Ester Restaurant & Bar

Ester was at the forefront of the wood-fired dining revival when chef and owner Mat Lindsay opened the doors in 2013. Now, it’s one of Sydney’s best and most exciting restaurants, with an unmistakable culinary style and sleek but cosy interior in the back streets of Chippendale.

Food here feels unpretentious, but premium; Lindsay utilises the best, specially sourced ingredients to deliver a take on Australian cuisine that transcends any specific influence. Old-school recipes might be spun using native Australian ingredients, or dishes perceived as low-brow upgraded into something special. 

Take the gently spiced blood sausage sanga—it’s been on the menu since day one, in some form—which could be described as the best sausage sizzle you’ll ever have. Or, a just-set omelette from the wood oven topped with a heap of glistening caviar. 

While it’s best described as a restaurant, you’d feel welcome dropping in for one of the renowned house martinis and a fermented potato bread with kefir cream and salmon roe (another iconic Sydney bite) as you would ordering a la carte at a table for two, or group dining on a set menu at $125pp, or the Ester Classics menu for $165pp.

The wine list is neat but comprehensive, with an equal offering of sparkling, rosé, orange and red wines (each with a “Rare and Remarkable” section); fans of the offering should check out Ester’s wine bar sibling in Surry Hills, Poly.

Now check out more of the best restaurants in Sydney.

Image credit: Ester | Instagram