From dining institutions with views of Sydney Harbour to creative local newcomers, Sydney is spoilt for choice when it comes to world-class restaurants in all corners of the city, from Bondi to Newtown and beyond.
Urban List's team of Sydney-based editors and writers have picked the best Sydney restaurants based on their mind-blowing menus, innovative culinary credos, memorable and top-notch service, and breathtaking locations.
The Best Sydney Restaurants At A Glance
- The Best New Sydney Restaurants
- The Best Sydney Restaurants With A View
- The Most Iconic Sydney Restaurants
- The Best Sydney CBD Restaurants
- More Of The Best Sydney Restaurants
The Best New Sydney Restaurants
Gran Torino
24 Bay Street, Double Bay
Image credit: Gran Torino | Yusuke Oba
Celebrated Aussie chef Neil Perry has reimagined his Cantonese diner Song Bird, transforming the heritage Gaden House site in Double Bay into Gran Torino, a slick two-level Italian restaurant.
The menu is a shout-out to classic Italian dining with a modern Australian twist, spotlighting the freshest, seasonal produce from Perry’s favourite local suppliers. Think house-made antipasti, generous pasta plates, line-caught seafood, premium steak cuts, and a dolci list not to miss.
Drinks lean into the aperitivo spirit, with Bellinis, Martinis and Campari Spritzes served alongside a globe-trotting wine list featuring producers from Australia, Italy and beyond.
Insider Intel
- Bar Torino is opening under Gran Torino in the former Bobbie’s site this September, perfect for pre- or post-dinner sips.
- Don’t skip dessert, there’s about ten options on the menu.
Young’s Palace
1 Kellett Street, Potts Point
Image credit: Big Sam Young | Instagram
Rolling out the red carpet behind a red door on Kellett Street, Young’s Palace is the new Potts Point venture from “Big” Sam Young and Grace Chen, the duo behind S’More. Inside, you’ll find a cosy bar area with a ringside view of cocktail wizardry, a neon-washed front dining room and a chandeliered back room complete with a curtained off nook Young calls, “the naughty corner.”
The menu is all about regional Chinese fare that’s fuss-free, comforting and seriously tasty. Try Chen’s prawn toast (add caviar for a splash of luxury), kung pao chicken, Young’s signature sweet and sour pork and a crispy banana roll served with hot chocolate fudge sauce for dessert.
Insider Intel
- Sit back, relax, and let the kitchen take the reins with the $85pp or $98pp banquet.
- The mango pancake cocktail is a must.
- There’s a private dining room built for celebrating special occasions.
Homer Rogue Taverna
3/3 Surf Road, Cronulla
Image credit: Homer Rogue Taverna | Trent van der Jagt
Homer Rogue Taverna is a graffiti-streaked Greek restaurant in Cronulla from the brothers behind local legend Ham Cafe. Reminiscent of an Athens taverna, the 100-seat venue takes a laidback approach to dining with open-plan kitchen and bar areas, non-uniformed staff and a help-yourself mentality to wines stacked in custom-built, three-metre-tall fridges.
Co-owners Harry and Mario Kapoulas are leaning into the beach-town vibe Cronulla has to offer, “we want people to feel comfortable to wander up from the beach, but still knowing they’ll be getting restaurant-quality food and wine.”
A plethora of family recipe dishes, small plates and charcoal-roasted souvla are on the pass. Standouts include Homer’s spanakopita flatbread, Manouri cheese baked with hot honey and kataifi, and a grilled souvlaki octopus recipe from Kapoulas’ grandparents.
Insider Intel
- $10 martinis and the See Through Pornstar are the stars of the cocktail menu.
- Homer’s Epic Lager is an exclusive beer to the restaurant, made in collaboration with Young Henrys.
Rovollo
25 Martin Place, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Rovollo | Instagram
Amid the big hospitality players of Martin Place, Rovollo is a family-run Italian restaurant from the team behind Surry Hills’ Mille Vini. Set on the ground floor of Harry Seidler’s 25 Martin Place skyscraper, the space oozes elegance with a 10-metre-long, hand-painted ceiling mural, a golden marble bar and a dramatic pendant light made from a repurposed parachute.
Head chef Zane Buchanan (ex-Clam Bar, Fish Butchery) believes “great Italian food is about letting exceptional ingredients speak for themselves,” a philosophy reflected in a menu built on fresh antipasti, handmade pasta, premium grilled meats and local seafood.
Their signature dish is a flaming pici carbonara, set alight tableside in a 20-kilo Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese wheel, which we highly recommend finishing off with the 24-layer chocolate cake with rosemary berry compote.
Insider Intel
- If you aren’t an agent of choice, the $115pp chef’s tasting menu will come as a relief.
- There’s an incredible 250-bottle vino list or an inventive seven-sip cocktail list described as a “journey through Italy."
The Best Sydney Restaurants With A View
Infinity By Mark Best
Level 81/108 Market Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Infinity Sydney Tower | Instagram
Sydney Tower’s rotating restaurant, Infinity, sits 81 stories above the city, serving up breathtaking 360-degree views alongside world-class cooking from Michelin-trained chef Mark Best. After opening multi-award-winning Sydney fine diner Marque in 1999, Best has advised luxury hotel groups, authored a cookbook, and appeared on MasterChef and Netflix’s The Final Table.
At Infinity, he hones modern Australian cuisine, shaped by a career spent mastering technical precision and boundary-pushing creativity. The offering stretches from light bites and a la carte weekday feasts to three-course dinners and weekend lunches, with a $230pp tasting menu for those ready to go all in.
Insider Intel
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All of the tables have a scenic view, so don’t fret if you aren’t guaranteed a window seat.
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Oncore By Clare Smyth
Level 26/1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Oncore by Clare Smyth | Instagram
Sparkling on level 26 of Crown Tower in Barangaroo, Oncore by Clare Smyth is an Aussie outpost of Clare Smyth’s eponymous (and much-awarded) London restaurant.
"One of the best meals I've ever had in Sydney was at Oncore by Clare Smyth when it opened," says top Sydney chef Matt Moran. "Clare Smyth's food is insanely good, and head chef Alan is doing a great job," he told Urban List.
The Oncore by Clare Smyth menu revolves around two main offerings: the Classic menu ($395pp) with Aussie translations of well-known Clare Smyth dishes and now-favourites unique to the Sydney location, and the Seasonal menu ($370pp). Both include a generous spread of snacks to begin and remarkably presented petit fours, and there's a 3000-bottle wine list to explore. Bookings are released two months in advance.
Insider Intel
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If you don't have the cash or time to spend in the restaurant, visit the bar for a la carte snacks—you can book, and there's often room for walk-ins.
Sean's
270 Campbell Parade, North Bondi
Image credit: Urban List | Georgia Condon
Sean’s has peered out to the ocean for over 30 years, and it’s one of Sydney’s most beloved restaurants, serving home-style food delivered with precise technique and unparalleled produce. Much of the produce is grown on Moran's farm in the Blue Mountains, as it has been since 1993.
Dining at Sean’s is offered as a three-course menu priced at $140pp. The menu changes as often as daily, highlighting the peak of seasonality in a cuisine that feels wholly Australian (and leans ever-so-slightly Italian). The wine list is compact but offers a great selection across price points and styles.
INSIDER INTEL
- Book a later seating if you want to linger—your table will likely be needed for more guests directly after an earlier booking window.
Aria
1 Macquarie Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Aria | Cole Bennetts
The fact that Aria's been around for 25 years says it all—this Sydney institution dazzles with its Sydney Harbour and Opera House views, quintessential modern Australian menu, and polished service.
Lauded London-based chef Clare Smyth, who holds three Michelin Stars, told Urban List that she ate her most memorable meal in Sydney at Aria: "It's a classic, timeless restaurant that cooks delicious food. I've known Matt [Moran] for such a long time, and it does great service with a beautiful ambience."
Executive chef Tom Gorringe and chef/owner Matt Moran's menus are available as five- or eight-course tasting menus, or two- or three-course prix fixe at lunch and for pre-theatre bookings. Complementary to the food, the wine list champions Aussie producers with all of the Old World favourites for purists.
Insider Intel
- Unlike many Sydney fine diners, Aria is open on Sunday and Monday nights, and most public holidays.
- Two-course, prix fixe menus start at $120pp.
- Aria’s pocket-friendly bar menu boasts a must-try wagyu smashburger.
The Most Iconic Sydney Restaurants
Bennelong
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Image credit: Bennelong | Instagram
Bennelong is the breathtaking restaurant inside the Sydney Opera House—and it serves dishes befitting its location. It makes sense that this place showcases the best of Australia, with inspiration taken from our vast country and the waves of different backgrounds that make up its culture.
Peter Gilmore's three-course menu, priced at $210 with sides, offers around five choices for each course. Seasonal takes include Northern Territory Mud crab tangled in house-made noodles with a koji emulsion; Blackmore Wagyu brisket slow-cooked for 72 hours; and the iconic Bennelong pavlova—resembling the Opera House—for dessert.
There’s little wonder The New York Times called this place the “Holy Grail of Australian Restaurants.”
INSIDER INTEL
- Take your favourite tourists here—they'll never forget it.
- If you're not splashing out for the full experience, hit the bar for a drink or a la carte meal.
Quay
Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Quay | Instagram
Like Bennelong, Quay is another titan in the Aussie foodie scene by the same chef, Peter Gilmore. Gilmore is a pioneer of artisan-sourced ingredients and the oddities of nature, giving heirloom varieties their time in the spotlight.
If Bennelong celebrates Australian culture, Quay is a party thrown for Australia’s natural beauty and makes a point of showcasing the connection with the plate and the ingredients pulled from the ground, the rivers, and the sea—not to mention the expertly crafted wine list that features some of the country’s best producers alongside international big names.
Insider Intel
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If you're hoping for Sydney Opera House views, check whether there'll be a cruise ship docked at the International Passenger Terminal—they block the view.
Saint Peter
161 Underwood Street, Paddington
Image credit: Saint Peter | Website
Saint Peter is a globally acclaimed Sydney restaurant by pioneering chef Josh Niland. He serves exclusively Australian seafood at the Paddington seafood restaurant, applying unconventional techniques and treatments to various species of oysters, Australian prawns and shellfish, line-caught wild fish, and sustainably farmed fish. Often, even desserts integrate elements of seafood in an amazing showcase of culinary creativity.
Dinner at Saint Peter is a nine-course tasting menu of seasonal picks, with an exclusive 11-course chefs' table menu, while lunch is offered in a more relaxed two- or three-course choice format.
Insider Intel
- The Nilands recently relocated Saint Peter to the Grand National Hotel, so you can also stay the night in one of 14 boutique hotel rooms.
- There’s also a dedicated bar offering a la carte snacks—a cost-effective way to sample the experience.
The Best Restaurants In Sydney's CBD
Shell House Dining Room & Terrace
37 Margaret Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Shell House | Instagram
Shell House is one of Sydney’s most sumptuous drinking and dining destinations. Between the three lavish bars on level nine is the stylish dining room, headed up by culinary director Joel Bickford (ex-Aria) and head chef Brad Guest (from the kitchens of Cafe Paci, Sixpenny). Like the rest of Shell House, Dining Room & Terrace is a stunner—complete with sun-drenched rooftop dining and custom furniture.
Begin with a choux pastry cruller doughnut filled with whipped fish roe and Shell House’s signature martini served with Oscietra caviar. Seasonal pastas weave in ingredients like Geraldton wax, champagne and rosemary, while top-notch proteins like lobster and dry-aged sirloin round out the luxury vibe. The award-winning wine list is hefty with pages of top-tier drops to discover.
Insider Intel
- Pick a sunny day and book a long lunch on the rooftop terrace.
- If you stick around after lunch long enough, you can enjoy the Golden Hour (happy hour) on each level from 4pm.
Allta
50 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Allta | Instagram
For frequent fine diners, Allta needs to be top of the list for their next outing in Sydney. This $325pp, 15-course degustation by chef Jung-Su Chang is creative and rooted in Korean culture.
"Allta is more than a restaurant,” says Chang. “It's a celebration of Korean cuisine and culture. Each bite tells a story—a narrative of tradition and innovation, a homage to the rich tapestry of flavours that have shaped Korean cuisine."
With just 12 seats available per booking window, it's an intense, personal experience that is guaranteed to surprise and challenge your expectations of modern Korean cuisine.
Insider Intel
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Reservations for Allta are released 2 months in advance, on the 15th of every month.
Clam Bar
44 Bridge Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Clam Bar | Jason Loucas
Clam Bar is a slick rendition of a classic New York City grill. Think with prawn cocktails, caviar and oysters Metropole, polished service, and one of Sydney’s best New York strip steaks.
Dreamt up by Dan Pepperell, Andy Tyson, and Mikey Clift, the clever trio behind Pellegrino 2000, chic details and a handsome Art Deco dining room round out the experience. Martinis are poured into cone-shaped flutes and placed on branded napkins, and your raw seafood selections come served on a silver tower.
Insider InteL
- Clam Bar also serves one of the city’s best martinis.
- Prime time bookings are in high demand—book well ahead.
AALIA
25 Martin Place, Sydney CBD
Image credit: AALIA | Instagram
AALIA is the most luxurious restaurant from the ESCA Group, the team behind Nour, Jōji, Itō, Henrietta and Lilymu. The name AALIA loosely translates to elevated or exalted—meaning you can expect a heightened version of the polished, creative Arabic and Levantine-style food the group has become known for.
The menu follows a unique coastal theme—a lighter vibe, not typically associated with Middle Eastern fare. From the a la carte menu, begin with a Persian caviar service if you feel like splashing out, followed by quail and king prawn skewers, and a shareable seafood or meat main.
Insider Intel
- We love AALIA's ballooned, house-made khorasan pita.
- The classic banquet gives you everything you’ll need for $129pp.
More Of The Best Sydney Restaurants
Arthur
544 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Arthur | Instagram
Arthur is a warm and polished Surry Hills restaurant serving ingredients that are exclusively Australian. The culinary style is left broad to allow for influences from global food traditions.
The multi-course $130pp and $160pp set menus move through elegant one-bite snacks, starters, mains, and dessert (plus tempting supplements like the Bruny Island cheese tart), all drawing from the best seasonal produce. The drinks list also offers local-only goodness, including iconic and emerging Aussie winemakers, some emulating global winemaking styles.
Insider intel
- A few stools at the bar are perfect for solo diners.
- Book the later dinner seating if you prefer to take things slowly.
- If Arthur is booked out, its sibling restaurant Jane has a similar vibe and is just down the road.
Cafe Paci
131 King Street, Newtown
Image credit: Cafe Paci | Instagram
Cafe Paci is a highly regarded Sydney restaurant by award-winning, Finnish-born chef Pasi Petänen. After its initial conception as a long-term pop-up, the Newtown restaurant (which opened in 2019 and is one of our favourite spots in the Inner West) has a neighbourhood feel, presented with a lot of polish. As well as standard tables, seating is available at a central curved bar and blue leather-clad corner booths, offering a space for all groups and occasions.
Cafe Paci's a la carte menu is structured so you could just as easily drop in for a snack and a drink, or enjoy a multi-course feast, working your way through almost every dish with a group. It changes regularly, but a rye taco filled with ox tongue and sauerkraut, seasonal pasta dishes, and springy potato dumplings with trout XO are mainstays that need to be tried.
Insider Intel
- Set aside any hesitations and start with the ox tongue taco.
- A $90pp set menu is available and required for groups of six or more.
Ester
46-52 Meagher Street, Chippendale
Image credit: Dua Lipa | Instagram
Chef-owner Mat Lindsay was ahead of the game when he opened wood-fired restaurant Ester in 2013. It's since become internationally acclaimed in the flame-cooked food space, with mainstays on the menu like a fermented potato bread and grilled prawns with crustacean butter (of which Dua Lipa was a fan).
"I was so excited to be finally eating there [in 2014] after many failed attempts of getting a booking," says Executive Chef of CBD restaurants Lana and Martinez, Alex Wong.
"We opted for the set menu at the time, and the highlights included roasted king prawns with caper and tamari, and the leftover sourdough ice cream. It just blew my mind, the layers and layers of flavour and the simplicity of showcasing the produce. I've been going back ever since."
Insider Intel
- For all the best bits, opt for the $155pp set menu with wine pairings for $90pp.
- Try the Ester Spritz or savour your way through the international wine list.
A'Mare
Crown Sydney, Level 1/1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: a'Mare | Instagram
A'Mare is pasta master Alessandro Pavoni's refined take on classic Italian. With serious polish and impeccable service, a’Mare caters to the luxury sensibilities of Crown’s intended high-roller audience. As such, only the best of the best is plated up here.
With a name like a’Mare, fresh seafood is obviously given a solid showing. Dishes like catch of the day crudo, vodka sauce prawns, Eastern rock lobster spaghetti and charcoal-grilled yellowfin tuna are the stars of the show, but there are ample land-based dishes, too. We also love a'Mare's dedication to the theatre of tableside service: martinis are stirred, fresh pasta is tossed, and gelato is scooped tableside with maximum flair.
Insider Intel
- Chef Pavoni's housemade focaccia is famous for a reason.
- There’s vegan, vegetarian and kid-friendly menus too.
Ursula’s
92 Hargrave Street, Paddington
Image credit: Ursula's | Instagram
Ursula’s is easily one of Sydney’s prettiest restaurants. Designer Brahman Perera is behind the charming interiors, wielding a palette of Yves Klein blue and rich caramels throughout the two-storey corner block terrace.
Chef-owner Phil Wood backs up the visuals with an equally charming menu. Top Australian produce paired with European ideas and a touch of Aussie nostalgia, see things like salmon roe and egg finger sandwiches and a Moreton Bay bug pasta with crustacean butter. Make sure you order a side of French fries with Ursula’s Everything Seasoning and the golden syrup dumplings for dessert.
Insider Intel
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Upstairs, The Blue Room is one of the prettiest private dining rooms in Sydney.
Margaret
30-36 Bay Street, Double Bay
Image credit: Margaret | Instagram
Aussie chef and restaurateur Neil Perry has had an incredible career. Named after his mother, Margaret is his first solo venture—and we'd argue it's some of his best work. Here, you'll see Perry doing what he does best, through the lens of decades of experience in the Sydney dining scene. Plus, it has scored the number two spot on the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants for 2025.
Expect exceptional local produce cooked to perfection like CopperTree beef, Wollemi duck, and Eastern Rock lobster, alongside farm-foraged greens and Aussie-focused wine. Perfect for a leisurely long lunch, Margaret is a true standout in Sydney’s dining scene.
Insider Intel
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Kick on at Double Bay sibling venue Next Door—right next door.
Yoshii’s Omakase
Level 2, 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Crown Sydney | Website
Yoshii’s Omakase is an exquisite 10-seat Sydney Japanese restaurant helmed by chef Ryuichi Yoshii, who is a second-generation sushi master with almost 40 years of experience.
A stand-alone venue within Nobu at Crown Sydney, the omakase menu is $380pp and offers a world-class meal, sharing the true reverence of the intimate Japanese dining style, served as guests look on from the counter seating. As well as an extensive selection of sake, a wine list covering exemplary expressions from Australia and France is available by the glass and bottle. Bookings are released monthly for seatings Tuesday–Saturday.
Insider intel
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Organise to book on the first of the month if you need a specific day or seating time.
Firedoor
23/33 Mary Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Firedoor | Instagram
With no gas and no electricity in the kitchen, Firedoor prepares every dish with, you guessed it, fire. With two wood-fired ovens, three grills, and a wood-burning hearth at their disposal, the team—headed by chef Lennox Hastie—cooks up a menu of delectable smoky goods that change daily.
Oyster mushrooms, bread, cod, and lamb are all regulars in the heat, and Hastie draws on the Spanish asada tradition for his cooking. Having worked in Michelin Star restaurants across Europe, he learned to wield the flame in the Basque Country and is a wizard with the heat.
Insider intel
- Since appearing on Chef's Table: BBQ, Firedoor is wildly popular—book well in advance.
- If you can't get a booking, try Gildas, Hastie's Basque-inspired wine bar just across the street.
Fratelli Paradiso
12–16 Challis Avenue, Potts Point
Image credit: Fratelli Paradiso | Kristoffer Paulsen
Another heavy hitter from the team behind 10 William Street, Fratelli Paradiso gives the Paradiso brothers the space to show off their skills and showcase the breadth of Italian cuisine—the roast scampi spaghettini is a Sydney rite of passage.
It’s a slick, vibey affair at one of the best restaurants in Sydney with the ubiquitous Italian-style coffee bar for slamming down espresso and outdoor street seating prime for people-watching.
Insider Intel
- Walk-ins are available too, but it's best to secure a spot in advance on weekends.
- Try the handwritten blackboard specials for the freshest produce-led dishes.
Mister Grotto
212 Australia Street, Newtown
Image credit: Mister Grotto | Supplied
The standout Sydney seafood restaurant sitting in Paisano & Daughters’ Newtown strip (also home to Continental Deli, Osteria Mucca, Flora and Australia Street Suites), Mister Grotto is a celebration of all things oceanic.
There’s a raw bar for oyster shucking and crudo prepping, plus a full kitchen led by head chef Måns Engberg, who brings mega seafood skills from Saint Peter. Everything is dedicated to Australia’s dedicated fishers and suppliers across Australia, with standout picks like curried bay school prawns on toast, southern bluefin tuna three ways, Cloudy Bay diamond clams in jamón broth and barbecued swordfish medallion with chewy beetroots, hazelnuts and mustard leaf.
Insider Intel
- If you’re heading with a group, the front window has a coveted curved booth.
- Don’t sleep on dessert, it’s dreamt up by the group's head pastry chef, Lauren Eldridge.
Baba’s Place
20 Sloane Street, Marrickville
Image credit: Baba's Place | Instagram
Stumble through Marrickville’s industrial backstreets and you might come across Baba’s Place, a homey, living room-esque restaurant behind an unassuming garage door. Through a small doorway, the warehouse space opens into high ceilings, knick-knacky decor and busy tables filled with happy guests.
A short but sweet Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-influenced menu offers snacks and bigger share plates, with a neat drinks list spanning Greek, Croatian and Lebanese wines. Definitely opt for the piped tarama on fluffy shokupan; roasted cauliflower with cavolo nero, crunchy chickpeas and sambal; and finish up with the chewy sticky date with black pepper crème pat and warm butterscotch sauce.
Insider Intel
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Book the kitchen table to watch the masters at work—we reckon it's the best spot in the house.
Lottie
Rooftop, The EVE Hotel, 8 Baptist Street, Redfern
Image credit: Lottie | Instagram
For Mexican and mezcal mastery, Lottie is a rooftop gem sitting high and dry above The EVE Hotel in Redfern. Designed by George Livissianis, the all-weather rooftop restaurant is adorned with terrazzo flooring, glossy burgundy tables, and boasts sunny skyline views.
Kick off with guac and aguachile, before loading up on Sinaloa-style chicken or pork jowl in a deep cola mole sauce, piled into house-pressed masa tortillas. Pair with a round of classic, spicy or seasonal margaritas.
Insider Intel
- The menu is also 100% gluten-free—a major win for the coeliac crew.
- Head down for pre- or post-dinner drinks at Bar Julius, The EVE Hotel’s art-filled lobby bar.
Still hungry? Check out
- The Best Restaurants In Barangaroo
- The Best Restaurants In Surry Hills
- The Best Bars In Sydney Right Now
Main image credit: Gran Torino | Yusuke Oba
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