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The best restaurants in Sydney, Australia, right now!
Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and one of the largest cities in Australia, surely is a paradise for food lovers. As a matter of fact, there’s plenty to explore, from excellent dining on the banks of Sydney Harbour to small jewels hidden in the city’s backstreets, famous chefs, local secrets, and more. The city has a mesmerizing view that complements well the exquisiteness of the food. As a matter of fact, there are so many choices that you will most definitely be spoiled in the metropolitan area. Without any further ado, let’s dig into the best restaurants in Sydney, Australia, right now.
Ragazzi
Ragazzi, in three words, means Italian, pasta, and wine. Is there anything further to say? Chef Scott McComas-Williams’ handcrafted pasta has become famous. It has spawned Fabbrica, a takeout store and pasta emporium in Sydney. This popular 40-seat eating restaurant belongs to the same people who own Dear Sainte Éloise and Love, Tilly Devine. Expect a changing sample menu highlighting the delights of Italian tastes and pasta in a fast-paced atmosphere with mind-blowing music, whether you’re in for an after-work vino or a weekend lunch. All of this is in addition to a 250-bottle wine selection paying tribute to both traditional and current Italian winemaking.
Mr. Wong
As a matter of fact, Mr. Wong became an immediate Sydney favorite. One of the shining stars in the Merivale universe of superb restaurants, with chef Dan Hong at the helm. He adds a creative touch to Cantonese-style cuisine. The 240-seat restaurant serves over 80 meals on two levels. You’ll be spoiled for choice, thanks to Hong’s extensive menu. Come in for a budget-friendly lunchtime dim sum menu or the crowd’s favorite, an entire Chinese roasted duck. Otherwise, local specialties like crispy fried Balmain bugs and rock lobster, and Chinese classics like Kung Pao chicken, are available. As has been noted, Mr. Wong offers the perfect menu for a leisurely meal. It is one of the top 10 Chinese restaurants in Sydney.
Woodcut
Expectations were sky-high when award-winning culinary power couple Ross and Sunny Lusted unveiled their new Barangaroo restaurant in late 2020. Woodcut is a restaurant that highlights Australian products and embraces distinctive cooking techniques like steam, wood, and charcoal. This was a no-brainer for the couple. Woodcut’s open kitchens and innovative service, with meals direct from cast-iron pans or clay pots, promise a sensory theatrical experience. All of this is in addition to amazing Darling Harbour vistas and outstanding cuisine.
6Head
The name 6Head stems from a myth about six runaway Black Cape cattle that landed with the First Fleet. It was a 100-strong herd 80 years later at the time of discovery. The menu by chef Sean Hall has six types of meat: rump, rib-eye, T-bone, eye filet, scotch filet, and sirloin. At this pasture-to-plate, sustainably focused restaurant, don’t anticipate standard steakhouse selections or attitudes. From tuna carpaccio to caviar, full Sydney Rock lobster to grilled king prawns XO, the cuisine is rich in seafood. It also helps to have a perfect waterfront view of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House to complement your dinner.
Tetsuya’s
Tetsuya’s, founded by famed chef Tetsuya Wakadu OAM, first opened in Rozelle in 1989 before moving to Sydney in 2000. It has long been one of Sydney’s greatest and most recognized restaurants. Choose from five or eight dishes on the Kent Street eatery’s famed tasting menu. It combines a Japanese cuisine philosophy with traditional French training. The restaurant’s hallmark dish, the confit of saltwater trout, is, in our opinion, unbeatable.
Aria
Aria’s award-winning food and spectacular Circular Quay location have long drawn sophisticated patrons. Despite the stunning views of Circular Quay, the Opera House forecourt, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it will be the cuisine and wine at this famous fine dining establishment that will keep you coming back.
In 2021, owners Matt Moran and Bruce Solomon engaged Thomas Gorringe (Bentley Restaurant and Bar, The Gantry) as head chef. He appears to be on track to continue the restaurant’s heritage of beautiful meals produced solely with Australian food. Glazed Maremma duck with salsify, nectarines, and chicory, torched bonito with Tasmanian wasabi, green strawberries, kombu, and Moreton bay bug with tamarind XO are among the menu’s highlights.
Bentley Restaurant + Bar
Bentley was founded in 2006 by chef Brent Savage and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt in a former Surry Hills bar space. In 2013 it relocated to the Radisson Blu Hotel on scenic O’Connell Street in Sydney. The two-hatted restaurant has established itself as one of Sydney’s greatest since its debut, earning several awards along the way. The 80-seat restaurant offers a variety of menu options, from a la carte to a more relaxed bar menu with a few (expensive) appetizers and a glass of rare wine. The tasting menu, which is also offered as a vegetarian alternative, is well worth exploring.
Long Chim
Long Chim means ‘come and try’ in Thai. For a fiery kick and some of Sydney’s best Thai cuisine, this is one of our favorite spots. The stylish Bangkok-inspired eatery dishes your favorite curries, Thai snacks, and stir-fries, all expertly prepared in the style of renowned chef David Thompson. Crispy prawn cakes, chicken pad prik khing, pineapple pig belly curry, and soft-shell crab and lemongrass salad are among the menu’s highlights. Combine this with exquisite beverages and good company for a supper to remember.
Restaurant Hubert
Restaurant Hubert comes from Swillhouse, the same people behind Sydney’s Baxter’s Inn, Shady Pines, and Alberto’s Lounge. It’s like something out of a Parisian dream, with some modern touches tossed in. With drinks and wines to turn any peaceful weeknight into a spectacular occasion, the legendary subterranean jazz den gives French vibes by candlelight. Take a gourmet journey around France with caviar, XO escargots, boudin noir, pâté en croûte. Adding to this are the regional specialties such as duck à l’orange and the popular chicken fricassee. Hubert’s theater is recognized for presenting live music evenings, live theater, and movie screenings. All in all, this is an ideal destination for a memorable date night.
Alberto’s Lounge
Alberto’s Lounge is a quaint Italian restaurant on the urban periphery, hidden away in the back streets. For some surprisingly laid-back feelings, walk through Alberto’s Lounge’s lengthy entryway. And into some dark lighting, cramped seating, and old Italian cinema posters; you will find the perfect setting for your foodie self. On the seasonal menu, you’ll find a carefully chosen assortment of cheeses, charcuterie, pasta, sides, and a few desserts. As a matter of fact, we recommend that you fill up on Alberto’s famous warm focaccia and olive oil, despite the ancient saying that ‘don’t fill up on bread.’
Continental Deli Bar Bistro CBD
Continental Deli, which first opened a store in Newtown in 2015, is a favorite local hangout with a genuine European deli, bar, and bistro experience. Three years later, the legends behind Porteo and Bodega launched a second site on Phillip Street in Sydney, spreading the love even further. Continental’s famed tinned drinks (the ‘Martinny’), house-canned seafood, and amazing cuisine with pasta, sandwiches, charcuterie, and lots of Mediterranean-inspired mains can all be found there.
Bennelong
Look no farther than Bennelong for a dining experience prepared by one of Australia’s greatest chefs. It is located in one of the country’s most famous buildings. As a matter of fact, there’s nothing quite like dining within the confines of the Sydney Opera House. Especially if you’re trying to work your way through Peter Gilmore’s modern Australian cuisine, which highlights exceptional Australian ingredients. There’s no bad seat in the house if you choose dining floors underneath the cathedral interior, with views of Sydney Harbor. Keep a lookout for musical sessions with the ‘Bennelong Presents’ series, which features world-class serenading while you dine. All in all, it is one of the best restaurants in Sydney serving Australian cuisine.
a’Mare
a’Mare, which means ‘by the sea’ in Italian, offers a classic dining experience to its guests. It is one of the precinct’s most magnificent Italian eating destinations. Chef Alessandro Pavoni, who wooed Sydney with Ormeggio at the Spit, debuted his new restaurant to immediate praise for its flawless service, elegant atmosphere, and brilliant take on the simplicity of Italian cuisine while employing the freshest seasonal Australian vegetables. Consider an entire fish roasted in a Josper charcoal oven, handmade pasta, wagyu beef carpaccio antipasti, and burrata caprese; all served alongside a barrel-aged Negroni. Add in some tableside pesto preparation for a bit of theatrics. And you’ve got yourself a one-of-a-kind Italian fine dining experience.
Quay
This list has demonstrated that every restaurant with a front-row view of Sydney Harbour gets a big thumbs up. Especially if chef Peter Gilmore is in charge of the menu. As a matter of fact, Sydney’s Quay is a fine-dining institution that hits the spot. Find a spot among the Australian landscape-inspired décor right next to the Bennelong and the Sydney Opera House, as suggested by Gilmore. The Circular Quay restaurant has earned three chefs’ hats in the last 18 years, signifying that they are doing something well. Whether you pick the six-course or eight-course menu, with or without a sommelier-curated wine pairing, you can expect a superb dinner.
Méjico
Méjico in the city is the place to go for your Mexican dining desires, bringing regional delicacies from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula and boasting Australia’s largest tequila and mezcal collection. Street snacks like table-smashed guacamole and beef brisket empanadas, tacos like smoky chipotle chicken or confit wild salmon, and market-to-plate entrees like kingfish ceviche and grilled WA octopus are also on the menu. On Saturdays, wash it down with a martini, an unending supply of tequila, or limitless sangria. All in all, at Méjico, you are never to have a boring time!
Bopp & Tone
If there’s one thing Sydney hospitality group Applejack (The Botanist Kirribilli, The Butler, and SoCal) excels at, it’s capturing the proper feel for a location, right down to the tiniest detail. The Bopp & Tone, which was launched in 2018, is no exception. The Carrington Street restaurant decor, named for the Applejack founder’s grandfather, evokes the grandeur. Sipping on a glass of cocktail with vintage tiling, dark timber features, magnificent pendant lighting, and velvet bench seats; the view is simply to live for. In terms of cuisine, the menu of Australian-inspired meals highlights the best protein while allowing you to pick your trip. Additionally, you can choose from fixed banquet dinners, lengthy lunches, or snack bar items with a glass of wine.
Métisse
In mid-2019, veteran chef Opel Khan and his daughter Lucinda, who serves as sous chef, discreetly opened the doors of their Potts Point gourmet dining Métisse. Métisse is a wonderful hidden gem housed in a lovely oval-shaped dining room in the Durbach Block Jaggers Barcelona building. Khan’s seasonal French-inspired degustation menu is the product of the kind of fine-tuned gastronomy you’d expect to find at a Michelin Star restaurant. It is quietly one of the most amazing degustations being dished up in Sydney with each successive version.
Saint Peter
Chef Josh Niland created quite a stir when, at the age of 27, he founded his first solo restaurant to reinvent seafood. The whole technique at Saint Peter, which has subsequently earned Niland some major international culinary cred, is meant to make you think differently about what fish can be. The restaurant does it by utilizing every imaginable component of the Australian-only raw materials. A full John Dory cooked in bull’s kelp and served in a sauce composed of its bones and roe is the current star of the menu.
Key takeaways
- Sydney has a reputation for world-class food, which is backed up by a long history of culinary inventiveness and beautiful settings.
- There are plenty of fantastic places to keep you occupied, ranging from groundbreaking pioneers to magnificent old enterprises still at the top of their game.
- Sydney has witnessed a wave of new restaurant openings, ranging from high-end special occasion eateries to moderately casual diners to eateries introducing fresh themes to the city’s already bustling ethnic dining scene.
So, when you’re in Australia, make sure to visit these best restaurants in Sydney without a miss! For more such blogs, drop a comment below or get in touch with us!
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FAQs
Question 1: What is the famous food in Sydney?
Answer: Barramundi is a quintessential Australian fish that’s served in restaurants all over the country but is particularly popular in Sydney.
Question 2: What is Sydney’s finest vegetarian restaurant?
Answer: According to Google reviews, ‘as Anything in Newtown’ is Sydney’s top vegetarian restaurant.
Question 3: What is an ideal Australian meal like?
Answer: A traditional Australian barbecue consists of sausages, burgers, steak, fresh seafood, bread, and tomato or barbecue sauce; salad is occasionally served, but the meat and fish take center stage.
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