Restaurants

These Are 15 Of The Best Restaurants In Barangaroo Right Now

By Urban List Writers
11th Mar 2024

Barangaroo is one of the most exciting restaurant precincts in Sydney, complete with world-class architecture and a stunning waterfront perfect for watching the sun set over Darling Harbour. 

Barangaroo is also home to award-winning chefs and culinary brands, like Ross and Sunny Lusted (Woodcut, The Bridge Room), Alessandro Pavoni (Ormeggio at The Spit), the globally beloved Nobu, and three-Michelin-Starred chef Clare Smyth.

With cuisine spanning Italian, seafood, Japanese omakase, Turkish, fried chicken, contemporary Chinese and more, these are the best restaurants in Barangaroo right now.

A'Mare

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo Restaurant A'Mare ItalianMeaning "by the sea" in Italian, a'Mare swaps the Mediterranean for Darling Harbour water views to deliver one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney.

Chef Alessandro Pavoni, who wooed Sydney with Ormeggio at the Spit, opened his restaurant to immediate acclaim for its impeccable service, luxurious interior, and masterful take on the simplicities of Italian food while using the best seasonal Aussie produce.

Think whole fish cooked in the charcoal oven, hand-made pasta tossed through fresh pesto ground tableside, Wagyu beef carpaccio, burrata caprese and one of the best tiramisus in Sydney, accompanied by a barrel-aged Negroni or Italian wine.

Rekōdo

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo Restaurants RekodoRekōdo is a restaurant and vinyl bar inspired by Japanese listening rooms on level one of the funky Barangaroo House, with two Klipsch La Scala AK5 speakers, a McIntosh MC152 amplifier, a McIntosh MP100 Phono Preamp, and a set of McIntosh MT2 turntables and a fun and energetic menu with DIY temaki hand rolls, Wagyu tataki with ponzu and onsen yolk, and quail karaage. 

This is a vibey spot for a Friday night, especially with tunes that switch between live vinyl DJs, Rekōdo's catalogue of vinyl, and guest musical curators—from Donny Benet to Meg Mac and Lazywax.

Cirrus

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo Restaurants CirrusFrom the trusted hands of chef Brent Savage and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt (Bentley, Monopole, Yellow), Cirrus offers a killer food and wine one-two.

The slick Barangaroo restaurant is named for its home in the cloud-shaped Anadara building, but the menu focuses on fresh seafood; try the pipis with curried butter, sorrel and lime, charcoal-grilled lobster with scallop XO sauce, and spice-crusted yellowfin tuna with red wine and bone marrow sauce—fancy stuff. Pair that with a wine list put together by one of Australia’s best sommeliers, with drops from around the world intended to enrich seafood.

Oncore By Clare Smyth

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo Restaurants Oncore by Clare SmythAwarded three Michelin Stars for her Notting Hill restaurant, Core, Clare Smyth is one of the world's most acclaimed chefs right now. On level 26 of the sparkling Crown Tower,  Oncore by Clare Smyth is where she offers lucky Sydneysiders the gastronomical experience that made her so successful in London—with a couple of Aussie twists. 

Famous for dishes that balance simplicity and sophistication, Smyth's Sydney menu includes the now-famous Potato and Roe dish: a slow-cooked potato topped with smoked trout and herring roe and served with beurre blanc. 

For something special, book a seat at the bar for Oncore's Chef's Table experience or the eight-seat private dining room overlooking Sydney Harbour, or arrive early to enjoy the view and the bar's innovative cocktails. 

Anason

Barangaroo Avenue

Back in 2016, Anason was actually the first permanent restaurant to open on the Barangaroo dining strip. The Turkish restaurant is by Somer Sivrioglu, the man behind another of Sydney's great Turkish restaurants, Efendy (which is currently relocating).

With the authentic Turkish menu divided into flora, fauna, and ocean sections, expect flavours like halloumi with honey and lavender oil, octopus with tarhana, pickled chillies, bronze fennel, and snapper with white bean piyaz, tahini, onion and tomato. As for drinks, Turkish roots run throughout with raki (an aperitif made of distilled grapes and anise) and a selection of incredible Turkish wine you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

Nobu

Barangaroo Avenue

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert DeNiro began the Nobu empire in New York City; since then, Nobu has opened nearly 50 locations across the globe and become one of the most respected names in modern Japanese dining. Since 2020, Sydneysiders can experience the fusion of expertly crafted local produce and seafood—all from a stunning waterfront setting.

Chef Harold Hurtada, who brings over 10 years of experience working for the group, still showcases and gives us a taste of Nobu signature dishes like the black cod miso and yellowtail jalapeno. To help you discern, the menu is divided between Nobu Classic and Nobu Now.

Yoshii's Omakase

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo Restaurants Yoshii's Omakase Crown SydneyThe Japanese word "omakase" roughly translates to "I'll leave it to you", allowing the chef to select an entire menu for their guests, changing almost every day based on seasonal availability.

Yoshii's Omakase can be found in Nobu Sydney, and is one of Sydney's most impressive omakase dining experiences. Using only the best produce acquired daily from the market and with 38 years of experience, chef and second-generation sushi master Ryuichi Yoshii makes the $350 price tag worth every single cent. The elegant and intimate dining space places you right in front of Yoshii as you pair bite-sized delights with wine and sake. 

Soot

Barangaroo Avenue

A glam Korean BBQ stocking the finest Wagyu and Australian beef (with a minimum marble score of 7+), Korean dishes and banchan, and plenty of soju and cocktails, SOOT is a go-to for a fun night out with a great feed. For those who aren’t confident in their Korean BBQ-master skills, staff are on hand to provide guidance as to how best to cook their selection, and tables for groups of two, four and six are set around smokeless charcoal grills with inbuilt extractors. 

Banchan including basil and spicy radish kimchi, bean sprouts with sesame dressing, and a variety of pickled vegetables complement the barbecue menu, as well as snacks like Korean fried chicken with sweet gochujang sauce and Korean liquors, an extensive spirits collection (with a large Japanese whisky offering) and saké that was hand-picked to pair with the menu.

Zushi

Barangaroo Avenue

Serving satisfying modern Japanese eats on the Darling Harbour waterfront seven days a week, Zushi is a favourite Barangaroo restaurant for a reason. Here, delicate sushi and sashimi platters are on the menu alongside loaded rolls like rare and seared Wagyu with avocado, sautéed onion, sweet potato crisps, nashi pear apple soy and honey mayo, plates of cauliflower karaage, and oven-roasted duck teriyaki, plus a whole plant-based menu section. 

Woodcut

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo restaurants woodcut meat wineFormerly of the award-winning Sydney fine-dining staple The Bridge Room, culinary power couple Ross and Sunny Lusted opened their new Barangaroo restaurant in late 2020 to understandably high expectations. Woodcut is a sprawling venue that opens out onto the water and the Barangaroo promenade. 

The restaurant’s four open kitchens are on full display, especially those seated at the up-close dining counters and, rather than a traditional menu of entrees, mains and desserts, the menu is divided into the steam, fire, seafood, or pastry kitchens. Start with wood oven-baked breads like slow-fermented sourdough and pipis cooked in steam kettles and move on to southern rock lobster served with garlic kombu butter or Stone Axe 9+ Wagyu sirloin off the wood grill. 

Lotus Barangaroo

Wulugul Walk

The vibrant, mostly outdoor  Lotus Barangaroo blends Asian culinary traditions, serving a range of local produce in delicious dishes ranging from wok-fried pipis in ginger and shallot to lobster, scallop and prawn dumplings, masterstock crispy pork with Thai chilli caramel, apple and mint, and grilled beef short ribs with sweet soy sauce, sambal mattah, chilli, crispy leek and kaffir lime. 

We highly recommend leaving the choice to the experts with a banquet ($99pp or $119pp), or going all out with the $139pp seafood banquet. If you find yourself based in the area, Lotus also offers some of the best takeaway in town.

NOLA Smokehouse And Bar

Shipwright Walk

Barangaroo restaurants Nola smokehouse and barInspired by New Orleans, NOLA Smokehouse and Bar serves top-cut meats cooked to perfection with southern-style roasting with a lot of American-inspired hospitality. Think dry-aged beef brisket, smoked and pulled pork shoulder, and spit-roasted lamb served with simple slaw or spiced corn on the side.

To perfect your Friday night, NOLA has a strong drink menu to match, including a wide selection of American whiskey (the largest collection in Sydney), wines and cocktails.

Belles Hot Chicken

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo Restaurants Belles Hot ChickenThe Barangaroo outpost of this beloved fried chicken restaurant is one of the best spots to sit down if you've got a serious appetite. Initially making its way up from Melbourne, Belles' Barangaroo pop-up was so popular it had to stay, serving unbelievably good fried chicken to the masses.

Expect mouth-watering tenders, drumsticks and traditional sandwiches, in spices like "southern" and "really f**king hot", drizzled in sauces like hickory BBQ and Mississippi Comeback sauce. Pair that with Belles' awesome list of natural wines, and you've got yourself a great night out. 

Bottega Coco

Barangaroo Avenue

Barangaroo Restaurants Bottega CocoDrawing from Italy’s rich and diverse culinary heritage, Bottega Coco is a stylish and innovative all-day restaurant and patisserie joining the lineup of impressive eateries in Barangaroo, serving inspired dishes from breakfast through to dinner, as well as an impressive pastry offering.

Menu highlights include a champagne risotto with delicate prawn tartare, pink tortellini in brodo stuffed with burrata and buffalo mozzarella and topped with Tasmania sea urchin, and the stunning Coco’s L’Opera House: a coconut sponge made with lamington mousse, berry coulis and a crispy wattle-seed biscuit base inspired by the form of the Sydney landmark. 

Love.fish

Barangaroo Avenue

Originally from Rozelle, Love.fish Barangaroo is a casual spot for sustainably sourced local seafood that won't break the bank. The menu spans all the fish and chip shop classics, raw and cured bites, old-school prawn cocktails, grilled fillets with paired accompaniments, and tasty sides. The breezy seafood restaurant also has a sizable cocktail list, making it a primo spot for a Sunday lunch with water views.

For more delightful views, check out Sydney's best waterfront restaurants

Image credit: Woodcut, Rekodo (Steven Woodburn), Oncore by Clare Smyth, a'Mare, Yoshii's Omakase, Cirrus, Woodcut, Belles Hot Chicken, Bottega Coco

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