Sydney is spoilt for choice when it comes to world-class restaurants. From dining institutions with views of Sydney Harbour to local creative new restaurants, our list of the best restaurants in Sydney covers all corners of the city from Castlecrag to Newtown and Bondi.
Urban List's Sydney editors and writers have picked these restaurants based on their mind-blowing menus, top-notch service, and incredible locations with some of the best views in the world.
Our Editor's Picks
- The Best Sydney Seafood Restaurant: Saint Peter
- The Best Restaurant In Surry Hills: Arthur
- The Best Sydney Restaurant For A Special Occasion: Aria
- The Best Sydney Restaurant To Impress A Date: a'Mare
- The Most Beautiful Sydney Restaurant: Shell House Dining Room and Terrace
- The Best Steak Restaurant In Sydney: The Gidley
- The Best Private Dining Room In Sydney: Ursula's
- The Most Quintessential Sydney Restaurant: Sean's
Arthur
544 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
Image credit: Arthur | Instagram
Arthur is a warm and polished Surry Hills restaurant serving ingredients and producers that are exclusively Australian. The culinary style is left broad to allow for influences from global food traditions, with a $120pp and $160pp set menu available.
The five-course set menus move through elegant one-bite snacks, starters, mains, and dessert (plus tempting supplements), 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. Three zones of seating each offer a unique experience, with romantic spots by the Bourke Street window, some coveted stools at the bar, and tables that feel immersed in the kitchen.
Our Sydney editor Georgia Condon fondly recalls her first visit to Arthur: "The menu blew me away with its creativity and beautiful presentation—yes, I added the Bruny Island cheese tart and highly recommend you do too. I've revisited twice since, and have been just as impressed each time."
Insider intel
- Don't skip the supplements
- Book the later dinner seating if you prefer to take things slowly
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.
The Oncore by Clare Smyth menu revolves around two main offerings: the Classic menu ($340pp) with Aussie translations of well-known Clare Smyth dishes and now-favourites unique to the Sydney location, and the Seasonal menu ($395pp). Both include a generous and enticing spread of snacks to begin and remarkably presented petit fours to finish, and there's a 3000-bottle wine list to explore. Bookings are released at the start of each month two months in advance (e.g. March bookings open 1 January), and in-demand timeslots get snapped up early.
Top Sydney chef Matt Moran told us Oncore by Clare Smyth served his most memorable meal in Sydney: "Clare Smyth's food is insanely good, and head chef Alan is doing a great job," he said.
Insider Intel
- If you don't have the cash or time to spend in the restaurant, hit up the bar for a la carte snacks—you can book, and there's often room for walk-ins
- Expect to spend from $250pp, food only
- If you're trying to nab a restaurant booking, try for off-peak times like Tuesday dinner
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 from the seafood in an amazing showcase of culinary creativity.
Dinner at Saint Peter is a seven-course tasting menu of seasonal picks, while lunch is offered in a more relaxed a la carte 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
- The new Saint Peter location has a dedicated bar that does a la carte snacks—a cost-effective way to sample the experience
Sean's
270 Campbell Parade, North Bondi
Image credit: Sean's | Website
Sean’s has peered over Campbell Parade to the ocean for over 30 years now, 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 own farm in the Blue Mountains, as it's been since doors opened in 1993.
Dining at Sean’s is structured as a three-course choice menu, with three options per course, priced at $120pp. 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
- You can BYO a special bottle with $30 corkage (or $60 on magnums if you’re going big)
- Book a later seating if you want to linger after your meal—your table will likely be needed for more guests directly after an earlier booking window
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.
Former Rockpool chef 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, a Moreton Bay bug pasta, and lemon meringue pie all feature. Make sure you order a side of french fries with Ursula’s “Everything Seasoning” and the golden syrup dumplings for dessert.
Insider Intel
- Upstairs, “The Blue Room” is one of the prettiest private dining rooms in Sydney
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Allta
50 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Allta | Instagram
For regular fine diners or those wanting to experience a deeper take on Korean cuisine, Allta needs to be top of the list. This $325pp, 15-course degustation offering by chef Jung-Su Chang is creative and rooted in Korean culture, with dishes like beef tartare on crispy taro with barley doenjang and kimchi; sweet prawns with perilla oil, cured yolk and capsicum; and a dessert of makgeolli sorbet with rice granita, and pear.
"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.
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 Rockefeller, 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 Bistrot 916 and 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
Margaret
30-36 Bay Street, Double Bay
Image credit: Margaret | Instagram
Aussie chef and restaurateur Neil Perry AM has had an incredible career. Named after his mother, Margaret is his latest venue and his first solo venture—and we'd argue it's 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.
Expect exceptional local produce cooked to perfection like Copper Tree farm beef, Wollemi duck, southern rock lobster, and Moonacre Farms greens. Like the produce on the menu, wine at Margaret is Aussie-focused and the Negroni is made using all-Australian spirits. Perfect for a classic Sydney-style long lunch and a true standout.
Insider Intel
- Begin with the silver service Margaret martini
- Kick on at Double Bay sibling venue Next Door—right next door
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 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
Aria
1 Macquarie Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Aria | Instagram
The fact that Aria's been around for 25 years really says it all—this is a Sydney institution that dazzles with its Sydney Harbour and Opera House view, quintessential modern Australian menu, and polished service.
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 before 6pm. Complementary to the food, the wine list champions Aussie producers with all of the Old World favourites for purists.
Lauded London-based and chef Clare Smyth, who holds three Michelin Stars, says 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."
Insider Intel
- Unlike many Sydney fine diners, Aria is open on Sunday and Monday nights, and many public holidays
- Two-course, prix fixe menus start at $120pp
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.
Expect to see beef carpaccio and fresh burrata but with a name like a’Mare, fresh fish and rock lobster are also given a solid showing, alongside fresh pasta and ample antipasti. We also love a'Mare's dedication to the theatre of tableside service: martinis are stirred, carbonara is tossed, and gelato is scooped tableside with maximum flair.
Insider Intel
- Chef Pavoni's housemade focaccia is famous for a reason. He also makes a gluten-free version that is equally as impressive
- Opt for the Italian Job menu for a completely tableside feast
The Gidley
Basement/161 King Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: The Gidley | Supplied
The Gidley is a subterranean steak joint from the group behind Bistecca, Alfie's, and Surry Hills' The Rover, with herringbone floors, moody stone benches, green velvet banquettes, and candle-lit tables tucked behind a secret door.
The menu stars Riverine rib eye steak, plus a 24-hour suckling pig served by the quarter, one of Sydney's most extravagant seafood towers, and a bourbon baba, flamed tableside. To drink, go for the house Old Fashioned, or explore the wine list of mostly organic and biodynamic wines, with pages dedicated to Australian winemakers setting the standard.
Insider Intel
- The burger here has a cult following; it’s available in the restaurant and lounge
- You can book The Library for private dining and poker tournaments
Porcine
268 Oxford Street, Paddington
Image credit: Porcine | Instagram
Porcine is a Sydney restaurant stripping away the pomp to deliver a wholly delicious dining experience that manages to be equal parts farmhouse and fine dining, with a technically impressive menu thanks to the labours of chef Nik Hill.
Despite Porcine’s name, duck, rabbit and seafood are equally as represented on the often-changing menu (which is typically split into small snacks, starter plates, mains and desserts) as pork. The dining room is warm thanks to wood elements, with antique porcelain and silverware, a central brick fireplace, and large windows overlooking Oxford Street imparting a homely atmosphere.
Insider Intel
- There are ample dishes for vegetarians and pescatarians, but we’d pick somewhere else if there’s a vegan in your party
- Check out Instagram for regular specials
Bar Vincent
174 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst
Image credit: Bar Vincent | Website
Bar Vincent is a casual but considered neighbourhood bistro that fell into the hands of Nathan Sasi and Morgan McGlone (Bar Copains, Bessie's and Alma's) when they acquired it—with a promise to retain its charm—in early 2025.
The hand-written menu leans Italian, changes almost daily, and centres around house-made pasta, all served free from pretence and inviting you to dish out or dive in. Wash it all down with classic cocktails and spritzes, or dive into the wine list which ticks off natural and low-intervention producers, mostly from Italy.
Owner of Darlinghurst bar The Waratah Evan Stroeve told Urban List that Bar Vincent served his most memorable meal in Sydney: "It's a really good example of Sydney done authentically—raw, Italian food with a love and passion for what they do."
Insider Intel
- Save room for the daily dessert special
- Bar Vincent often stays open late—it's a good option if you plan on eating past 8pm
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 Aaron Wood (ex-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 oyster cream, or a luxe potato scallop topped with caviar. Seasonal pastas weave in ingredients like saltbush, salted ricotta, and scampi, 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
Brasserie 1930
2/4 Farrer Place, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Brasserie 1930 | Instagram
Hidden within the luxurious Capella Sydney hotel, Brasserie 1930 is a polished addition to the Bentley Group's stable of Sydney restaurants. The menu centres around a charcoal grill and traditional cooking methods—like curing, smoking, fermenting, preserving, and pickling.
Beneath soaring grand ceilings and meticulously restored heritage features, we recommend oysters, caviar, and raw Paradise prawns to start. Follow up with the signature whole roasted duck, served to share as breast and duck neck sausages, with sides of roasted plum, fennel, spinach, and glazed eschalot.
InsideR Intel
- Splash out on the signature grilled lobster—it's worth it
- The EXP express lunch menu is great value at $70/two courses or $85/three
- Love a hotel restaurant? These are our Sydney faves
AALIA
25 Martin Place, Sydney CBD
Image credit: AALIA | Instagram
AALIA is the most luxurious restaurant from the ESCA Group, the team behind Nour in Surry Hills and Lilymu in Parramatta. 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 Moonlight Kiss oysters, a Persian caviar service if you feel like splashing out, quail and king prawn skewers, and Pharoah’s foie gras.
Insider Intel
- We love AALIA's ballooned Khorasan pita. It's made in-house and served piping hot, ready to be torn and dipped to your heart's desire
Lankan Filling Station
58 Riley Street, Darlinghurst
Image credit: Lankan Filling Station | Instagram
Lankan Filling Station is a Sri Lankan restaurant from chef O Tama Carey, covering staples like pan rolls filled with spicy beef, roti and egg hoppers, curries, and sweets including must-try gelato flavours. There’s an $85pp banquet ticking off all the highlights or buryani on Monday nights, and cocktails nod to Sri Lanka with arrack spirit, Colombo No. 7 Gin, kithul and spices.
Lankan Filling Stations’ interior evokes Colombo nightlife, with cool neon lighting, a spice-fragrant scent and everything served in a style that’s best suited to tearing and sharing.
Insider intel
- Visit on the last Sunday of the month for crab curry night
- Order the sambol plate to mix and match your accompaniments
Bennelong
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Image credit: Bennelong | Instagram
Arguably the most famous of the city’s fine dining establishments, Bennelong is the restaurant seated within the hallowed shells of the Opera House—and it serves dishes fitting of its stature. It makes sense that this place showcases the best of Aussie cooking with inspiration taken from this wide brown land and the waves of migrants that make up its culture.
The current menu features Murray cod, pork belly koji, and three-curd ravioli. It’s a dining experience savoured only on the grandest of occasions and it knows it. 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 a full meal, hit the bar for a drink
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, cook 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 asador 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
Longshore
5 Kensington Street, Chippendale
Image credit: Longshore | Instagram
Longshore is a stand-out seafood restaurant by Sydney hospitality duo Jarrod Walsh and Dot Lee (ex-Hartsyard). Australian produce and minimal waste are the driving forces behind the menu, which is spread across a la carte, a tasting menu, and an innovative snack flight, which lets you sample bite-size elements.
Things change seasonally but expect to see delicacies like glazed green lip abalone crumpet, steamed sand whiting in XO pipi butter with green garlic and native greens, and grilled Westholme Wagyu tri-tip in bone marrow sauce with smoked fat.
Insider intel
- Maybe pick somewhere else if there's a seafood-avoidant pal in your party
Fred's
380 Oxford Street, Paddington
Image credit: Merivale | Supplied
Fred’s is Merivale’s breezy Oxford Street outpost that crafts white-linen Mediterranean simplicity in the heart of the city. Head chef Danielle Alvarez’s famed farm-to-table style set the pace for Fred's—and while she has since moved on—the essence of Alvarez remains.
Fred's silences the chaos of the outside world with a focus on old-school country house cuisine that is simultaneously simple and standout. Things like grass-fed T-bone steak and farmhouse lamb are both comforting and invigorating at the same time. This is good-time eating at its best.
Insider intel
- Pop downstairs to Charlie Parkers for a nightcap after dinner
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 standalone 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
- Expect to spend from $380pp for the omakase menu
- Organise to book on the first of the month if you need a specific day or seating time
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 that isn’t possible at the sister venue. It’s a slick, vibey affair at one of the best restaurants in Sydney with the ubiquitous coffee bar for slamming down espresso and outdoor street seating prime for people-watching.
Food is served from morning to late here with fresh produce being whipped up into appropriate delicacies throughout. That means breakfast pastries, midday pastas, and opulent roast half-chicken to finish.
Insider Intel
- The roast scampi spaghettini is a Sydney rite of passage
Quay
Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Quay | Instagram
Like Bennelong, Quay is another titan in the Aussie foodie scene and is headed 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
- Expect to spend: Eight-course menu $355pp
- If you're hoping for Sydney Opera House views, check first whether there'll be a cruise ship docked at the International Passenger Terminal—they block the view
Image credit: Ursula's | Instagram
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