Restaurants in Sydney
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Spice I Am
Once the preserve of expat Thais wanting a taste of home, this little red-hot chilli pepper now has queues out the door. No wonder, as everything we’ve tried from the 70-plus affordable dishes on the menu is superfragrant and superspicy. BYO and no corkage!
reviewed
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Quay
Quay is shamelessly guilty of breaking the rule that good views make for bad food. Peter Gilmore may be one of Sydney’s younger celeb chefs, but Quay’s exquisite menu proves he’s at the top of his game (doubters should try the crispy-skin Murray cod with shiitake). And the view? Like dining in a postcard. Bookings essential.
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Bodhi
Bodhi scores highly for its cool design and leafy position. Quick-fire waiters bounce off stainless-steel minimalism inside and slatted wooden tables and umbrellas outside. Swim at the pool next door before daily yum cha (10am to 4pm), a relaxed and value-for-money affair. The barbecue buns rule.
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Bills
Sydney adores Bill Granger (aka Mr Scrambled Egg) and his original sunny eatery with its newspaper-strewn communal table. Dishes such as sweet-corn fritters served with roast tomato, spinach and bacon are equally adorable. Can’t get a seat? Head for bills in Surry Hills or Woollahra.
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Aria
Aria is a star in Sydney’s fine-dining firmament, an award-winning combination of chef Matthew Moran’s stellar dishes, awesome Opera House views ( is there a cooler building?) and faultless service. The mouth-watering lamb rack is hard to overlook. Pre- and after-theatre supper menu available. Reservations essential.
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Chinta Ria
Despite its Malaysian-hawker-inspired menu it's not really cheap food, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Perched on a leafy rooftop, an enormous Buddha greets you at the door of the giant pagoda dining room, while colourful place settings, clanging dishes and efficient service only add to your enjoyment of the spicy chicken laksa.
reviewed
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Bungalow 8
Retreat to the far end of King St Wharf if the mayhem of Darling Harbour starts to melt your mind. Slink into a low leather booth on the cool slate floor, watch the harbour lights and slurp a lemongrass laksa stacked high with fresh mussels (all-you-can-eat bivalves on Tuesdays). The Loft bar upstairs has cool cocktails.
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Mohr Fish
Teutonic Iron Chef Hans Mohr started this fishy takeaway decades ago, plating up fancy fish and chips with Euro stylings. The interior is more East End London eel-and-mash shop than hip Sydney, but the food is brilliant: don’t miss the prawn-and-fish dumplings with chilli soy sauce.
reviewed
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Chocolate By The Bald Man Max Brenner
The crazy bald guy has taken a leaf from Willy Wonka's book. Shiny copper pipes lead to big vats of liquid heaven, while shelves bulge with all sorts of tempting treats to takeaway. Try the warm chocolate fondue for two, served with fruit, banana bread and marshmallows (around A$16), or just sneak in for a coffee and brownie.
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The Summit Restaurant Orbit Lounge Bar
Sure, it's not exactly cheap, but you're here for the supreme 360-degree views of Sydney. This high-rise restaurant rotates a full turn every 105 minutes, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the chilli-prawn tapas, seared rare tuna, wagyu beef rump or pepper-crust snapper before the view starts repeating itself. And remember to dress up: there's a dress code.
reviewed
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Doyles at the Quay
Here is another slick, well-placed branch of the Doyles empire, offering outstanding views of the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay in general. On a sunny day, snag a breezy promenade table under a white umbrella and enjoy the massive-portioned (and wallet-emptying) fish and chips - life doesn't get much better than this.
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Bar Reggio
Most of East Sydney’s celebrated Italian restaurants have closed or gone upmarket, but blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Bar Reggio has retained a beautiful budget atmosphere. The walls are plastered with Ferrari flags and Rome murals, and the pasta, pizza, meat and fish dishes have stood the test of time. Closed on Sundays (church!).
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Hugo’s Bar Pizza
This indoor-outdoor neighbourhood nook has been seducing pizza fans with its delicious discs and home-style Italian fare. The marble-fronted bar and sunken velvet lounge spell luxury, but the menu won’t break the bank. Try the puttanesca pizza. If you feel like a drink, try Hugo’s Lounge Bar upstairs.
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Longrain
Longrain makes serving dozens of diners look easy. Inside a century-old, wedge-shaped printing-press building, urbanites slurp down delicacies such as red venison and snakebean curry or caramelised pork hock with five spices and chilli vinegar. Sip a Caipiroska (vodka, crushed lime and sugar syrup) at the bar afterwards.
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Aki's
First cab off the rank as you walk onto Woolloomooloo's wharf is Aki's. Walk no further: this is beautifully presented, intuitively constructed high-Indian cuisine, supplemented by a six-page wine list showcasing local and international drops by the glass or bottle. The Kerala chilli beef is a simmering sensation.
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Café Sydney
A roomy dining hall on the Customs House roof with outrageous harbour views, an outdoor terrace, a glass ceiling, a cocktail bar, friendly staff, Sunday afternoon jazz and superchef Nino Borgo; the list of Café Sydney’s pluses is as long as your arm. Seafood and wood-grilled dishes prevail.
reviewed
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Marque
Marque's crisp, immaculate décor provides a level-headed platform for adventurous cooking. It's one of those places where culinary experimentation at first seems ridiculous, but you walk away smiling. Try the milk-fed veal loin with Meyer lemon, liquorice, pumpkin and coffee.
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Mother Chu’s Vegetarian Kitchen
Shimmering in plastique splendour beneath the monorail, Mother Chu’s blends vegetarian Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese influences to ensure the perfect tofu or claypot hit. There’s not much going on in terms of ambience, but the veg lovers don’t seem to mind.
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Thai Pothong
This place has won a bowlful of ‘Best Thai Restaurant in Sydney’ awards. The menu is predictable and the usual rabble of golden Buddhas festoons the walls, but the mood is oddly romantic. Pull up a window seat and watch the Newtowners pass by.
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Blue Water Café
The huge portions are a major drawcard at this bustling beach café adorned with surfboards. Choose between pasta, burgers, wraps, pide and grills, mostly under around A$20 but up to around A$29 for a juicy sirloin.
reviewed
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Altitude
London chef Michael Kean plates up top-notch Mod Oz at Altitude, sending your taste buds soaring as high as the harbour views. If you've only got a day or two in Sydney, make this your last hurrah.
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Bourke Street Bakery
It hasn’t been around forever, but the Bourke St Bakery has quickly become an essential Surry Hills experience, offering up a mean selection of pastries, cakes, croissants, tarts, quiches and organic breads, all baked with that rare combo of deliciousness, dedication and delight. If you’re hungover, the coffee here will right your rudder.
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Casa Asturiana
Tapas is flavour of the decade in Sydney, but this atmospheric eatery under the monorail in Sydney’s chico Spanish Quarter predates the current trend. Order up plates of delicious seafood, meat and vegetarian titbits, washed down with a rough rioja, sangria or Asturian cider. If you’re in the mood for a cazuela (baked fish fillet), paella or even some weekend flamenco, you’re in luck.
reviewed
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Bathers’ Pavilion
Spanish Mission–style architecture, harbour views and outstanding food collide at one of Sydney’s most enduringly popular restaurants. The seasonal menu focuses on produce from small local providers, with plenty of seafood; there’s also a full vegetarian menu. Under the same roof, Bathers’ Café opens for breakfast at 7am, serving equally scrumptious fare at more democratic prices.
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Bodega
The coolest progeny of Sydney’s recent tapas explosion, Bodega has a casual vibe, good-lookin’ staff and a retro-funky matador mural. Tapas dishes vary widely in size and price, from spiced pumpkin and feta empanadas to hefty slabs of seared salmon with tahini and pickled cucumber. Wash ’em down with Hispanic wine, sherry, port or beer and plenty of Mediterranean gusto.
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