We’ve scoured the city to find the best Sydney restaurants to put on your radar in 2026.

This guide to the best Sydney restaurants to try in 2026 covers new openings, long-running favourites and dining rooms that contribute to the city’s vibrant culinary scene.  The dining landscape in this city is vast, varied, and constantly evolving. Whether you’re in the mood for fabulous French fare, elevated modern Italian cuisine or up-to-the-minute Japanese eateries, this guide includes restaurants to suit every taste and occasion.

Eastern suburbs | Inner West | Sydney’s atermans | Western suburbs | Northern suburbs | Southern suburbs

Restaurants in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

Flashy dining rooms and elegant menus define Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where seeing and being seen is part of the appeal.

The Palomar

The Palomar is one of Oxford Street’s most talked-about restaurants. Housed within the heritage bones of the new 25hours Hotel The Olympia, the warm, character-rich dining room pays homage to its critically acclaimed sister restaurant in London. Culinary director Mitch Orr’s menu coasts between Spain, North Africa and the Levant with confidence. Come for pillowy Pioik flatbread with baba ghanoush and whipped cod’s roe, then lean into the grill: mackerel slicked with chermoula, calamari punched up with preserved lemon, and a Berkshire pork chop that shows off the kitchen’s flair with fire. Finish with something sweet and a little theatrical, then spill to the rooftop bar for spicy margaritas with a view.

Cuisine: Southern Spain, North Africa and the Levant

Price: $$$

Atmosphere:  Buzzy and unpretentious

Location: 25hours Hotel The Olympia, 7 Oxford St, Paddington[Text Wrapping Break]

Aambra

Aambra delivers Levantine dining in a lovely environment thanks to the architectural features of the former Rose Bay Uniting Church. Designer Paul Papadopoulos has transformed the 120-year-old heritage space into a modern-day sanctuary with an open-flame kitchen now an altar to good food. Executive chef Gianluca Lonati serves share-style plates to the congregation of Eastern Suburbs locals that roams the Middle East from Iraq to Lebanon and beyond. Give thanks for the oysters with isot oil, tuna kibbeh and woodfired chicken manti. Cocktails are bold: jaffa margaritas, arak spritzes, watermelon martinis.

Cuisine: Levantine cuisine

Price: $$$

Atmosphere:  It’s all Eastern Suburbs glam

Location: 518A Old South Head Road, Rose Bay

Epula

Epula is set inside the historic GPO building on Martin Place, which is starting to feel like a European piazza. Designed by Luchetti Krelle, the lounge bar and restaurant is sending it with big-city energy and a distinctly continental rhythm. The word ‘Epula’ is named for the Roman Latin word for ‘feast’. And the menu devised by executive chef Adam Bourke (ex-Nola Smokehouse) is perfect for those who want to hitch a ride to Italy via Spain and France with snacks like veal tonnato, spanner crab buñuelos, duck liver paté, Oloroso jelly and toasted brioche leading the charge.

Cuisine: Levantine cuisine

Price: $$$

Atmosphere:  Cathedral-high ceilings and a garden oasis add to the Eastern Suburbs glamour.

Location: 1 Martin Place, Sydney

Rick Stein at Coogee Beach

Rick Stein’s Australian flagship has landed in Coogee, bringing the British-born chef’s trademark philosophy of fresh seafood, simply prepared, to one of Sydney’s most loved oceanfront dining rooms. The Rick Stein at Coogee Beach menu is a celebration of pristine coastal produce: oysters Charentaise, king prawn cocktails, twice-baked crab soufflés, lobster raviolo and a hot shellfish platter designed for long lunches. Classics like fish and chips and Newlyn fish pie keep things reassuringly familiar. Pair that pie with a coastal martini or a bright ‘Drinks with Sas’ Bellini and let the views do the rest.

Cuisine: Seafood

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Breezy, polished, beachside

Location: InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, 242 Arden St, Coogee

Sean’s Bondi

Set just back from Bondi Beach, Sean’s feels more reminiscent of a Bondi beach house than a Sydney institution. Wood-panelled walls, mismatched chairs, local artwork and fresh-cut roses give the restaurant established in 1993 a lived-in warmth. Inside, three choices for entrée, main and dessert are recited like poetry: simple plates such as baby vegetables slicked with vinaigrette and a properly roasted chook that tastes like the one your mum makes on Sundays. The Australian-leaning wine list keeps things grounded. Expect attentive service from friendly waiters who rightly recommend a warm, buttery dessert with fruit that is in season.

Cuisine: Home-style cooking

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Warm and charming

Location: 270 Campbell Parade, Bondi

Alzado

Alzado on the upper floor of Hotel Ravisis speaks fluent Spanglish. The relaxed eatery is a collaboration between Hotel Ravesis’ owner Aya Larkin, Spanish-born executive consultant chef Pablo Tordesillas (ex-Merivale executive chef) and head chef MJ Olguera (former long-time collaborator of Luke Mangan). And it is designed as much for long lunches, as aperitivo-fuelled afternoons and lively dinners overlooking Australia’s most iconic swathe of surf and sand. Come with your Eastern Suburbs squad and build your own banquet of dishes such as croquetas, calamar ‘a la plancha’ with parsley oil, whitebait with aioli and lemon and whole snapper with pipperada and smoked pimenton. Sit on the balcony overlooking the surf and let your cares wash away.

Cuisine: Spanish

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Barcelona meets Bondi

Location: 118 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

Etheus

Etheus brings Greek cooking to the Bondi beachfront with the kind of easy generosity that suits this style of eating. Set just steps from the sand, in the historic Bondi Pavilion, the name of the light-filled laid-back eatery is a nod to Prometheus, the god who stole fire. And it’s the perfect place to settle in if you can’t afford another Euro summer. The menu is built for sharing: silky dips, island-style octopus, charcoal-grilled seafood and comforting classics like garides saganaki – king prawns baked with tomato, feta and a flash of orange. Finish with honey-drenched galaktoboureko and a spritz on the terrace overlooking the crashing waves.

Cuisine: Greek

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Santorini-meets-Bondi, bright and buzzy

Location: Shop 4, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach

Franca

Franca pays homage to lingua franca as the common language used for centuries to connect mainland France with the Mediterranean. And while the buzzy brasserie leans into indulgent French fare, such as pomme puree with truffles, it also has one of the most budget-friendly menus in Sydney. The Potts Point restaurant slings out specials each week offering an elegant and affordable escape from the scruff of Kings Cross. The ultimate insider flex is to lean into ‘5 o’clock at Franca’ curated by executive chef José Saulog which includes the Moreton Bay Bug Roll and a curated selection of five Happy Hour items.   The Steel + Stich designed space is decked out in marble and brass, with inspired artworks and leather booths with Kardashian curves.

Cuisine: French

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: 2/81 Macleay St, Potts Point

Firedoor

Chef Lennox Hastie channels some big Texas BBQ fire-driven energy at Firedoor. Staffed by an army of waiters clad in black tees and custom aprons, the two-hatted restaurant is considered one of the best restaurants in Sydney thanks to Hastie’s obsessive interest in cooking over an open flame. The Michelin-trained chef – who appears on Season 1 of the Netflix series, Chef’s Table: BBQ, wields his tongs with precision to turn big hulking cuts of aged lamb or Rangers Valley beef in the open kitchen where diners get dinner and a show. Firedoor is just a short walk away from Gildas, Hastie’s sister venue which celebrates his passion for pintxos.

Cuisine: Contemporary fire-driven fare

Average: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Smart and sophisticated

Location: 23/33 Mary St, Surry Hills

Allta

Although Korean fine diner Allta has traded the CBD for Surry Hills, the experience is every bit as intimate in the 22-seater venue. Michelin-trained chef Jung-su Chang (ex-Jungsik, Seoul) focuses on Korean flavours filtered through fine-dining technique with modern Australian accents. The 11-course meal includes seafood brightened with citrus and umami and broths that are deeply restorative.   Each course arrives with a little story, moving between palate-cleaning pickles to seafood with silky sauces and textures to savour. Pairings, including whisky, beer, soju, wines by the glass and a tea option, add to the sense of ceremony. Allta comes from the Korean word for ‘very right’; it’s the experience Allta embodies.

Cuisine: Contemporary Korean

Average: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Smart and sophisticated

Location: 52 Reservoir St, Surry Hills

Gran Torino

Things are revving up in Double Bay thanks to Neil Perry’s Gran Torino, its name a nod to the 1970s muscle car. The restaurant has shifted gears from Cantonese-leaning Song Bird to polished Italian set within heritage-listed Gaden House. As you’d expect from Perry, the menu champions seasonality and some of Australia’s best sustainable producers. Start with the frutti di mare (king prawns, squid, blue swimmer crab and tuna crudo), then move on to tagliolini with crab, garlic, chilli and lemon. Finish with a pistachio cannoli and a little people-watching. Deploy Google Lens to identify the wallpaper chosen by long-time collaborator Collette Dinnigan.

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Subdued, elegant, restrained.

Location: 24 Bay St, Double Bay

Margaret

Few figures have shaped Australia’s dining landscape quite like Neil Perry. In 2024, World’s 50 Best recognised the chef’s extraordinary contribution with an Icon award. Margaret is a celebration of the producer-led provenance that Perry has championed for decades as well as his passion for Asian-Australian flavours. Act cool if you notice Perry at the pass as you enter the dimly lit Double Bay dining room. Start with small plates of sashimi of Paspaley pearl meat with white soy ponzu, Thai-style salad of Dennis’s hand-picked blue swimmer crab, sweet pork, chilli, green papaya and cashews. Steaks are also the stock-in-trade signature. Put Café Margaret next door in your cross-hairs, too.

Cuisine: Asian-Australian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: 30-36 Bay St, Double Bay

Pellegrino 2000

Pellegrino 2000 popped up on many people’s radars after Taylor Swift was papped dining here, But Pellegrino 2000 has been rated by Sydney’s hospitality scene as the place to go if you’re in the know since it opened in 2022. The eatery dishes up some of the city’s most authentic Italian, including the pappardelle dish drenched in a sauce of truss tomatoes and stracciatella. The service is slick and there are no set sitting times which allows extra time to linger over a leisurely dinner. The fritto misto is a generous selection of seafood fried to perfection and the spinach ripassata with garlic and chilli is a triumph that will transport you straight to the garage-style trattoria you stumbled on in Piedmont, where the Slow Food movement began.

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Intimate

Location: 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills

Jane

A cosy neighbourhood hole-in-the-wall whipping up inventive, mouth-watering dishes utilising quality local produce, Jane is a Surry Hills favourite. Along leafy Bourke Street, the restaurant pops up out of nowhere, blending right into the multimillion-dollar terrace homes. But while it feels casual, the food itself is anything but. Expect plenty of native ingredients paired with fresh seafood and top-notch meat, including the kangaroo tartare with bush tomato harissa and lamb dumplings with saltbush, chilli and yoghurt. Jane is delightful, personable and overflowing with personality. It’s one of the best restaurants to dine at in Surry Hills right now.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Stylish

Location: 478 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

Saint Peter

Josh and Julie Niland’s innovative sustainable seafood restaurant  Saint Peter is one of Sydney’s most considered restaurants with rooms. Housed in Sydney’s Grand National Hotel, the 85-seater seafood-centric fine diner has a 40-seat dining room, 20-seat bar and 15-seat private dining room. Let the journey begin in the front bar with oysters, where the briny bivalves are shucked to order. Niland’s passion for seafood is also evident with the rock flathead grilled over coals and served with a rich, flavourful sauce Diane. King George whiting arrives in a pond of beurre blanc enlivened with pops of citrus, finger lime and tapioca. The Meyer lemon tart makes for a fine finish.

Cuisine: An innovative seafood-centric menu, cooked to order

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Chic and elegant

Location: 161 Underwood St, Paddington

Ursula’s Paddington

Lace up your Skechers and stroll to Ursula’s in the tree-lined backstreets of Paddington. The dining experience at Ursula’s is elevated by warm service and cosy interiors that give it the feel of a supper club. Chef Phil Wood (an ex-Rockpool rockstar) opened the restaurant in 2021 in a corner terrace that has a hospitality history dating back more than five decades. And his focus on French-accented is rooted in seasonal produce. An evening at Ursula’s might start with snapper crudo with yuzu, nashi pear, pistachio and mint and finish with roast duck with chilli, coconut, pineapple and curry leaf paired with top wines. Go for golden syrup dumplings with rum and raisins for dessert.

Cuisine: French with Asian accents

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Very warm and cosy

Location: 92 Hargrave St, Paddington

tqm.

Tequila Mockingbird was a Paddington fave for about a decade. tqm. carries that legacy forward with a fresh Latin American focus. Set inside a heritage-listed, 19th-century terrace, the buttered yellow bar and bistro spans two levels and spills into a lively courtyard.  The menu roams across Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina and is neatly divided into three sections: Raw Bar, Streets and Flame Grill. Start with something bright and citrusy like a tuna tartare tostada, then move into street-food favourites like braised beef tacos with tomatillo salsa, pico de gallo and lime. Don’t miss the grilled corn ribs, finished with kombu and nori salt. Pair it all with a few Tequila Mockingbird cocktails.

Cuisine: Latin American

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 6 Heeley St, Paddington

Ikaria

Manifest getting back to the Mediterranean with a blissful afternoon at Ikaria, which blends warm Greek island vibes with sweeping ocean views. This is a place for people-watching: where impossibly beautiful boho Bondi types swan in, all hair flicks and high heels, looking like they’ve sauntered off the Fashion Week runway. The kitchen at Ikaria is led by executive chef Ivan Sanchez, whose CV includes a stint at Porteño. Drink in those panoramic ocean views over signature share-style plates: honey-drizzled saganaki, oven-baked lamb shoulder with labneh and baklava-inspired cocktails. The 333 bus from Circular Quay will deliver you to the doorstep.

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: It’s serving island in the Aegean Sea

Location: 70 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

Rasā House [THIS HAD THE WRONG ADDRESS and some wrong info. I didn’t write the OG copy]

Rasā House is exactly the kind of wine bar and restaurant Rose Bay needed. While it may look unassuming from the outside, the handsome space created by restaurateur Vinay Matta feels more like a mate’s homey place in Mumbai. Rooted in Indian flavours and shaped by a broader South Asian lens, the menu was developed by head chef Keno Perlas (ex-Rockpool and Firedoor). Start with pan-fried flatbread with whipped feta, mango chilli relish and basil oil.  Then move onto  exquisitely spiced mains such as charcoal crying tiger wagyu. Finish with Malay banana donuts with crème fraiche and miso caramel.

Cuisine: Southeast Asian fusion

Price: $$

Atmosphere:  Low-lit and earthy tones make for ambient interiors

Location: 639B New South Head Road, Rose Bay

Restaurants in Sydney’s inner west

Spinning new takes on food influences from right around the globe, the Inner West excels at a variety of cuisines.

Baba’s Place

There are no foams or squiggles on the plate at Baba’s Place. In Lebanese Arabic, ‘baba’ is the affectionate term for dad and it’s used to express love, respect and warmth. In a city that’s in constantly in the midst of a foodie renaissance, Baba’s Place is a celebration of the city’s migrant communities. It’s also a favourite for everyone from those nursing Saturday morning hangovers to local hippies and high-profile musos. Enjoy a date night nibble on tarama on toast and beef tartare with a jug of rakija-spiked sangria. Or huddle around a granny-chic nook with the fam for a half BBQ chook served with house chips, toum and pickles. The black forest panna cotta is also expertly prepared.

Cuisine: Mediterranean meets Middle Eastern

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Street-find meets Facebook Marketplace chic

Location: 20 Sloane St, Marrickville

Hamsi Taverna

You can see the butter-yellow umbrellas outside Hamsi Taverna from Anzac Bridge, planted like sunflowers on the deck at Sydney Fish Market. The restaurant led by Turkish chef Somer Sivrioğlu is a happy collision between Aegean taverna culture and contemporary Australian dining. Hamsi means anchovy in Turkish and it is compulsory to order the pide, featuring the pickled white fish alongside sun-ripened cherry tomatoes. Hamsi Taverna is the sister restaurant to Efendy Istanbul, Anason and Maydanoz. Order baked vodka conchiglie with spanner crab and tuna steak finished with a demi-glaze. Burn off the deconstructed baklava with a hot lap of Blackwattle Bay.

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Laid-back and breezy, in a coveted corner position overlooking the water

Location:  1 Bridge Rd, Glebe NSW 2037

Continental Delicatessen

No item is more associated with Continental Delicatessen than tinned fish. Just ask anyone who’s dropped into this deli with the cult following at lunchtime to find 12 tinned fish varieties on the menu, including Olasagasti Anchovies, La Belle Iloise Sardines and Cambados Octopus. As would be expected, the Continental Deli also offers a selection of cheeses and charcuterie. There’s also an appointed space for a European bistro-style banquet experience with classic plates such as braised beans with charcuterie chilli paste, chickpea miso and aged cheddar. Expect out-of-the-box genius with canned cocktails (a ‘Mar-tinny’ is never a bad idea) and a wine list that roams the globe.

Cuisine: European

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Easy-going neighbourhood dining done right.

Location: 210 Australia St, Newtown

Lottie

Lottie head Joe Valero is well placed to present the food from the land of his ancestors at this rooftop Mexican restaurant and mezcaleria in Redfern. Valero, who was born in Guadalajara, worked with Liquid & Larder executive chef Pip Pratt to curate the menu, which he delivers with flawless execution. Sit around the cayenne-hued terrazzo bar or at the lavish banquettes to enjoy small plates like prawn a la diabla or tuna tostadas. Then linger over larger plates like goat barbacoa with miso black beans and freshly made maize tortillas or beef chop with shiso salsa and beans. Crispy chat potatoes with chipotle salt and mayo have become an exciting signature side.

Cuisine: Contemporary Mexican

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Contemporary hacienda hues

Location: 8 Baptist St, Redfern

South End

South End has brought a bit of polish to the St Peters end of the King St strip. Run by Hussein Sarhan (ex-Fred’s Paddington) and Alex Tong (ex-Ester), with hospitality pro Paul Guiney front of house, the two-hatted restaurant brings hyper-seasonal European cooking to a low-key room of eucalyptus greens, warm timber tones and crisp tablecloths. The menu shifts with the seasons: think eggplant caviar with crème fraiche and soft herbs, venison crudo on hot garlic toast with parsley, capers and lemons, mussels in a peppery saffron-infused broth and beautifully roasted rump of lamb. It’s polished for St Peters, but without any pretence.

Cuisine: European-centric and seasonal

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Handsome with an earthy palette

Location: 644 King St, Newtown

Postino Osteria

Postino means ‘postman’ and the $4 million restaurant owned by restaurateurs Alessandria and Anna Pavoni (and co-owner Bill Drakopolous) is an elevated ode to the osteria. Postino Osteria is in the old Post Office which housed the much-loved One Penny Red. The Ormeggio team’s two-storey restaurant draws inspiration from Piedmont to Sicily with an emphasis on the north where the acclaimed chef hails from. Head here for Sunday lunch to join the adoring crowds of Italian-Australians who have a sentimental soft spot for spaghetti alla chitarra con pallotine and talking about the old country. Cross the bridge to Ormeggio at the Spit.

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$-$$$$

Atmosphere: It’s giving elegant osteria in Abruzzo

Location: 2 Moonbie Street, Summer Hill

Firepop

Wheel your luggage to the gate. It’s time to take off with the deep, comforting pleasures of flame-grilled duck and pork belly skewers about to arrive on your plate. Firepop is the little food stall that could. Expect a suitably groovy Enmore clientele in this striking space gathered at the counter overlooking the charcoal and wood grills, chomping on fire-pops (petite-sized skewers). Sit elbow-to-elbow with that Enmore entourage who are on a first-name basis with chef Raymond Hou and are here to enjoy standout dishes like cumin lamb and wagyu beef cube fire pops.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Warmly lit, minimalistic space with a groovy soundtrack

Location: 137 Enmore Road, Enmore

Olympus Dining

Redfern locals must be feeling pretty smug about their neighbourhood thanks to Wunderlich Lane, which has given the close-knit community an excellent place to convene.  Contemporary taverna Olympus Dining is at the heart of the precinct. Head chef Ozge Kalvo (ex-Baba’s Place) is at the helm here, taking the lead on a menu built by Sam Christie and Jonathan Barthelmess (The Apollo in Potts Point) around good, honest Greek cooking like spanakopita stuffed with wild weeds and cheese and a whole milk-fed lamb leg roasted on the bone.  Sit in the light-filled courtyard where branches of a 50-year-old bougainvillea have been trellised into an awning. Extend the evening with a night at The EVE Hotel.

Cuisine: Vegetarian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegant, both inside and outside

Location: 2 Baptist St, Redfern

Attenzione!

Redfern locals sat up and took notice when Ragazzi and Fabbrica’s Felix Colman rounded up a few of his Love Tilly and Bentley Group alum – Toby Stansfield, Toby Davis and Dexter Kim – to open Attenzione! Like all Sydney Italian restaurants worth their salt, it marries Italian tradition with contemporary techniques and top-tier ingredients that would make Tony Soprano sing for his supper. The restaurant feels like you’re at Nonna’s for Sunday lunch in a dining room that reverberates with the sound of cutlery, clinking glasses and laughter. Choose a funky natural drop paired with paccheri with king prawns, artichoke and Calabrian chilli that leans Italian with an Aussie twang. Can’t get a booking? Fabbrica Pasta is now available at selected supermarkets.

Cuisine: Italian with an Aussie twang

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Lively and fun

Location: 180 Redfern St, Redfern

Mister Grotto

Mister Grotto is part of the historic H. May building in Redfern, a lively 30-seater cave-like eatery that is part of Australia St Precinct. Run by Paisano & Daughters, founded by brothers-in-law Joe Valore and Elvis Abrahanowicz, the project began with the opening of Continental Deli in 2015 and evolved to include the addition of Mister Grotto and Osteria Mucca. Order oysters shucked to order, fresh fish from the raw bar, and dishes kissed with fire before making a night of it with a stay at the boutique Australia Street Suites. The smart-casual seafood bar channels a bit of maritime maximalism with objects like hand reels and antique lures straight out of a nautical curiosity cabinet.

Cuisine: Seafood

Price: $$$-$$$$

Atmosphere: Nautical flotsam and jetsam add to the maritime theme

Location: 208 Australia St, Newtown

Bistro Grenier

Shrug off your corporate stooge uniform to establish a bit of Inner West cred when you head to Bistro Grenier with your Bumble squeeze. This Odd Culture Group spot embodies a kind of low-key but kick-ass mood with the melding of great booze, tunes and food. Kick things up for the night with chef Jesse Warkentin’s rich, buttery vol-au-vent filled with farm mushrooms, red wine and a confit yolk. And do study a few YouTube vids to nail the pronunciation of the coquille Saint-Jacques (baked scallops) without sounding like an ass. The wine list gives a lot of love to the Loire Valley, southern Rhône and Burgundy. So Frenchy, so chic.

Cuisine: Oh-so-Frenchie

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Set for romance

Location: 266 King St, Newtown

Restaurants in and around Sydney’s atermans – Barangaroo

Move over, Melbourne. The beating heart of this city plays host to the most wonderful, envelope-pushing culinary experiences in Australia.

Watermans

Watermans has opened in Barangaroo with a bang, quickly becoming a restaurant of choice for Sydney’s glitterati. The Bentley Group’s 120-seat Mediterranean venue possesses all the pizzazz and polish you’d expect from co-owners Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt. The room is soft and earthy and the terracotta-toned outdoor terrace made for long, lazy afternoons. The menu is also a point of difference:  tiropita pastry cigars with whipped feta, taramasalata with trout roe, sesame-crusted falafel, labne bedazzled with pomegranate seeds, and a whole wood-fired flounder dotted with squishy tomatoes and sorrel. Drinks skew Mediterranean, service is flawless.

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Easy, breezy

Location: R1/88 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo

Bouillon L’Entrecôte

Bouillon L’Entrecôte is doing what great bistros do: sticking to the classics and literally making room for more. The Circular Quay favourite has expanded with an extra 30 seats, giving Sydneysiders more opportunities to slide into the Parisian-style dining room for affordable French comfort fare. Expect merlot-hued leather banquettes, curtained windows, white tablecloths and that lively bouillon buzz, now spilling onto a terrace purpose-built for people-watching. The menu remains steadfastly bistro: order L’Entrecôte Mitraillette, a Wagyu steak frites baguette layered with the restaurant’s signature secret sauce, served in an AP Bakery baguette.

Cuisine: Hearty, simple French fare

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Effortless, old-timey Parisian chic

Location: 6 Loftus St, Sydney

Rockpool Bar & Grill

Rockpool Bar & Grill has been a CBD institution for more than 15 years and ranks #12 on the list of best steakhouses in the world. The waiters here are dressed to impress, darting between tables to deliver plates of exceptional beef that has been dry-aged in-house. There remains a relentless demand for Rockpool’s Blackmore’s wagyu, Cape Grim grass-fed cuts and sustainably sourced seafood. Spend the remainder of your childrens’ paltry inheritance on the five-course beef tasting menu, a journey through Australia’s finest herds, shaped by executive chef Santiago Aristizabal’s Southern American influence.

Cuisine: Meticulously dry-aged cuts of meat and seafood

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: The epitome of fine dining

Location: 66 Hunter St, Sydney

Alpha

Cue the bouzouki music. Alpha brings a fresh, high-energy edge to Greek dining in Sydney’s CBD, pairing pristine produce with age-old culinary traditions. The menu curated by head chef Riccardo Pazzona (ex-The Apollo) is designed for sharing. Spanning across three levels, Alpha blends Grecian cues with sleek touches that will conjure up your default memories of Santorini; the space shifts from intimate private rooms to a buzzing main dining space. Hospitality here is guided by the concept of philoxenia – the Greek art of welcoming strangers like friends – and it shows in the warmth of the room, the pace of service, and the sense that every meal is a small celebration.

Cuisine: Modern Greek

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Lively, polished, generous

Location: 238 Castlereagh St, Sydney CBD

Spice Temple

Giddy up. It’s the Year of the Fire Horse – the Chinese zodiac sign synonymous with momentum and fearless energy. That’s exactly the spirit to bring to Spice Temple, Sydney’s original underground Chinese lantern-lit dining room tucked beneath the CBD. Executive chef Andy Evans travelled through China to sharpen the restaurant’s focus on far-flung regional flavours which he translates with a modern touch. Expect aromatic spices, tableside theatrics and a menu that moves from nostalgic comfort to fiery signatures. The sultry space remains a late-night temple to great food and wine.

Cuisine: Modern Chinese

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Lively, polished, generous

Location: 10 Bligh St, Sydney

Flaminia

After two decades shaping Pilu at Freshwater, restaurateurs Giovanni Pilu and Marilyn Annecchini have opened the doors to Flaminia. The waterfront restaurant is named after the MS Flaminia, which berthed in Circular Quay in 1959 with Marilyn’s mum and grandmother onboard.  Flaminia owes its very existence to the adventurousness of the many Italian migrants who traded one coastline for another. Perched on level 2 of Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, the menu joins the dots between port cities on the Italian coastline such as crudo served with a Palermo-style dressing and a Genovese paccheria alla scoglio (a ‘from the rocks’ medley of calamari, mussels, vongole, white fish and cherry tomatoes).

Cuisine: Italian coastline

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Warm and unmistakeably maritime

Location: 61 Macquarie St, Sydney

Sahtein

Sahtein is a Levantine Arabic phrase that is commonly used as an equivalent to ‘bon appetit’. It’s also the name of this new eatery led by executive chef Mike Flood and culinary director Santiago Aristizabal within The Collective precinct. The warm, bustling restaurant brings a bit of Beirut to The Rocks with a menu built around generosity, charcoal and shared plates. The kitchen keeps things traditional – think flatbreads, dips and vibrant pickles, fattoush and warm mezze like balila (warm chickpeas finished with lemon butter). Diners can also expect wagyu skewers glazed with date and tamarind as well as lemon-brined chicken and a signature slow-cooked lamb neck with labneh and pickles. Finish with orange-blossom booza ice-cream with halva crumble.

Cuisine: Levantine

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Sandstone walls and cobbled laneways speak to the storied history of the Argyle Stores

Location: 61 Macquarie St, Sydney

Golden Century

Golden Century is  celebration of the cuisine and community that made the family-run Cantonese restaurant such an institution. Don your most extravagant piece of heirloom jewellery and sky-high heels so you can compete for attention with those harbour views at the see-and-be-seen venue on Level 3 of Crown Barangaroo. Oh, and be sure to give those lazy Susans a spin so you can get your share of banquet dishes such as the Peking duck pancakes or braised lobster plucked from the live tanks that line the wall. On any given night, you’ll spot everyone from celebrity A-listers to political heavyweights at Golden Century, which mixes old school and new.

Cuisine: Cantonese

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Fun and lively

Location: Crown Sydney, Level 3, 1 Barangaroo Avenue

Palazzo Salato

Love Tilly Group’s largest venue Palazzo Salato is an ode to Roman-inspired trattorias. Expect velvety handmade pasta, top-notch meat and seafood from renowned producers, and a dessert menu that delights. Order marron alla griglia with shellfish butter and samphire and the mafaldine with spanner crab, chilli and sea blight. The salted dark chocolate tart with vanilla gelato is the perfect way to round out your meal.  The interiors feature warm lighting, classic bentwood chairs, a colourful Louis Wayling mural and brass accents. Perch at the bar where a 600-strong wine list focuses on low-intervention Italian, Australian and French wines.

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Elevated cosy vibes

Location: 201/203 Clarence St, Sydney

Ela Ela

Chef Peter Conistis has a very loyal customer base. ‘Ela ela’ means ‘come come’ and it’s what your yiayia might say when they’re calling you to one of the tables at Ela Ela. The eatery is one of five venues within the iconic 1898 pub, The Bristol, which dishes up some of Sydney’s best pub grub.  And when Peter Conistis is involved, we pay attention. The pioneering Greek chef offers elevated Greek cuisine within an Australian context. A modern-day mezedopolio if you will. Start your Greek odyssey with dips and cold meze before plumping for heartier dishes such as the fire-roasted king prawns and wood-grilled octopus. Finish with spanakopita. But don’t tell your yiayia the chef’s take on the spinach and feta cheese pie is better than hers.

Cuisine: Greek with an Aussie accent

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Crammed with happy people who call Sydney’s CBD home.

Location: Level G/81 Sussex St, Sydney

LuMi Dining

LuMi Dining sits atop Wharf 10 like a glass-lit stage over Sydney Harbour. Aside from the water views, it’s worth making the pilgrimage here for chef Federico Zanellato’s inventive Italian-Japanese tasting menu. It features signature snacks, silky chawanmushi, crudo embellished with citrus, handmade pasta, and deeply savoury mains that shift with the seasons. Sommelier Michela Boncagni’s Italian-leaning wine list also adds to the appeal. Book a kitchen-facing seat for the full theatre of the experience. Push the boat out and spend the children’s meagre inheritance on the decadent omakase menu.

Cuisine: Contemporary

Price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Crammed with LuMi luminaries

Location: 56 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont

Le Foote

Follow the delicious aroma of garlic and white wine wafting out of Le Foote on any given day and you will find it filled with tourists and locals, laughing and talking. It’s The Rocks, but not as you know it. Helmed by chef Stefano Marano, Le Foote is the successor to the historic Phillip’s Foote restaurant located mere steps from Sydney Harbour. The menu references French food traditions as well as the seasons and offers unparalleled service.  Start with chunks of baguette smeared with butter, followed by a salade Lyonnaise and steak frites.

Cuisine: French meets modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Classic French bistro

Location: 101 George St, The Rocks

Annamese

Annamese takes its name from Annam, the name for Vietnam before the French colonial era. The 98-seat restaurant in Barangaroo boasts views of Sydney Harbour and flows outdoors onto a sunlit terrace. Annamese is led by executive chef Andy Pruksa (ex-MuumMaam), whose menu marries the rich culinary heritage of Vietnam with broader Asian influences. Order lemongrass chicken skewers, topped with hoisin and peanuts and served with a spicy nuoc cham. And the roasted duck and banana blossom salad, which arrives showered in fresh herbs. Expect a strong focus on sustainable seafood and local produce. Order the pho cocktail, which has quite the kick.

Cuisine: Vietnamese with influences from around Asia

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegant and authentic

Location: Retail 2/2 Watermans Quay, Barangaroo

Brasserie 1930

Brasserie 1930 nods to the year the former NSW Department of Agriculture building was completed.  With its checkered floors, leather banquettes and flower-filled vases, the hotel restaurant housed within Capella Sydney evokes the elegance of a traditional brasserie. Now under the direction of chef de cuisine Marco Putzolu (a’Mare, Ormeggio), the kitchen champions a bold, produce-driven approach with a focus on the custom-built wood-fired grill. Swirl a glass of wine over a Darling Downs wagyu sirloin with a mixed-leaf salad and fries on the side. Expect Serge Gainsbourg as the soundtrack as the waiters waltz to your table in this unmistakeably grand brasserie.

Cuisine: European with Australian accents

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Sophisticated big-brasserie chic meets relaxed indulgence

Location: Capella Sydney, 2/4 Farrer Place, Sydney

Kiln

The skills of Australian chef Beau Clugston (ex-Noma) are now on display at  Kiln at the Ace Hotel, one of the prime places to perch in Sydney. The lofty restaurant designed by Fiona Lynch is evocative of the Australian landscape with its palette of rich reds, dusky pinks and eucalyptus green hues. Enjoy a few drinks while the DJ spins some tunes before indulging in dishes inspired by native Australian ingredients. The tomato, strawberry, oyster, ebi prawns, lemon aspen sprinkled with green ants or pork neck blanketed in kelp, mussel and a karkalla sauce are two that showcase his style and technique.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$-$$$$$

Atmosphere: City chic

Location: Level 18/53 Foy Ln, Sydney

The International

One of the most coveted spots at multi-dimensional venue The International is The Grill which rises above Harry Seidler’s Modernist Mushroom in the civic heart of Sydney. Book ahead as the tables on the terrace are as popular as the dishes on culinary director Joel Bickford’s menu. Half the city’s office workers seem to be here on a Friday afternoon: young couples, singles who want to mingle, and a corporate crowd keen to loosen the proverbial neckties. The multi-faceted venue is leading the restaurant renaissance in Sydney’s CBD. Order the flame-licked Goondawindi pork chop with raddichio and capers just so you can pair it with a glass of rich cabernet sauvignon.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Buzzy

Location: 25 Martin Place, Sydney

Bennelong

Although Fink Group has closed the doors to Quay, acclaimed chef Peter Gilmore continues his tenure at Bennelong until June 2026. And the restaurant inside the sails of the Opera House remains one of the best in Sydey for native ingredients and brilliant seasonal produce: think Western Australian marron, finger lime, cultured cream, ume and buckwheat pikelets. Dine a la carte at the counter on pasture-raised Maremma duck, cherry, blackberry, rosehip and Kampot pepper.  You can also enjoy Bennelong in 45, which includes three signature bar snacks and a cocktail for $50 pp. Loosen a notch in your belt for the Bennelong pavlova.

Cuisine: Contemporary Australian

Price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Iconic

Location: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney

Canvas restaurant at MCA

The MCA’s new Canvas restaurant has a pared-back palette so as not to compete with the stunning views over Sydney Harbour. Executive chef Josh Raine (ex-Tetsuya’s) considers Canvas a blank slate where he has been given creative license when it comes to the culinary arts. The pretty plating of dishes such as the prawn with passionfruit and furikake and Eton Mess – a smash hit – will add to the sensory experience for visitors to the gallery. The elegant interiors are stripped back to celebrate what is surely one of the best views of Sydney Harbour in the city.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Contemporary elegance

Location: Level 4/140 George St, The Rocks

Neptune’s Grotto

Prepare to go on a wild ride when you tumble down the rabbit hole into Neptune’s Grotto. It looks like a brothel madame had a collab with Donatella Versace on the interiors, which feature a zebra carpet, a statue of Neptune and portraits of people dining. There are also columns clad in tortoiseshell, waiters wheeling around in purple jackets, and sommelier Andy Tyson rocking a pinstriped suit and red bow tie. Tyson and business partners Dan Pepperell and Mikey Clift have also gifted Sydneysiders with Pellegrino 2000 and Clam Bar. Settle into the space, which is carved into Sydney sandstone, to enjoy tagliatelle al ragu and cotoletta alla Bolognese.

Cuisine: Northern Italian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Beautifully buzzy and bonkers

Location: Downstairs at Loftus Lane, cnr Young and Bridge St, Sydney

Five, Prefecture 48

Gomi, Goshiki, Goho, Gotei and Gokan are the five core elements of ‘taste, colour, cooking, moderation and the senses’  incorporated in every aspect of Five. The menu curated by Michelin-trained chef Hiroshi Manaka takes diners on a culinary journey. Start with a crudo of ocean trout with heirloom tomato umeboshi and rhubarb vinaigrette followed by a Blackmore’s wagyu chuck tail flap with a marble score of M9+. Five is one of the jewels in the crown at Prefecture 48, Sydney’s new heritage dining precinct in the old Foley Brothers building in the CBD. The prefecture is also where you’ll find Omakase, one of the most intimate restaurants in Sydney. The space bows to Japanese craftsmanship.

Cuisine: Modern European with Japanese flair

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Dimly lit and dynamic

Location: 230 Sussex St, Sydney

Morena

Celebrate your year-long language learning streak on Duolingo and practise your Spanish on the Morena waitstaff. The kitchen at Morena is run by Alejandro Saravia and the flavours of Latin America, from Spain to Peru (Saravia’s homeland) are underscored by the staff’s accents. Take the night off cooking so you can experience the chef’s specially curated menu. If you opt for a la carte and your waiter is Argentinean, they will likely suggest the Abrolhos Island scallop empanada. But if your server is from Mexico, you might veer toward Fremantle octopus ceviche. The bar stocks more than 200 Latin American wines, one of the largest collections in the country.

Cuisine: Latin American

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Peruvian brasserie

Location: Sydney GPO, 1 Martin Pl, Sydney

Oborozuki

Oborozuki whispers elegance and is one of Sydney’s best restaurants for fine dining. It’s big and bustling, with the scene set for a prime Sydney Harbour dining experience. There are two distinct offerings: French-Japanese a la carte and a premium teppanyaki experience. The a la carte menu offers refined dishes such as kingfish with Ichiban dashi, oyster cream, purple daikon, and umibudo, and Glacier 51 toothfish with summer squash and sake kasu, mussels, miso and verjus. The sleek interior is equally as stunning as the menu and features a dramatic spiral staircase, rippled ceilings and walls lined with sake magnums.

Cuisine: French-Japanese

Price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: Level 3, 5/71 Macquarie St, Sydney

King Clarence

King Clarence is the new jewel in the Bentley Restaurant Group’s crown. While the restaurant space itself looks like it’s been salvaged from several abandoned building sites, there’s nothing about chef Khanh Nguyen’s menu that says Work in Progress. The Scandi-industrial chic interiors are enhanced by pops of pink neon and artful splotches of paint and a DJ spinning electro house with a four-on-the-floor beat. Good Food Guide editor Callan Boys awarded this slick operation two hats, and you’ll understand why if you order the fish finger wrapped in a bao bun with American cheese and tartare and drunken chicken liver skewers, lacquered with Vegemite and miso eggplant with pickled enoki.

Cuisine: Pan-Asian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Vibrant

Location: 171 Clarence Street, Sydney

Restaurant Hubert

Restaurant Hubert doesn’t skimp on the finer things. Sydney’s glam Gallic subterranean escape is an Art Deco wonderland of velvet, candlelight and live jazz, tucked beneath the CBD. Drop in for oysters and a martini at the bar or settle into the dining room for bistro classics with a twist such as escargot with XO butter, duck l’orange, and rich gratins given a roundhouse kick of spice. The mood is pure late-night Paris, with cravat-clad bon viveurs, lips stained with red wine, and that sense you could lose an evening here in a very enjoyable way.

Cuisine: French bistro and jazz lounge

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Candlelit, jazzy, romantic, moody

Location: 15 Bligh St, Sydney    

Glass Brasserie

Chef Natalie Murphy has stepped into the spotlight at Glass Brasserie to take the Hilton Sydney restaurant formerly led by Luke Mangan in a new direction. And Murphy has wasted no time in putting her stamp on the menu; it’s both concise and seasonal; and her cooking is careful and precise. Expect scene-stealing dishes such as steak tartare, southern Tasmania squid cooked over charcoal and grass-fed rib-eye at the Euro-styled brasserie overlooking the dome of the QVB. The wine experience is as extraordinary and creative as the menu. Head sommelier Mauro Bortolato’s expertise is on show in the dramatic floor-to-ceiling wall of wine showcasing more than 3500 bottles.  Tables overlooking the QVB are coveted, so book ahead.

Cuisine: Modern European

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Glassy and classy

Location: Level 2/488 George St, Sydney

The Malaya

After decades at King Street Wharf, The Malaya has recently relaunched in a modern, glass-fronted space in Grosvenor Place marking a return to the CBD and the street where the restaurant first began in 1963. Led by third-generation siblings Duan and Isabella Wong, the menu remains loyal to its heritage, offering inspired Southeast Asian classics that have become much-loved favourites. The Malaya blends nostalgia with consistency: a rare survivor in Sydney’s shifting food scene, it delivers hearty and memorable Malaysian classics that haven’t lost their edge. An outdoor terrace adds another layer to the space.

Cuisine: Malaysian amd Southeast Asian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Homely

Location: Grosvenor Place, 225 George St, Sydney

24 York

Sydney’s first steak frites-only restaurant, 24 York, keeps things refreshingly simple with just one dish on the menu: perfectly cooked steak paired with perfectly crisp fries. The concept, inspired by Parisian brasseries, is elevated here with premium cuts and a focus on consistency.  A short list of sides and rotating desserts round out the offering, with the daily parfait proving a favourite among regulars. Drinks lean towards French wines and aperitifs, with an approachable list that complements the fuss-free menu. The barkeeps also whip up classic cocktails. The stripped-back dining room features warm lighting, banquette seating, and an understated Paris-meets-Sydney vibe that suits both a quick midweek dinner and long, leisurely night out.

Cuisine: French (Steak frites)

Price: $$

Atmosphere: Warm lights, clinking glasses and an easy, effortless Parisian charm

Location: 24 York St, Sydney

Restaurants in Sydney’s western suburbs

The city’s culinary heartland nails international flavours and techniques with total authenticity.

Magma by Dany Karam

Chef Dany Karam returns to form with an open-flame charcoal grill at the heart of the dining experience at Magma underneath the 140-room Novotel Sydney Cabramatta. The restaurant channels the warmth of a Sunday barbecue into this sleek, high-impact space that has been four years in the market. The multimillion-dollar fit-out includes a dedicated dry-aging room (dubbed Dany’s Butchery) that ensures steaks and seafood are served only when they’re at their peak, including prized whole-carcass wagyu. Expect theatrics in the kitchen at this destination restaurant that proves the city’s best meals aren’t confined to the CBD.

Cuisine: Mod Oz

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Grand and elegant, with the 6m-high dining room perfect for special occasions

Location: 1 Bartley St, Canley Vale

Modo Mio

Culinary tourists keen on finding the best Italian restaurants in Sydney need to relax. There’s more on offer than ever in the NSW capital thanks to the next wave of Italian migrants weaving themselves into our culinary fabric. You’ll find a few of them working at Modo Mio, including Michelin-trained chef Stefano Bozza who grew up working in his family’s bakery in Rome and went on to train under three-Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito. Italian influences and seasonal ingredients unify the menu which features tortellini served with a touch of tableside theatre in a brodo that is so complex you must order it three days in advance. The corner restaurant has a cool, contemporary feel with tan leather banquettes, charcoal walls and white tablecloths as the centrepiece.

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegant and understated

Location: 1/33 Terminus St, Castle Hill

Al Aseel

The Paper Mill precinct has emerged as a must-visit destination in Sydney’s western suburbs. The expansive 600-seater restaurant complex has Liverpool locals lining up for its three dining concepts: Middle Eastern restaurant Al Aseel, casual eatery Ana’s Kitchen and The Vault (an upscale dining experience). Platinum Hospitality Group is behind the revitalised venue, which began life as a paper mill in 1868. It’s one of the few surviving early 20th-century buildings in Liverpool. The dynamic culinary hub is located on the Georges River and worth a jaunt. Head to Al Aseel to build a banquet of Lebanese dishes such as cold mezza like labneh, crispy whiting, haloumi, kibbeh and shish barak.

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Lively and fun

Location: 20 Shepherd St, Liverpool

Restaurants in Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches

With more nature at its feet, Sydney’s Northern suburbs play home to legendary spots mastering exceptional local catches and produce.

Genzo

Can’t wait for your next big ski trip to Nagano? Well, as they say, matte iru hito ni wa yoi koto ga otozureru (good things come to those who wait). In the meantime, head to Genzo , one of the neon-lit jewels in North Sydney’s crown. This modern-day shrine to Japanese cuisine is one you might find tucked down an alleyway in Tokyo. The restaurant is well connected to the new Sydney Metro station, so you can catch public transport and sink a few sneaky sakes on a school night. If you need guidance on the menu, we’dsay start with the kushiyaki (skewers), a bowl of fat slippery noodles and dishes from the raw bar.

Cuisine: Japanese

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Kaleidoscopic

Location: Shop 4/168 Walker St, North Sydney

Poetica

Etymon Projects’ Poetica is like a palace for meat lovers, serving up hefty slabs of beef and fish that have been aged for a more robust flavour. While the Josper charcoal oven and wood-burning hearth are the focal point in the open kitchen, the 120-seater light-filled eatery also features an attention-stealing 700-bottle wine wall and glass-fronted ageing cabinets. The dimly lit dining room is perfect for both quiet dates and big groups. Infrastructure geeks should arrive to Poetica via the Metro station nearby. The swanky restaurant straddles the floor of a North Sydney office building and is popular with corporate types and carnivores.

Cuisine: European Steakhouse

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Warm

Location: Mezzanine Level/1 Denison St, North Sydney

RAFI

RAFI is one of the best places to eat in North Sydney right now, blending coastal freshness with a lively design-led space.  The share-style menu devised by Applejack culinary director Patrick Friesen and executive chef Matias Cilloniz (formerly Central) leans heavily towards seafood, but there’s plenty for meat lovers and vegetarians, too, including roasted free-range chicken with sweetcorn, ají amarillo & shallot salsa spinach, jus, pickled chilli, and crispy eggplant with honey, spices and herbs.  While the restaurant and bar seats 300 patrons, design firm Luchetti Krelle has carved out nooks that foster more intimate dining settings, making it perfect for dates or special occasions. There’s also a lush wraparound terrace for sunny afternoons.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Busy, buzzy gem hidden in plain sight in North Sydney

Location: 99 Mount St, North Sydney

Pilu at Freshwater

Housed within a heritage-listed beach house in picturesque Freshwater, Pilu has been a local favourite on the Northern Beaches for the last 20 years. The menu designed by executive chef and owner Giovanni Pilu features plenty of seafood that befits the beachside location, such as spaghetti alla chitarra with calamari, Pilu bottarga, and preserved lemon, as well as cured snapper with beetroot and sheep’s milk yoghurt. Round out the meal with tiramisu for two served tableside. Sitting by the windows in this white weatherboard house overlooking the ocean makes you feel like you’re holidaying by the beach.

Cuisine: Classic Sardinian fare re-interpreted using modern techniques

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Coastal chic

Location: Moore Rd, Freshwater

Berowra Waters Inn

Just a 50-minute zip from the city is Berowra Waters Inn, a destination restaurant held alongside Australia’s best since its 1984 inception. Housed on Berowra Creek, the rugged gorges and gum-tree-lined site are only accessible to diners by boat or seaplane. Head chef Brian Geraghty owns and runs the space, which boasts a frequently changing menu based on availability that is a mix of classic French with modern Australian. The degustation menu heroes the venue, explained ever so beautifully by the delightful staff. Every table has a window seat.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: One-of-a-kind creekside dining

Location: 1 Calabash Point, Berowra Waters

The Corner [this was positioned under Sydney’s southern suburbs but it’s actually on the other side of the city]

Produce drives everything at The Corner, which is part deli, part providore, part wine bar. Herbs are snipped fresh from the garden, focaccia is baked onsite, and the seafood menu leans into the nearby catch, from tuna to mussels and flathead. Go for coffee, linger over best-in-class salads, or settle in at night when the room shifts into a relaxed wine-bar rhythm. With louvre windows framing glimpses of the beach, it’s the kind of place locals return to weekly. The Corner explains why Palm Beach locals never stray too far from the insular peninsula.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elevated beach-side vibes

Location: 1 Beach Road, Palm Beach

Restaurants in Sydney’s southern suburbs

From sun-splashed waterfront dining to Greek tavernas and local favourites that make Sydney’s southern suburbs a destination.

Fred’s After Hours

Fred’s After Hours is Cronulla’s answer to the European wine bar. By day, Fred’s Providore is a popular café, grocer and butcher.  But from 5.30pm Wednesdays to Sundays, the mood shifts from coffee and pastries to bistro dining with leather banquettes, warm lighting and the low hum of neighbourhood chatter bringing the vibes. Think cacio e pepe croquettes, tuna crudo with finger lime, steak tartare showered in Parmigiano, and a chicken cotoletta that demands a glass of red. The wine list is sharp, the service genuinely attentive, and the crowd a mix of locals dreaming about their next trip to Europe. Bonus points for the acoustics.

Cuisine: Contemporary farm-to-table fare

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Romantic, intimate, buzzy

Location: 109 Cronulla St, Cronulla

Homer Rogue Taverna

Harry and Mario Kapoulas didn’t head to Athens to brush up on their Greek mythology. Instead, the brothers behind HAM in Cronulla, one of the Shire’s most-loved cafes, went on a reccie to gather inspo for the kind of gritty Greek restaurant they’d been dreaming of for about a decade. The brothers returned with a blueprint for the 100-seater Homer Rogue Taverna. The humble taverna is a step away from the elevated Greek restaurants that are popping up all over Sydney. The modern industrial fit-out features a graffiti’dwall, raw concrete and mid-century furnishings. And the menu co-curated by head chef Kirri Mouat (ex-Icebergs, HAM) comprises dishes you might find at a family feast from breads and pickles to dips, stews and sides.

Cuisine: Greek

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Gritty Athens alleyway meets clever Cronulla hang

Location: 3/3 Surf Rd, Cronulla

Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare

Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare is the kind of elegant venue Cronulla real estate agents describe as ‘charming’ when they’re trying to sell the amenity of the suburb. Cronulla locals have taken real ownership of the ivy-clad building, formerly the old library, which now houses this bright, coastal Italian dining room with serious style. The seaside restaurant has been reimagined with olive-green hues, handmade terracotta tiles from Italy, sculptural sconces and a wine-lined private dining space. Come for maccheroncini alla vodka crowned with spanner crab, stay for the sense of occasion. It’s one of the best places to eat in Cronulla.

Cuisine: Traditional Italian cuisine

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: The space is all kinds of charming with its high ceilings, rustic white walls and terracotta texture

Location: 1/15 Surf Road, Cronulla

Benny’s Cronulla

Owner Benny Sweeten has lured hatted chef RJ Lines (ex-One Penny Red) to Sydney/Warrane’s south to serve a finely tuned roster of seafood-centric dishes that speak to Benny’s sun-splashed location overlooking Gunnamatta Bay. Think fresh-shucked oysters, bluefin tuna carpaccio and the signature ‘barra in a bag’ with clams and sherry. Watch seagulls and swimmers and boats bobbing in the bay. Australian gin champion of the year Nelson Braid is behind the drinks list so order a gin-based cocktail for starters. Meanwhile, book ahead as Lines spent years in the kitchen at hatted restaurant One Penny Red and has a city-wide following.

Cuisine: Seafood-centric menu

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Bright and breezy bayside dining

Location: 27 Tonkin St, Cronulla

Ammos

Arrive by bicycle to Ammos restaurant in Brighton Le Sands so you can justify starting with pillowy pita bread and house-made dips such as taramasalata (it should be white, not pink people), topped with bottarga caviar. Acclaimed chef Peter Conistis (ex-Apollo) is behind this neighbourhood gem that has become the next big destination for big fat Greek gatherings. Ammos means ‘sandy ground,’ a nod to the beachfront views over Botany Bay from the The Brighton Hotel Sydney – MGallery Collection.  Keep it simple with the slow-roasted Sovereign lamb shoulder with tzatziki and horiatiki salad.

Cuisine: Greek

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: A buzzy new Brighton Le Sands institution

Location: Level 3/2 Princess St, Brighton-Le-Sands

Jaaks Restaurant and Bar

Join the chic and stylish Kyle Bay clientele at Jaaks, which has transformed from a fine diner into a more relaxed mezedopolio (the type of taverna that focuses on small plates, or mezedes). Like all great Greek cuisine, the food is honest and largely unadorned, relying on great ingredients and – in some cases – nothing more than a little sea salt and a squeeze of lemon. Sit outside and soak in the scene on a sunny day with uninterrupted views over the Georges River over signatures like the lamb backstrap with paprika and rosemary crumb or swordfish belly with bottarga and nasturtiums.

Cuisine: Modern Greek

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Feels like an absolute hidden gem

Location: 12 Merriman St, Kyle Bay

Kazzi Beach Greek

Cue the bouzouki music: there’s a new Kazzi Beach Greek restaurant in Bondi. Sit indoors where the pops of pink bougainvillea, blue-and-white decor and iconography will conjure up your default memories of Santorini. Before you know it, you will be chatting with locals who frequent the restaurant to extend their Euro summer. Trust the sta  , who are young, hip and knowledgeable, and order an array of dips, island-style octopus followed by galaktoboureko (custard dessert), which arrives drenched in honey.