-
Caffe Salina
Friendly Salina's is on to a winner with its long brunches and hangover specials (bacon, egg, steak, roast tomatoes, chips and a glass of iced Berocca). Who doesn't want hearty food, great coffee and soothing seaside when you're feeling poorly? Delicious, healthy picnic baskets to enjoy across the road at Bronte Beach can be ordered.
-
Campos
Trying to squeeze into crowded Campos, king of Sydney's bean-scene, can be a challenge. Caffeine fiends come from miles around - hat-wearing students, broadsheet literati, window-seat daydreamers and doctors on a break from the hospital - all gagging for a shot of 'Campos Superior' blend. The closest competition is in northern Italy.
-
Casa Asturiana
Tapas is flavour of the month in Sydney, but this atmospheric little eatery in Sydney's tiny Spanish Quarter predates the current trend. Try the delicious seafood, meat and vegetarian titbits and order a fine Spanish wine, sangria or Asturian cider to wash it all down. If you're in the mood for a cazuela (baked fish fillet), paella or even weekend flamenco, you're in luck.
-
Chinatown Noodle Restaurant
It's sweaty, shoulder-to-shoulder eating beneath wreaths of plastic grapes in this busy noodle nook - the stringy fare is made fresh daily. The combination dish looks like spaghetti bolognaise on steroids - masses of thick wheat noodles, pork, shredded cucumber and lashings of chilli and black vinegar.
-
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.
-
Chish N Fips
Oh the sheer Ockerness of it all - quality fish and chips on a golden sand beach! This well-placed snack bar also has great fish burgers and, for those seeking a healthier alternative, plentiful salads.
-
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.
-
Chu Bay
It's a little sad to be blowing the cover of this local hideaway, but this wonderful family-run eatery is one of our very favourites. This is an authentically Vietnamese establishment - the pink walls and moving waterfall 'paintings' prove it. The food is always fresh and flavoursome and the service welcoming.
-
Churrasco
At this swanky Brazilian barbecue, illuminated by a strange mix of trendy hanging globes and chandeliers, black-clad waiting staff proffer wave upon wave of South American-spiced chorizo, chicken and tender steak skewers. Share a salad (around A$11 ) to avoid meat overload. The vegetarian version (at the same price, which hardly seems fair) swaps in vegetables and haloumi.
-
Clove
Owner Nash has been cooking up a mean mountain of curry here for 14 years, filling his tables without so much as a hint of advertising. Word of mouth is a powerful force, almost as powerful as Nash's special lamb shank and chicken curries.
-
Advertisement
-
Concrete
This slick, minimalist joint boasts tasty offerings like buttermilk pancakes with grilled pineapple for breakfast, while lunch means eggplant and roasted almond ravioli or Mediterranean lamb skewers. Enjoy it all at a shady outdoor table. The location is a bit off the tourist path, just a few blocks from Darling Harbour.
-
Cruise
The cocktail lounge upstairs wallows in lugubrious style; the bar downstairs does a heady trade. In between, Cruise restaurant cooks up satisfying serves of prawn-and-scallop dumplings with red vinegar, and local snapper fillet with shaved fennel, prawns and tomato vinaigrette. Tasty work.
-
Danks Street Depot
Upon its opening this industrial-chic café quickly became a brunch-time gourmet favourite, with the creamed eggs with roasted mushrooms and truffle oil (around A$18 ) assuming near legendary status.
-
Digi.Kaf
It's great to find an internet café that hasn't neglected the café bit. This one promises 'coffee, cake and cyberspace' and delivers much more than that, including a cracking brunch and cool surrounds. There's a tiny side lane for al fresco dining and nary a gaming nerd to be seen.
-
Dolcetta
Perhaps it's because they double as a providore that this friendly little neighbourhood eatery can offer beautiful meals at such reasonable prices. Where else in Sydney can you find fresh, zingy blue swimmer crab pasta with garlic and lemon zest for around A$13 ? Try the truffled scrambled eggs for breakfast.
-
Don Don
We've worked our way backwards and forwards through the handy photo menu for years and have only had consistently delicious dishes at this tiny Oxford St eatery. Expect everything from chicken katsu-don to sashimi, with most meals served with rice, miso and Japanese pickles on the side. It's a popular spot, so be prepared to wait.
-
DOV
It's probably linked to endless nights of party-love, but big breakfasts are something Sydney does well. DOV, the busiest café on Victoria St, does one of the best. If they sleep through breakfast, locals, backpackers, style-mongers and filmmakers squish in for lunch and dinner. The DOV burger reigns supreme.
-
Dov @ Delectica
Opening onto the nicest part of leafy Victoria St, Dov has a vibe that will tempt you to linger all morning over your newspaper and coffee. The menu varies throughout the day, starting with reasonably priced brekkie (around A$5 - A$14 14) and lunch (check out the savoury tart of the day) before culminating in substantial evening meals from the ever-changing blackboard menu.
-
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.
-
Doyles on the Beach
King of Sydney seafood for so long, you might think Doyles on the Beach is resting on its laurels. Nevertheless, it ain't your average fish-and-chipper, and catching the harbour ferry to Watsons Bay for a seafood lunch is a quintessential Sydney experience.
-
Advertisement
-
East Ocean
Insanely popular on weekends for its yum cha(over 100 kinds), this massive Chinese restaurant can serve up to 1000 hungry folk - mostly discerning Asian diners - on a busy day. Popular dishes include the barbecue pork and roast duck, but don't miss the fresh seafood imported from Tasmania. Serves yum cha for both lunch and dinner.
-
Emperor's Garden BBQ & Noodles
Here's a sizeable, busy eatery specialising in meat and poultry dishes. The little takeaway section out the front has many goodies, including some crimson-hued offerings hanging in the window; give the decadent roast duck and rice a try. There are plenty of vegetarian offerings as well, along with a healthy seafood list.
-
Erciyes 2
The cafe up front serves quick takeaway meat pies and kebabs, along with some excellent dips - try the jajik (cucumber, yogurt and garlic). If it's good Turkish pizza you're after, you won't go away hungry. For something fancier, come at night, when the BYO restaurant does similar fare but with belly dancing as well (Friday and Saturday only).
-
est.
Legendary Sydney chef Peter Doyle and sommelier Franck Moreau keep the business crowds powering through deal-sealing corporate lunches at this slick eatery. Portions are small but high quality and the dining room more suited to groups than to intimate meals, but this classy place still exemplifies Sydney dining at its best. Thick wallet and fancy threads a must.
-
Fair Trade Coffee Company
Unashamedly hippie and slightly grungy, this is great spot for guilt-free coffee and a community atmosphere. The food raids a number of cuisines, from a Mediterranean platter to Colombian arepas , nasi goreng and Moroccan meatballs. Serves are tasty and substantial.
