16 modern australian places in Sydney we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Sydney | Modern Australian across every city.
Modern Australian cooking is Sydney's signature mode, produce-driven, fire-friendly and shaped by the harbour. Bennelong inside the Opera House and Aria on Macquarie Street are the landmark fine-dining rooms, while Firedoor in Surry Hills built its reputation entirely on cooking over wood and coals. Sixpenny in Stanmore carries the tasting-menu end of the tradition.
Bessie's ★ 4.2
surry-hills · 111-115 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Casual contemporary Australian dining on Riley Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Wood-fired sourdough, share plates, the kind of room locals book on repeat.
Three Blue Ducks Rosebery ★ 4.5
rosebery · 85 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery NSW 2018
Farm-to-table all-day cafe inside the Cannery on Dunning Avenue, Rosebery, Sydney. Sydney neighbourhood favourite, walk-in seats most weeknights.
Sixpenny ★ 4.8
stanmore · 83 Percival Road, Stanmore NSW 2048
Three-hat Sixpenny in Stanmore, Sydney. Daniel Puskas and Anthony Schifilliti run a seasonal tasting menu inside a 1907 inner-west terrace dining room.
Bennelong ★ 4.7
cbd · Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000
Peter Gilmore's two-hat Bennelong under the Opera House sails, Sydney. Native ingredients, harbour views, three-course or counter dining all year.
Firedoor ★ 4.7
surry-hills · 23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Lennox Hastie's two-hat fire-only kitchen in Surry Hills, Sydney. Two wood-fired ovens, three grills, no gas: dry-aged steak and seasonal Australian produce.
Ester ★ 4.6
chippendale · 46-52 Meagher Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
Mat Lindsay's two-hat wood-fired room on Meagher Street, Chippendale, Sydney. Open since 2013; the fermented potato bread is a decade-long mainstay.
Aria ★ 4.1
cbd · 1 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Matt Moran's two-hat Aria has held its harbour outlook since 1999 on Macquarie Street, Sydney. Executive chef Tom Gorringe runs the line under Moran's name.
Bentley Restaurant + Bar ★ 4.1
cbd · 27-29 O'Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt's two-hat Bentley on O'Connell Street, Sydney. Tasting menu, modern Australian produce and a 200-strong wine list.
Fred's ★ 4.3
paddington · 380 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
Merivale's country-kitchen room on Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney. Hearth cooking, farm-direct produce, open kitchen at the back of the dining room.
Longshore ★ 4.0
chippendale · 5 Kensington Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
Jarrod Walsh and Dot Lee's coastal-inspired seafood diner in the old Automata space; sea-and-land plates with a tight Australian wine list at Kensington Lane.
Margaret ★ 4.5
double-bay · 30 Bay Street, Double Bay NSW 2028
Neil Perry's two-hat Margaret in Double Bay, Sydney. The veteran chef's post-Rockpool flagship runs wood-fired produce and dry-aged steaks daily.
Sean's ★ 4.2
bondi · 270 Campbell Parade, North Bondi NSW 2026
Sean Moran's long-running North Bondi room above Campbell Parade, Sydney. Daily chalkboard menu, garden-driven produce, 25 years on. Wed-Sat dinner.
Harry's Cafe de Wheels ★ 4.3
woolloomooloo · Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Heritage 24-hour pie cart on Cowper Wharf, Woolloomooloo, Sydney since 1938. Tiger pie with mash, peas and gravy is the late-night Sydney landmark.
City Extra ★ 3.8
cbd · Shop E4, Circular Quay East, Sydney NSW 2000
Twenty-four-hour, two-level diner at Circular Quay East, Sydney CBD. 300-seater bistro food, the canonical Sydney late-night steak-and-chips room.
Infinity by Mark Best ★ 4.0
cbd · Level 4, 108 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Infinity by Mark Best is chef Mark Best's revolving restaurant on Level 4 of Sydney Tower, serving an all-Australian modern menu high above the city.
Harry's Cafe de Wheels ★ 4.1
woolloomooloo · Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Heritage A$10 pie cart on Cowper Wharf, Woolloomooloo, Sydney since 1938. Tiger pie with mash, peas and gravy is the canonical late-night Sydney bite.