Must-see restaurants in Sydney

  • Gateway Sydney

    Circular Quay & The Rocks

    Another day in Sydney, another huge CBD construction project finished. Gateway is opposite Circular Quay and offers a range of decent eating options from…

  • Centennial Homestead

    Sydney

    Near the centre of Centennial Park, this encompasses the Pantry, a cafe and take-away, and the Kitchen, doing posher lunches. The glass pavilion is a…

  • bangbang

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    In a likeably quiet Surry Hills zone, this is a fine spot for a relaxing late breakfast. Enjoy the rösti stack or merge into the burger-and-sandwich…

  • Infinity Sourdough Bakery

    Sydney

    Even in sourdough-crazy Sydney, the loaves from this bakery, and its parent in Darlinghurst, stand out. Add juices, coffee and sandwiches to the mix plus…

  • Dunbar House

    Sydney

    This meticulously restored 1830s mansion is a gorgeous spot for brunch, particularly if you can score one of the harbour-view tables on the verandah…

  • Kopitiam

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Kopitiam (meaning 'coffee shop') isn’t going to win design awards (low ceiling, daggy tiled floor, plastic furniture and Malaysian Airlines tourism…

  • Green Gourmet

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Green Gourmet delivers buffet and à la carte vegan Chinese food, including yum cha, noodles, rice, salads and a whole virtual farmyard of mock-meat dishes…

  • Chat Thai

    Manly

    Set inside Manly Wharf, this branch of the Thaitown favourite misses out on the harbour views – though you can just about watch the prow of the ferry nose…

  • Fishmongers

    Sydney

    Gourmet, grease-free fish and chips for those who are fond of tradition, but not at the expense of their waistline. Grab some grilled hoki and steamed…

  • Uliveto

    Kings Cross & Potts Point

    Beautiful all-day eggy breakfasts, scrummy muffins, fresh juices and top-notch coffee are the staples of this chilled-out cafe, set in a tree-lined plaza…

  • Ripples

    Sydney

    Flanked by the Harbour Bridge, the choppy harbour and Luna Park’s insane grin, Ripples does well to compete with the view and come out on top. Expect lots…

  • Kazbah

    Sydney

    Rock the Kazbah for Moroccan breakfast, weekend brunch or a peppy dinner. On hot summer days the windows fold out to the street. Generous serves feature…

  • Bun Mese

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Great bánh mì – try the Peking duck one for a change from pork – and rice paper rolls are turned out by this extremely friendly little lunch spot. It's…

  • Sonoma

    Sydney

    'Artisan sourdough' is the speciality of this bakery cafe on the Five Ways intersection. The toast with ricotta and the sourdough sandwiches are suitably…

  • Christopher’s Cake Shop

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    At the Darlinghurst end of Bourke St there are some rare reminders of the neighbourhood’s once-prominent Greek community, such as Christopher’s Cake Shop,…

  • Pizza Birra

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Bentwood chairs clatter across the polished-concrete floor; friends laugh, clink glasses and unwind; waiters spin and smile. Pizza Birra is stylish enough…

  • Ippudo Sydney

    City Centre & Haymarket

    Founded in Fukuoka in 1985 and now found across southeast Asia, this excellent ramen house in the Westfield centre serves all the soupy, noodley…

  • Mamak

    City Centre & Haymarket

    This eat-and-run Malaysian joint is one of the most popular cheapies in the city. The satays are cooked over charcoal and are particularly delicious when…

  • Pasticceria Papa

    Sydney

    This cafe and deli is a one-stop shop for tasty Italian baked treats, pasta, cheese, coffee and anything else that springs to mind. It's in a foodie…

  • Peace Harmony

    City Centre & Haymarket

    There's no glamour at all to this hole-in-the-wall spot, but the simple dynamics work, with a tasty and cheap selection of vegetarian and vegan Thai…

  • Wet Paint

    Sydney

    Away from the beachside strip, this cosy restaurant is hugely popular with locals. The menu is modern Australian with a Creole twist; try the signature…

  • Gelato Blue

    Newtown & the Inner West

    In the heart of bustling Newtown, this gelato place is totally vegan and have some excellent creations. There's a wide range of delicious flavours.

  • Barefoot Coffee Traders

    Manly

    Handy for the ferry, this is a larger outpost of the casually excellent Barefoot Coffee folk.

  • BenBry Burgers

    Manly

    A popular takeaway in the pedestrian zone assembling juicy gourmet burgers for beach bums and backpackers.

  • Sonoma

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Glebe branch of a popular chain of sourdough bakery cafes.

  • Messina

    Surry Hills & Darlinghurst

    Surry Hills branch of Darlinghurst's legendary gelateria.

  • Sonoma

    Sydney

    Bondi branch of the Sydney chain of 'artisan sourdough bakers'. Enter via Gould St.