Must-see restaurants in Sydney

  • Erciyes

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Shamelessly kitsch Erciyes flaunts its fluoro lighting, mirror-faced wall, plastic tablecloths, disco ball and audience-participatory belly-dancing on…

  • Chonsiam

    City Centre & Haymarket

    This unassuming, friendly hole-in-the-wall offers simple but tasty authentic Thai dishes that are quite a bargain. Cram into the tight-packed interior or…

  • Nada's

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    There are swisher Lebanese restaurants around, but for a no-frills delicious feed at a very fair price, it's hard to beat this old family-run favourite…

  • Cafe de France

    Sydney

    An art nouveau building, posters of Paris, crêpes, croissants and croques monsieur…this friendly cafe is as French as South Coogee can get. There are…

  • Regatta

    Sydney

    With a luminous, romantic location on a pier jutting out into Rose Bay, Regatta offers relaxed but quality service and well-presented contemporary seafood…

  • Anason

    Darling Harbour & Pyrmont

    Outdoor eating is a pleasure of the new Barangaroo strip, and this is one of the best places to do it. Modern takes on generous Turkish flavours are…

  • bills

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Bill Granger almost single-handedly started the Sydney craze for stylish brunching. This sunny corner cafe with its newspaper-strewn communal table was…

  • Bonditony's Burger Joint

    Sydney

    The squelch comes oozing out as you bite down on one of these sinfully tasty burgers from a rock 'n' roll–themed spot a couple of blocks back from the…

  • UMU Organic

    Sydney

    An organic cafe, deli and naturopath in one, this licensed cafe serves up a healthy range of salads, quiches, vegetarian pies and tennis-ball-sized…

  • Bar Coluzzi

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Legendary Coluzzi has been here since 1957 and still attracts an odd-ball mix of old Italian gents, lycra-clad cyclists, judges, Kings Cross dealers,…

  • Cafe Morso

    Darling Harbour & Pyrmont

    On pretty Jones Bay Wharf, this makes a fine venue for breakfast or lunch (though it gets busy, so you may want to book). There's a mixture of Channel 7…

  • Alpha

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Located directly across from the Greek consulate in the grand dining room of the Hellenic Club, this wonderful restaurant brings all the zing and drama of…

  • Paramount Coffee Project

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Polished concrete floors and modern styling make this foyer cafe in the former headquarters of the Paramount film company an appealing space. Light and…

  • Bodhi

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Bodhi scores highly for its cool design and leafy position near St Mary's Cathedral. With its pretty outdoor area, it's a relaxing Asian haven from CBD…

  • Mary's

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Not put off by the grungy aesthetics, the ear-splitting heavy metal or the fact that the graffiti-daubed building was previously a sexual health clinic…

  • Saké

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Colourful sake barrels and lots of dark wood contribute to the louche glamour of this large, buzzy restaurant. Prop yourself around the open kitchen and…

  • Haven

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Breezy and spacious, this polished spot brings some Asian influence to the Surry Hills brunching scene, with kimchi, pork belly and Thai spices making…

  • St Claudes

    Sydney

    Occupying the premises of what was once Sydney's most famous restaurant, this is a smart but more casual affair that nevertheless offers plenty of quality…

  • Le Paris-Go

    Sydney

    Interesting people and upbeat staff frequent this licensed food-all-day cafe – its bench windows or sofa seats are great places to park yourself and watch…

  • Piccolo Bar

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    A surviving slice of the old bohemian Cross, this tiny cafe hasn't changed much in over 60 years. The walls are covered in movie-star memorabilia, and its…

  • Zumbo

    Sydney

    It all began here for celebrity patissier Adriano Zumbo. The slenderness of the shop will be inversely proportionate to the girth of your waistline if you…

  • Buffalo Dining Club

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Describing itself as a mozzarella bar, this tiny but massively popular eatery limits its output to high-quality antipasto plates, cheeses and a couple of…

  • Butler

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    There's a real wow factor to the verdant back terrace of this Potts Point bar-restaurant, with its spectacular city skyline views. The breezy vibe and…

  • Aki's

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    The first cab off the rank as you walk onto Woolloomooloo's wharf is Aki's. This is beautifully presented, intuitively constructed high-Indian cuisine,…

  • Fish Shop

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    Decked out in bright Hamptons style, this brings a coastal breeze to Challis Ave with casual but high-quality fish dishes served all day, and some nice…

  • Campos

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Trying to squeeze into crowded Campos can be a challenge. Bean fiends come from miles around – hat-wearing students, window-seat daydreamers and doctors…

  • Vargabar Espresso

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A diminutive dark-pink open-sided cafe with an electric-blue coffee machine, Varga trades on big breakfasts and generates too many hard decisions for 7am…

  • Paddington Alimentari

    Sydney

    Tucked away at the bottom of the William St boutiques, this is almost the soul of Paddington distilled into one friendly cafe-deli. Super coffee, tempting…

  • Pablo’s Vice

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    A tiny triangular kitchen half-buried below street level with three tables bolted to the wall outside. Big enough for the best coffee in Darlinghurst? You…

  • Ms G's

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    Offering a cheeky, irreverent take on Asian cooking (hence the name – geddit?), Ms G's is nothing if not an experience. It can be loud, frantic and…

  • Menya

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Cheap and cheerful Chinatown joint for pretty authentic and tasty ramen, with a full range of flavouring bases including eminently slurpable chicken stock…

  • Spice Temple

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Tucked away in the basement of his Rockpool Bar & Grill is Neil Perry's darkly atmospheric temple to the cuisine of China's western provinces, especially…

  • 4Fourteen

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    When he's not busy terrorising contestants on TV cooking shows, Irish-born chef Colin Fassnidge can be found cranking out hearty, meaty dishes at this big…

  • Harvest

    Sydney

    In business for half a century, this place offers inventive, rich and satisfying vegetarian food in a warm and upbeat atmosphere. There are several vegan…

  • fouratefive

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Band posters and kooky art fill the walls of this excellent post-grunge cafe. The vibe is chilled and the food is a crowd-pleasing mix of cooked…

  • Buon Ricordo

    Sydney

    This Italian stalwart first opened its doors when big perms and shoulder-pads were in fashion, but the critics never forget chef Armando Percuoco when it…

  • A Tavola

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    At this classy pasta joint, the menu only has a handful of dishes to choose from, augmented by wonderfully fresh specials chalked up daily. Before each…

  • Bronte Road Bistro

    Sydney

    This friendly neighbourhood bistro tucked away from the street behind an exuberant screen of foliage offers a crowd-pleasing menu of French favourites,…

  • Douce France

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    Locals love the croissants at this welcoming cafe on the main strip through the Cross. Other tempting patisserie options and pleasing coffee make this a…

  • Sean’s Panaroma

    Sydney

    Sean Moran’s ever-changing menu is chalked on a blackboard in this modest little dining room that packs out with happy diners. Ocean views, hearty…