Modern Australian$$cbd
Infinity by Mark Best is chef Mark Best's revolving restaurant on Level 4 of Sydney Tower, serving an all-Australian modern menu high above the city.
Why locals love it: Modern Australian dining 250 metres above the city in Sydney Tower, where the room slowly revolves through a full 360-degree view that locals tend to leave to tourists.
Tip: An early sitting gives the clearest light through the windows; the room takes about 70 minutes to complete one rotation.
Italian$$cbd
Grappa The Rocks is italian pizza-and-pasta room above the rocks on argyle street. the salt-baked snapper is the off-menu sleeper; ask the waiter.
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.
Peruvian$$marrickville
Pepito's is tucked into a side-street terrace on marrickville road, the rockabilly peruvian taberna runs nightly live music and pisco-driven cocktails.
Why locals love it: Tucked into a side-street terrace on Marrickville Road, the rockabilly Peruvian taberna runs nightly live music and pisco-driven cocktails.
Tip: No bookings; the Friday-night live-music slot is the busiest.
French bistro$$marrickville
Metro Brewin in a Marrickville warehouse is the hip-hop diner with housemade baguettes, steak frites and beignets under murals of Drake and J Cole.
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.
French fine dining$$marrickville
Lazybones Lounge on Marrickville Road is an inner-west supper club with jazz nights and a French-inflected menu most travel writers miss, near the station.
Why locals love it: Inner-west supper club with jazz nights and a French-inflected menu most travel writers miss; on Marrickville Road, a 10-minute walk from the station.
Tip: The jazz nights book out; the daytime lunch room rarely Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
Wine bar$$newtown
Joe's Tavern is newtown bar room with a tiny kitchen out the back doing nose-to-tail italian plates and natural wine for 25 seats, sister to bella brutta.
Why locals love it: Newtown bar room with a tiny kitchen out the back doing nose-to-tail Italian plates and natural wine for 25 seats, sister to Bella Brutta.
Tip: Walk-ins only; sit at the bar to watch the kitchen line directly.