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Deliciousness Down Under: 20 of Sydney’s Best Restaurants
Written by Nate Robinson
From fine dining high above the Opera House to laidback clifftop bites in Whale Beach, as a dining destination, Sydney easily competes with the world’s best.
Sydney’s renaissance as an Australian food capital is well and truly in swing, with talented chefs flocking from across the world to make their mark. Innovation, reimagination and a commitment to sourcing only the freshest local produce set these restaurants apart – there’s never been a better time to graze your way across the Harbour.
Read on to discover our pick of Sydney’s best restaurants.
The best restaurants for a special occasion
Oncore by Clare Smyth at Crown Sydney
Clare Smyth’s first restaurant outside of London is a gastronomic and scenic delight, with a whimsical farm-to-fork menu and some of the city’s best Sydney Harbour views.
Icebergs Dining Room
With a dining room that unabashedly celebrates Bondi’s one-of-a-kind seascape, Icebergs Dining Room features some of the city’s finest Italian plates, inspired and elevated by the region’s exceptional seasonal produce.
Aria Sydney
Aria’s tasting menu expresses the spectacular range of seasonally focused, modern Australian cuisine: working hand-in-hand with local growers, farmers and makers, it’s rightly considered a culinary triumph.
Tetsuya’s
Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s venerable flagship dazzles with a breathtaking melange of French and Japanese influences, with dishes as likely to evoke the spirit of Tsukiji-style omakase shops as continental haute cuisine.
The best hotel restaurants
Brasserie 1930 at Capella Sydney
Located within Capella Sydney – one of the city’s most spectacular luxury hotels – is Brasserie 1930, a lavish ode to Parisian fine dining, with a menu that serves all the classics (caviar, oysters, steak frites) and more.
Kiln at Ace Hotel Sydney
Ultra-cool hotel Ace Hotel Sydney hides one of the city’s best dining venues: chef Mitch Orr’s ‘Italian-ish’ modern Australian rooftop restaurant Kiln. An always-changing menu gleefully roams across culinary borders to deliver plates that are unmatched in creativity.
Arches on Market at Swissôtel Sydney
Eight floors above the bustle of Sydney’s CBD, Arches on Market mixes cocktails with an old-school flair that’s growing rarer of late. The dining menu is just as slick: paired back, classic and expertly presented.
Sydney Common at Sheraton Grand Sydney
Sydney Common’s contemporary take on woodfired cooking has earned it plenty of attention since its 2024 opening. Backdropped by views over Hyde Park, the Sheraton Grand Sydney’s newest venue brings smoke and fire to almost every dish.
The best restaurants for a date night
Restaurant Hubert
If you’re the kind of couple that appreciates live jazz, easy-going French food and a three-martini lunch, there’s no date night in Sydney finer than an evening at Restaurant Hubert.
Arthur
Sourcing only ingredients native to Australia, cherished Surry Hills restaurant Arthur celebrates the flavours of the sunburnt continent; plates often include kangaroo, saltbush, fingerlime and bush plums.
Petermen
Featuring Australian seafood sourced ‘from fishers we know by name,’ Josh Niland’s acclaimed venue, Petermen, is approachable, sustainable and – above all – delicious.
Redbird
Redbird remixes the flavour profiles of beloved Chinese-Australian favourites with startling success: start with the chilli prawn crackers and let your tastebuds roam.
The Corner House Bondi
Wood-fired pizza, slow-cooked lamb ragu and too many cured meats: The Corner House brings laidback rustic Italian plates to beach-obsessed Bondi, and the result is something truly special.
The best restaurants with views
Jonah’s Sydney
Part modern Australian restaurant, part lavish clifftop retreat, Jonah’s Sydney draws celebrities and sommeliers alike with an expansive wine list and showstopping Pacific Ocean views.
The Joey
Formerly known as Barrenjoy Boatshed, this laidback Palm Beach favourite is back with everything you loved and more – including unbeatable views over the jetty and a menu stuffed with beachside favourites.
Quay
Fine dining with first-class views over the Opera House: it doesn’t get more iconic than an evening at Peter Gilmore’s Quay.
The best casual restaurants
Lucky Prawn
What’s better than barbecue pork buns and an ice-cold brew? Tucked within Hawke’s Brewing is relaxed Chinese eatery Lucky Prawn, serving a range of takeout classics and local lager on tap.
Firepop
Flame-grilled food truck turned restaurant Firepop delivers smoky lamb skewers, crisp corn ribs topped with butter and stretchy caciocavallo cheese and a strong – if tight – wine list.
Queen Chow, Manly
Queen Chow brings a touch of Hong Kong glamour to Manly’s shores, with a confident old-school Cantonese menu that’s sweet, sour and nostalgic in all the right ways.
Spice I Am
Spice I Am is chef-owner Sujet Saenkham’s love letter to the central Thai cuisine he grew up with; think house-made curry pastes, smoke-kissed pad Thai and papaya salad so fiery and fresh it makes you want to cry.
Hungry for more Sydney travel inspiration? Explore our Guide to Unmissable Things to Do in Sydney.
