Bistecca is a restaurant in Cbd, Sydney.
Why locals love it: Florentine-style steak house hidden under Glasshouse on Spring Street, Sydney CBD. Bistecca alla Fiorentina by the kilo, no menu posted online.
Tip: Bookings open one month ahead; ask for the Florentine carved tableside.
Address: 3 Dalley Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Why locals love it: European cellar restaurant on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Bar seats, charcuterie, an under-the-radar 2025 opening that the food press flagged only late.
Tip: Walk-in seats at the bar are the fastest way in; book ahead for a table.
Why locals love it: Modern Australian dining 250 metres above the city in Sydney Tower. The fixed-window 360-degree view is a sleeper that locals leave to tourists.
Tip: Lunch sitting at 12:30 gives the clearest harbour light through the windows.
Why locals love it: Italian pizza-and-pasta room above The Rocks on Argyle Street. The salt-baked snapper is the off-menu sleeper; ask the waiter.
Tip: The salt-baked snapper for two needs 24 hours notice; ring ahead.
Why locals love it: European cellar restaurant on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Bar seats, charcuterie, an under-the-radar 2025 opening that the food press flagged only late.
Tip: Walk-in seats at the bar are the fastest way in; book ahead for a table.
Why locals love it: Modern Australian dining 250 metres above the city in Sydney Tower. The fixed-window 360-degree view is a sleeper that locals leave to tourists.
Tip: Lunch sitting at 12:30 gives the clearest harbour light through the windows.
Why locals love it: Italian pizza-and-pasta room above The Rocks on Argyle Street. The salt-baked snapper is the off-menu sleeper; ask the waiter.
Tip: The salt-baked snapper for two needs 24 hours notice; ring ahead.
Why locals love it: Tucked into a side-street terrace on Marrickville Road, the rockabilly Peruvian taberna runs nightly live music and pisco-driven cocktails.
Tip: No bookings; the Friday-night live-music slot is the busiest.
Why locals love it: Hip-hop diner in a Marrickville warehouse: housemade baguettes, steak frites and fluffy beignets with murals of Metro Boomin, Drake and J Cole.
Tip: Order the steak frites and a beignet to finish; the music is loud.
Why locals love it: Inner-west supper club with jazz nights and a French-inflected menu most travel writers miss; on Marrickville Road, a 10-minute walk from the station.
Tip: The jazz nights book out; the daytime lunch room rarely.
