and excellent wine list served in an atmosphere reminiscent of a grand Parisian salon.
Led by award-winning head chef, Masahiko Yomoda, Galileo combines quiet elegance with relaxed Australian informality.
When glass first opened, it was the striking glass windows and jarrah timber fitout that initially excited all the media attention, until the Modern Australian food and extensive international wine list began to attract attention in their own right. But even a drink at the bar is an experience, given the architecture.
This is a restaurant for locavores - people who want to experience local ingredients. The food (and the beer) is sourced from as close as possible, with an emphasis on organic and seasonal produce - yet the wine list embraces the world. The deceptively casual ambience makes this an inviting place to eat.
Globe Brasserie & Bar is a fantastic all day dining brasserie offering a relaxing haven just moments from The Rocks. The Brasserie features fresh local and seasonal produce and such mouth-watering favourites as beer-battered fish and chips, a popular tapas menu and The Observatory Club sandwich. Globe Brasserie also boasts Sydney’s finest award-winning afternoon tea, served in grand British tradition featuring sumptuous cakes and charming sandwiches served on three-tiered stands.
Guillaume Brahimi, who worked under the legendary Joel Rubochon, has created a homage to fine French dining - and achieved it within the confines of Australia's most famous cultural building, the Sydney Opera House. The food is classically French, the service is pitch perfect and the view is, without question, something to make a song and dance about.
This heritage-listed Art Deco hotel, tucked away right near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, simply oozes old-fashioned elegance. For an intimate dinner, head to the top-floor restaurant and rooftop bar, where a 'Coathanger' cocktail sets the mood. At the ground-floor bar, there's a real buzz, with live music on weekends. Lunch and dinner daily. Fully licensed.
Looking for a memorable dining experience in Sydney? Holy Basil Laos and Thai restaurant is just the place. It’s arguably Western Sydney’s best kept secret...until now with a second franchise just opened in Sydney City, and beautifully decorated inside the Shark Hotel. Famous for its Thai/Laos cuisines ranging from the norm such as roast duck curry, pad thai and tom yum to the exotic such as grilled ox tongue, tarte beef salad, and charcoal BBQ chicken. The extensive à la carte menu will ensure you will never forget your trip to Sydney!
Finally, your dining experience won’t be complete unless you try the signature dish of fried ice cream that is like no other. Thousands of customers have voted it as Sydney’s BEST dessert dish. Open daily til late.
It's often been noted that the wait staff at Icebergs are as glamorous as the celebrity patrons, but the real star of the restaurant is the long room with its spectacular view over Bondi Beach. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2009 said of Robert Marchetti's food: "[it's] joyous cooking, with dishes that soar through delicate whispers to triumphant, full-blooded roars".
With six bars over four levels providing quality food and beverage menus, a friendly atmosphere and an array of entertainment, Jacksons on George is a Sydney icon and one of the most exciting venues in the city. Dine indoors or alfresco, overlooking the hustle and bustle of George Street; enjoy a game of pool, or dance the night away.
This hotel restaurant is a Sydney dining icon. Accessed via the sweeping grand staircase of the swish Four Seasons Hotel, Kable's offers 'retrospective cuisine' in an elegant and contemporary setting. Chef Jeffrey de Rome is known for his signature dishes such as confit pork belly with parsley sauce and snail ravioli, and eight-treasure quail with black vinegar.
Located in Elizabeth Bay, just a short walk from the nightlife precinct of Kings Cross, this is an izakaya-style restaurant, offering traditional Japanese cuisine. Indulge in delicious food- from Wagyu beef to grilled salmon - straight from the teppan, or try the home-made noodles, made fresh daily and served in the traditional styles of bukkake, kaze and zaru.
The Franco-Vietnamese theme is clear from the exotic interior, incorporating both high- and low-sitting spaces. The menu offers delicate Franco-Viet cuisine, based on colonial roots but re-imagined for the contemporary diner. It's food you won't find anywhere else, spiced with a rich array of Vietnamese herbs. For the full experience, indulge in a banquet.
Long one of Sydney's favourite restaurants, Longrain offers meticulously made Modern Thai food, prepared by a European chef, in a smart urban setting. Bookings are not taken and the tables are communal, or you can perch at the bar to eat. If you're keen to try it, make sure you get in early - it fills fast.
In Sydney's most historic district, you'll find an authentic restaurant from Munich: the much loved Lowenbrau. The menu includes Nurnberger sausages with sauerkraut, roast pork belly, apfelstrudel and, of course, plenty of excellent German beer. There is live entertainment nightly, with a Bavarian party band - plus nail-hammering competitions!
Situated in one of Sydney’s premier beachside locations, Manly Pavilion combines the best of old-world charm and modern architectural design.
Fully restored in the Classic Inter-War Mediterranean style, this heritage listed gem is one of Sydney Harbour's truly unique treasures. Executive Chef Jonathan Barthelmess leads an award winning kitchen team creating a sumptuous Italian menu with Mediterranean accents for an unforgettable dining experience.
Uniquely for Darling Harbour, Olivo has an all-day continuous food service, starting with breakfast at 7am. As for the food, Glynn Pedlar has been creating Italian and Modern Australian cuisine here since late 2007. The menu offers diners a wide selection of pasta, seafood and meat dishes, with an excellent boutique Australian wine list.
With spectacular views up Middle Harbour from their absolute waterfront location, Ormeggio at The Spit specialises in contemporary Italian cuisine with a highly talented team in the kitchen serving fine and unique food. Located in the d’Albora Marinas The Spit, Ormeggio is a 20 min taxi ride from the city, or you could also consider arriving by water taxi. Sunset is not to be missed,
with a glass of Franciacorta or northern Italian ‘birra’ in hand, relax
and enjoy this beautiful location.
Woolloomooloo Wharf is where the fashionable, the wealthy and the famous go to strut. But despite that, the restaurants are good and not insanely expensive. Otto, a Modern Italian bistro, has all the buzz of the wharf, plus meticulous and friendly staff to make you feel like it's you who is the celebrity.
Tastemaker magazine Gourmet Traveller once called Pier 'the finest seafood restaurant in the country and among the best in the world'. The pale-blue restaurant itself is the shape of the pier and juts out over the water, making you feel part of Rose Bay itself. Somewhere for a very special night out.
Chef Giovannai Pilu presents Sardinian/Italian cuisine, in a heritage-listed Australian beach house that looks out onto the beach, thereby combining old world traditions with Aussie surf. This is a fine showcase for one of Italy's lesser-known cuisines - try the suckling pig, complete with rosemary and apple sauce.
The GPO's restoration and refurbishment, which pairs authentic sandstone with understated modernity, has proved a magnet for powerful corporate types, who flock to Prime for both lunch and dinner. But why should only they enjoy some of the best carnivore dining the city can provide? Don't be scared by all the red meat - vegetarians are also catered for.
Quay is a multi-award-winning restaurant having, yet again, won three hats - Australia's most coveted stamp of approval. It's also won the 2010 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 'Restaurant of the Year': "The mind-blowing location pales into insignificance beside Quay's sculptural food. Chef Peter Gilmore's cooking is bold and evolutionary yet never tricky, served with finesse and pride by polished staff".
What do sporting greats like Wayne Gardner, Kieren Perkins, Guy Leech, Ian Thorpe, David Campese and John Eales have in common? They've all feasted at this well-known restaurant. Super-aged organic rib eye steaks, lamb ribs and fresh seafood - not to mention the good ol' surf-and-turf - dominate the meat-driven menu.
In a ruthlessly competitive city, Neil Perry has managed to keep Rockpool near the top of the Sydney totem pole, while also keeping it fresh. The emphasis is on seafood with an inventive contemporary twist; there's also a focus on sustainable fishing, so expect plenty of local food. Not everything is fishy - try the melting Wagyu beef dish.
It's an interesting mix - the historic and elegant Rocks building combined with street food from Thailand. But don't expect the food to be prepared peasant-style. This is fine dining and Sailors has a deservedly high reputation. If you order only one thing, try the signature dish of betel leaves with ginger, lime, palm sugar and roasted coconut.
This is an exciting contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar that blends new-style sushi with classic dishes - all served in a funky designer space. Presided over by 'sushi maestro' Shaun Presland, the restaurant features low tables and communal dining, while the bar serves delicious cocktails and 50 different types of sake.
Beloved by locals, Sean's Panaroma is relaxed and bohemian, with check tablecloths and the menu written across blackboards on the wall. And the view of Bondi Beach is sensational. But don't be fooled by the casual ambience - this is serious food, and you'll need to book. Try the blue swimmer crab.
The much-awarded Brisbane-based Sitar restaurants have expanded to Sydney. Boasting a modern fit out within a magnificent colonial building, food is served through an open kitchen and customers can either bring their own wine or order from the bar. All dishes are Halal, no MSG or preservatives are used, and there are extensive vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Grab a stool at this cool sushi train. The food is always fresh and the conveyor belt supplies a vast selection of traditional sushi, sashimi and tempura. Pick salmon sashimi or chicken teriyaki from the table, or order more exotic hand-rolled dishes such as scallop caviar, lobster or eel. A flamboyant chef oversees the action.
The Sydney Cove Oyster Bar is just metres from the Sydney Opera House, which means guests can do nothing but relax and sip a cold drink as they take in the spectacular view. But there's also a creative menu that offers seafood and international cuisine. Oysters are the highlight - try the 'Ultimate Oyster Bar Indulgence', with lobster, crab, prawns, mussels and oysters.
Tetsuya has been recognised by critics, including those from The New York Times, as one of the world's top chefs and a night at his restaurant is a momentous event. You'll be served a degustation menu over several hours - so don't be tempted to fill up on the bread with truffle butter, no matter how delicious. The tuna sashimi is a classic. This is world-beating haute cuisine, at a price that would make European diners weep with envy.
It's hard to believe that such a gem awaits you at the bottom of Ferry Road in this inner-city suburb. However, the converted boathouse with views of the Anzac Bridge and Sydney Fish Market offers a seafood menu that is one of the best in Sydney. Although you're spoiled for choice, the snapper pie is a must.
Home to one of Sydney’s best seafood buffets, this popular restaurant with a terrace is named after one of Sydney’s first fresh produce markets. Their famous seafood buffet includes an array of the freshest seafood, including prawns, oysters, crabs, mussels,
Balmain Bugs, octopus and other tantalising items. They also offer
an extensive selection of salads, hot dishes and decadent desserts.
Housed within a heritage cellar in the heart of The Rocks, The Cut Bar & Grill was inspired by New York’s super-chic steak restaurants. The menu celebrates the very finest cuts of prime Australian beef and sustainable seafood and the dishes, cooked to perfection by award-winning chef James Privett, are matched with impeccable service and fine wines, all in an inspired setting created by design house Luchetti Krelle.
This restaurant offers a warm, cosy ambience with a choice of dining either inside or alfresco, where you can enjoy sweeping views of Darling Harbour. The name is the giveaway, with plenty of ribs, seafood and kangaroo on offer. Then there's the majestic 'wine staircase' that holds over 3000 bottles of local and imported wines.
Famous for its beer garden where, since 1885, people have gathered beneath a magnificent oak tree, this North Shore pub is a favourite with locals. The menu features gourmet pizzas, mussels, salads and premium-grade barbecue-your-own steaks. This famous pub offers four different bars, as well as the welcoming beer garden.
Nestled within bushland of Georges Head, this former military barracks was originally designed by colonial architect James Barnet and constructed in 1873. Noting the potential of this historic sandstone building, and the breathtaking natural landscape, The Tea Room Group restored and re-opened Gunners’ Barracks in 2005 as a stunning dining and events venue. With views across Rose Bay, Watsons Bay and Sydney harbour shipping channels, and interior features including hand-printed Florence Broadhurst wallpaper, Czech crystal chandeliers and ornate antique furniture, The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks truly is a world class dining experience.
Offering a fresh Modern Australian lunch menu and traditional morningÂ
and afternoon tea daily, The Tea Room is the perfect escape. The refined elegance and beauty of the venue is complemented by a world class dining experience. Head chef Keith Murray is dedicated to serving fresh, seasonal Australian produce and is teamed with Pastry Chef Jason Gannon. Together they create a menu of classic dishes, exceptional desserts and fine pastries. Traditional afternoon tea includes a set selection of sweet cakes and savoury pastries, selection of finger sandwiches, home made scones with preserve and clotted cream and a wide selection of tea or coffee. Served on authentic British three tiered silver stands with Royal Albert china, afternoon tea is a time to share and reconnect. Â
Tony Roma's is an American family restaurant chain famous for its ribs - the baby back ribs are the house specialty. Cut from the choicest tenderloin and basted with Tony's original barbecue sauce, the meat is so tender, it falls off the bone. You can also order barbecued chicken, steak, seafood, salads and hamburgers, all matched with fine wine.