The 17 Best Places to Eat and Drink in Sydney

Australia is known for its cafe culture – it’s the birthplace of the flat white and smashed avo on toast, after all. But Sydney’s vibrant restaurant scene proves there’s more to dining Down Under than a great brekky. Consider this your ultimate guide to the best places to eat and drink in the Harbour City, whether you’re looking for a long lunch with ocean views, a quick bite that plays on Asian flavours or inventive takes on Mediterranean classics.

1. Joe’s Table, Darlinghurst

The Mood: There’s no shortage of southeast Asian flavours to be found in Sydney. But Joe’s Table is the definition of an IYKYK spot. Look for the magenta sign hanging on the corner of Bourke and William Street and you’ll have found this charmingly undone space. Chef and owner Joe Kitsana is pretty much a one-man band, running both the buzzing kitchen and dining room (and sometimes even doing the dishes). Text him for a table and BYO favourite bottle of wine.

The Menu: Best described as Thai-ish, the menu borrows from Joe’s favourite elements of southeast Asian cooking. Meat, seafood and vegetable dishes are designed to share, and Joe is willing and able to accommodate some dietaries if you have a table of mixed eaters.

The Must-Order: Crispy Hanoi-style chicken spring rolls and pan-fried garlic chive dumplings will be devoured moments after they hit the table.

2. A.P Bread & Wine, Darlinghurst

The Mood: This one goes out to the bread (and butter) lovers. A.P Bakery is synonymous with Sydney’s baked goods scene – you’ll find the original outpost, A.P House, on the rooftop at the Paramount House Hotel, as well as storefronts in Newtown, the CBD and a weekly pop-up at Carriageworks farmers’ market on Saturdays. Set in a rustic sandstone cottage, this is the first location to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Honestly, you should head there for every meal time slot, if you can. The 80-seat space features two garden courtyards, as well as a dining room finished with fireplaces, exposed sandstone and leather banquettes that amp up the heritage feel.

The Menu: Start your day with signature pastries, pies and bread. By lunch, things start leaning more savoury. Then there’s the APerativo and dinner menus, which come into play from 3pm, Wednesday through Saturday.

The Must-Order: The leftover-bread pasta (served at lunch and dinner) is made from dried and ground fenugreek and sesame loaves and comes topped with anchovy-laden breadcrumbs and zucchini. Pair it with a house gin martini, straight from the freezer.

3. Sean’s, Bondi

The Mood: A quintessential Sydney spot, Sean’s has been perched at the north end of Bondi Beach for more than 30 years. The dining rooms take on a homely feel thanks to walls lined with art, lampshades made from scallop shells, mismatched chairs and freshly cut flowers. It’s best to book – try to time your table for sunset and watch Bondi’s famed candy floss skies come to life.

The Menu: The three-course set menu changes daily and features seasonal proteins and locally sourced produce, all selected by chef Sean Moran. Dishes are scrawled on the blackboard in the main dining room alongside an exclusively Australian wine list (except for champagne, of course).

The Must-Order: Sure, it might seem appropriate to order seafood when you’re staring at the water but Sean’s brined and roasted chicken is not to be missed.

4. Attenzione, Redfern

The Mood: With its egg-yolk-hued walls, Attenzione’s front room offers an instant dopamine hit of sunny yellow – out the back, moody lighting illuminates fiery shades, including a painted red ceiling and plush velvet booths for a different speed. Regardless of where you pull up a chair, you’re guaranteed a good time. From Fridays sat at a packed bar counter to Sundays listening to jazz, the atmosphere is always on. And that’s before you’ve even ordered.

The Menu: It might be Italian by name but Attenzione’s menu spans most corners of the continent, with Asian influences sprinkled in between. Dishes come and go but there’s always something salty and fishy in the snacks – right now it’s locally smoked trout pate served on crisp potato – while marbled steaks are plated perfectly pink, and the matcha and pistachio tiramisu is the dessert combo you didn’t know you needed. The wine list leans heavily European; a strong selection of aperitifs and digestifs are playfully ordered into ‘perhaps before’ and ‘maybe after’ in the drinks menu.

The Must-Order: The champagne risotto delivers exactly what you’d imagine: creamy rice that’s still got the right sort of crunch, cooked in something wonderfully French and loaded up with plenty of parm.

5. Kiln, Surry Hills

The Mood: On the top floor of Sydney’s Ace Hotel you’ll find Kiln. A sun-filled eatery by day, the vibes definitely amp up once darkness falls – this is a prime date night spot. Aussie-born chef Beau Clugston has recently taken the reins, revamping the menu with fine-dining finesse. After two decades of cooking in London (mostly at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants at Claridges and in Mayfair) and living in Copenhagen, where he worked his way up at René Redzepi’s iconic Noma before founding seafood-focused restaurant Iluka, Clugston is ready to hero homegrown ingredients.

The Menu: Drawing on his coastal upbringing and deep appreciation of native flavours, Clugston plates up bold seafood dishes, as well as hefty proteins straight from the wood-fired grill. Scents of paperbark, salt bush and eucalyptus bring the Australian outback to this sky-high corner of inner-Sydney. Dessert is by pastry chef Andy Bowdy and includes a peanut butter and banana sundae that’s worth finishing all your veggies for.

The Must-Order: A tomato and prawn crudo is described as “summer on a plate” – order it before heirloom season is over.

6. Superfreak, Marrickville

The Mood: Superfreak turns everything you think you know about the humble Aussie cafe on its head. With a fit-out by local architect and interior design studio YSG, the avocado-hued exterior gives way to a buttery yellow space lined with wooden finishes, brown shag carpet-covered banquettes and cork floors. Your meal will be soundtracked by records spinning from one of the owner’s personal collections and lamps moonlighting as art provide a soft glow that complements the morning sun streaming in.

The Menu: Breakfast blends effortlessly into lunch with this mostly all-day offering. Veg-forward salads, loaded ciabatta sandwiches and a rotation of cakes and baked goods are served alongside coffee by Single O and superfood smoothies. There’s no smashed avo in sight.

The Must-Order: A Scandi-inspired market plate is filled with house-made seeded crackers, slices of comté, crunchy seasonal fruit and veg, whipped butter, pickles and a jammy egg.

7. Baba’s Place, Marrickville

The Mood: In a converted warehouse dressed to feel like a grandparent’s lounge (it’s named after co-owner Alexander Kelly’s grandma, after all), you’ll find one of Sydney’s most endearing diners. The team behind Baba’s Place has made it their mission to spotlight “suburban cuisine” that pays tribute to the city’s multicultural communities. Step behind the roller door and feast your eyes on lace-trimmed tablecloths, leopard-print backed bar stools, crocheted blankets and gallery walls lined with family photos and vintage art. It’s kitsch in the coolest way.

The Menu: A fusion of Alexander’s Macedonian heritage, head chef Jean-Paul (JP) El Tom’s Lebanese upbringing and sous chef and co-owner James Bellos’ Greek roots, with dashes of classic Chinese cooking for good measure. Some dishes taste like fond memories – others spark a welcome revolution of flavour.

The Must-Order: It’s a tie between the iconic pink tarama on toast (made with Japanese Shokupan, or milk bread) and a done-up version of charcoal chicken and chips.

8. Cho Cho San, Potts Point

The Mood: Self-described as an “imaginative take on izakaya dining and drinking culture”, Cho Cho San sits in the Paris end of Potts Point. Housed in an art deco building, the space is defined by its room-length bar and minimalist vibe – giving Japandi in all the right ways.

The Menu: Classic Japanese with plenty of twists and turns – it’s all about umami. A robust raw bar features Sydney rock oysters in wasabi vinegar, kingfish (yellowtail) done up in a creamy sesame sauce and seared tuna and scallops with yuzu honey. There’s also perfectly crispy Tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) and a shaved cabbage salad, as well as silken Agedashi tofu swimming in mushroom dashi for the purists.

The Must-Order: Eggplant miso sticks. They’re served individually – order at least two per diner. And at the other end of your meal, a black sesame mochi will win over even the most sceptical sweet tooth.

9. Tacos Tacos Tacos, Potts Point

The Mood: A tiny taqueria for walk-ins only, serving up some of the best Mexican in Sydney. The team (who are also behind neighbouring Parisian wine bar Caravin) have done the most to recreate an authentic experience – expect your forearms to be dripping in house-made sauce by the night’s end.

The Menu: It’s rumoured that chef Joe Valero, who hails from Guadalajara, ate more than 200 tacos during his research. He uses his grandmother’s guacamole recipe and only serves corn tortillas. His signature spicy salsas might take your breath away.

The Must-Order: Pork – in any way that Joe chooses to cook it – guarantees satisfaction.

10. Uncut Seafood Delicatessen, Bondi

The Mood: Hailed as the Fendi of fish shops, Uncut Seafood Delicatessen is no flash in the pan. Helmed by siblings Nic, Jack and Kaitlin Lucas, the fourth-gen fishmongers take care when it comes to their counter. You’ll find whole fish as well as juicy steaks of tuna, salmon, snapper and barramundi – all can be packed up for home cooking or enjoyed prepped by the kitchen to eat in or take away.

The Menu: There’s no deep fryer in sight – the team is focused on serving fresh flavours with a Mediterranean slant. Dry-shucked oysters, mixed sashimi platters, prawn sangas (that’s sandwiches, for the non-Aussies) and grilled octopus need little dressings to really shine.

The Must-Order: Go for the gravlax bagel if you find yourself on Bondi Road before noon, or the tuna raw slaw is a great poke-inspired snack.

11. Neptune’s Grotto, CBD

The Mood: Uncover a slice of New York steps from Circular Quay at underground eatery Neptune’s Grotto. Behind a very unassuming entry, candlelit corners feature curved booths and high-stool seating with subtle touches of under-the-sea flair.

The Menu: A focus on northern Italian flavours, particularly from the Emilia-Romagna region, come to life across antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni and dolci. Full-bodied Piedmont wines amplify the vibe. (Note: upstairs sister restaurant Clam Bar delivers a steak and seafood offering, paired with a similar city-that-never-sleeps energy.)

The Must-Order: If you only have time (and room in your stomach) for one bite, stop by and order the grandma slice – a house-baked tomato focaccia – alongside a well-stirred negroni.

12. Chez Crix, Surry Hills

The Mood: A French bistro set atop a neighbourhood boozer – where else could you practically lick the plate clean of duck liver parfait before a game of pool? Chez Crix stirs the pot when it comes to traditional cooking, using smoked small goods from LP’s Quality Meats for snacks and local cuts for steak frites. The natural wine list, graffiti-lined toilets and creaky wooden floorboards round out the anything-but-pretentious vibe that locals love.

The Menu: From seasonal tarte tatins to irreverent takes on old-world classics – including a house-made terrine, rotating fish of the day and glazed roast chicken – this isn’t your usual pub fare. The kitchen likes to play around, so you can expect daily specials among its ever-changing food offering.

The Must-Order: The Sunday roast changes each week and almost always sells out. Book a table and make it an early sitting so you don’t miss it.

13. Olympus Dining, Redfern

The Mood: Taking inspiration from Athenian tavernas, Olympus Dining brings a Greek garden atmosphere to the newly minted Wunderlich Lane precinct at the south end of Crown Street. The dining-room-dominating bougainvillea and glass oculus ceiling might steal your attention at first, but once you’re settled at your table, it’s the subtle yet completely considered touches that make all the difference: woven leather chairs, marble-topped geometric tables and blue resin jugs by local brand Dinosaur Designs, to name a few.

The Menu: Head chef Ozge Kalvo brings her Turkish and Greek background to the table. She’s designed an all-encompassing à la carte menu brimming with sharing-style meze and woodfired proteins. Come hungry and preferably with a crew – start with the taramosalata and village bread to nibble as you sip a Santorini Martini or Ouzo Colada before a pizza-sized spanakopita filled with wild weeds appears fresh from the oven. A whole-roasted, milk-fed lamb brings you home strong (and yes, you do need the hand-cut chips on the side).

The Must-Order: The kefalotyri saganaki comes out sizzling in honey. Share one between two for a generous portion.

14. Westwood, Newtown

The Mood: If you decide to visit Westwood, be prepared for an early dinner. The pint-sized pizzeria on Newtown’s Australia Street is renowned for its snaking queues and sell-out pies that nod to traditional Napoletana techniques. Find yourself a milk crate to perch on or get your order to go and settle down in Camperdown Park at the end of the street to dine alfresco.

The Menu: A tight selection of red and white base pizzas come topped with perfectly proportioned ingredients, including marinated fresh tomatoes, spicy Spanish salami and ’nduja with ricotta and thyme.

The Must-Order: At the top of the menu you’ll find a garlic and honey pizza that hits the sweet spot of syrupy and salty. There’s two types of garlic on each slice – a slick coating of confit garlic oil on the base and garlic fermented in local honey almost running off the top. You might want to pack some gum for afterwards.

15. Island Radio, Redfern

The Mood: The newest noodle bar in town delivers Singaporean, Malay, Indonesian and Filipino flavours alongside southeast Asian “party diner” vibes. The venue brings to life the concept of “future desa” – desa is the word for a village community in Indonesian – through its sharing menu and roster of events. Resident DJs keep things lively Thursday to Saturday and a 12-seat private dining room is fitted with its own karaoke booth upstairs.

The Menu: Chef Andy Wirya puts an eclectic spin on things with a menu that will keep you coming back for more. A quick skim will likely have you ordering a king prawn roti, LP’s smoked ox tongue sate skewers, the Yellow rock flathead curry and shaved calamari and prawn sambal fried rice. As you dive deeper, you’ll find you need to fit in crispy lamb ribs and a rendang rubbed Black Angus tomahawk, too. Aussie wines and tropical cocktails are sure to quench your thirst.

The Must-Order: Tuesdays are for half-price noodles. It’s a toss up between the spicy pork and smoked brisket char kway teow. Get both and split the difference.

16. Bar Copains, Surry Hills

The Mood: In a leafy Surry Hills side street you’ll stumble on the alfresco seating of this friendly neighbourhood wine bar. Inside, leather banquettes and shelves dressed with wine bottles bring more of the namesake Parisian feeling to Bar Copains. Sister site Bessie’s Restaurant & Alma’s Bar recently opened just up the hill for more Mediterranean snacks on the edge of the city.

The Menu: Small plates run free – the menu can be picked at or devoured in a degustation-style sitting. While things change with the mood of the season, the pig’s head fritti and potato scallops served with sour cream and chives are constant favourites. The cellar is stacked with bottles from co-owners Morgan McGlone and Nathan Sasi’s personal collections – natural wines feature heavily and there’s a soft spot for super-rare drops.

The Must-Order: The King George whiting sandwich has earned itself a reputation with good reason: it’s a panko-crumbed fish fillet swaddled in squishy white bread, finished with zingy tartare and shreds of crisp iceberg lettuce.

17. Lucky Prawn, Marrickville

The Mood: Lucky Prawn takes its cues from the quintessential ’80s-era Australian-Chinese joints you’d likely find in regional towns – so yes, there’s lazy Susans on the tables and prawn toast on the menu. The time-capsule-like restaurant sits in the front half of The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, the headquarters of Hawke’s Brewing Co. On the first Sunday of the month, the team put on Yum Cha brunch, with tinnie trolley service and a drag queen host.

The Menu: If there’s enough of you dining, opt for one of the three banquet menus to tick off all the classics. Go round on the sweet and sour pork, honey sesame chicken, Mongolian lamb and beef, black bean and chilli with a side of special fried rice.

The Must-Order: The deep fried Viennetta cake (which comes in half and full serves) is non-negotiable.