Mr Wong ★ 4.6
Merivale's 240-seat Cantonese basement on Bridge Lane in the Sydney CBD. Peking duck carved tableside, yum cha at lunch, dim sum on tea trolleys.
Signature: Peking duck, Sang choi bow, Yum cha
The restaurants worth the trip in Sydney. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Our picks in Sydney
Spice Temple ★ 4.5
Neil Perry's Spice Temple sits below the Art Deco City Mutual Building at 10 Bligh Street in the Sydney CBD. Regional Chinese, dark room, sichuan-heavy.
Signature: Stir-fried lamb with cumin, Mapo tofu, Salt-and-pepper squid
Porteno ★ 4.6
Argentine asado on Holt Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Hand-cut meats over parilla and pit fire, all-night low-and-slow, long-running Cumulus alumni room.
Signature: Asado-style lamb, Suckling pig, Choripan
Fratelli Paradiso ★ 4.5
Italian institution on Challis Avenue, Potts Point, Sydney since 2001. Pasta of the day, deep Italian wine list, booking ahead recommended on weekends.
Signature: Pasta of the day, Steamed snapper, Tiramisu
The Palomar ★ 4.5
Soho London-via-Paddington Mediterranean room on Glenmore Road, Sydney. Octo-hummus, the kubaneh bread service and Levantine plates from the open hearth.
Signature: Octo-hummus, Polpettone, Kubaneh bread
Pellegrino 2000 ★ 4.5
Daniel Pepperell's modern Italian room on Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. House-made pastas, classic Roman-Milanese plates, no-fuss room.
Signature: Saltimbocca, Spaghetti vongole, Tiramisu
Bella Brutta ★ 4.5
Sicilian-leaning pizza on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. Long fermented dough, tinned-fish toppings, a list of negronis and aperitivos. Open Tue-Sun.
Signature: Capricciosa pizza, Pizza diavola, Soft serve
Chaco Bar ★ 4.5
Yakitori counter on Victoria Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Chicken skewers cooked over binchotan, ramen at lunch, sake and Japanese whisky list.
Signature: Yakitori skewers, Ramen, Mentaiko tamagoyaki
Lee Ho Fook ★ 4.6
Victor Liong's modern Chinese room in Sydney's Porter House precinct on Castlereagh Street. Crispy eggplant, glossy Peking duck and Sichuan share plates.
Signature: Crispy eggplant, Wagyu char siu, Mapo tofu
Ho Jiak Haymarket ★ 4.5
Junda Khoo's Malaysian flagship in Haymarket, Sydney. Nasi lemak, char kway teow and curry laksa on the menu; the Strathfield original opened in 2017.
Signature: Nasi lemak, Char kway teow, Curry laksa
Chat Thai Haymarket ★ 4.5
Amy Chanta's flagship Thai room on Campbell Street, Haymarket, Sydney. Boat noodles, Bangkok-style street snacks and the Thai dessert counter at the front.
Signature: Boat noodles, Pad see ew, Mango sticky rice
Aalia ★ 4.6
Paul Farag's two-hat modern Middle Eastern room on Martin Place, Sydney. Saj manakish on the open hearth, Iraqi masgouf and slow-roasted shoulder of lamb.
Signature: Hummus with smoked lamb, Saj manakish, Iraqi masgouf
Ante ★ 4.6
Japanese sake bar on Wilson Street, Newtown, Sydney. Kaiseki-style seasonal plates pair with one of the country's deepest sake-by-the-glass lists.
Signature: Otsumami snacks, House-made tofu, Seasonal sashimi
Olympic Meats ★ 4.5
No-frills Greek grill on Marrickville Road, Sydney. Walk-in only, BYO, nothing over A$21 on the menu, and a long queue of locals from 5pm every night.
Signature: Lamb on the spit, Saganaki, Greek chips with feta
Baba's Place ★ 4.5
Yugoslav-Mediterranean diner on Marrickville Road, Sydney. Cevapi, pljeskavica and a long natural-wine list; open Tue-Sun dinner and weekend lunch.
Signature: Cevapi, Lamb shoulder, Spanakopita
South End ★ 4.6
Hussein Sarhan and Alex Tong's neighbourhood bistro on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. The ex-Fred's chef runs a tight, seasonal European menu.
Signature: Steak tartare, Pasta of the day, Wood-roasted fish
Grandfathers ★ 4.5
Modern Chinese on Bligh Street in the Sydney CBD. Crispy poultry, Sichuan beef tongue and oysters in chilli oil, recommended booking on weekends.
Signature: Crispy poultry, Sichuan beef tongue, Oysters in chilli oil
Lottie ★ 4.5
Modern Mexican by chef Mat Lindsay and team on Regent Street, Redfern, Sydney. Heritage corn tortillas, suckling pig tacos, single-region mezcal list.
Signature: Tetela of huitlacoche, Suckling pig tacos, Salsa flight
Mister Grotto ★ 4.5
Seafood-led neighbourhood bistro on Erskineville Road, Sydney. Crudo, whole-flat-fish hot off the grill and a Mediterranean-into-Aussie wine list.
Signature: Crudo of the day, Whole flounder, Cuttlefish ink linguine
Loulou Bistro ★ 4.4
French bistro on Martin Place, Sydney CBD. Long marble bar, escargots happy hour, steak frites and a Champagne list deep enough for a third bottle.
Signature: Beef tartare, Steak frites, Lemon tart
Ananas ★ 4.4
French brasserie in The Rocks, Sydney. Set menus under A$50 for escargots, French onion soup and steak au poivre with frites; a Champagne wall to match.
Signature: Escargots, Soupe a l'oignon, Steak au poivre
Watermans ★ 4.4
Wood-fired Mediterranean on Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo, Sydney. Levantine-leaning small plates, charred Mediterranean fish, harbour patio seating.
Signature: Wood-fired snapper, Hummus with smoked lamb, Octopus
The Grill at The International ★ 4.6
Two-hat steakhouse and modern Australian grill on O'Connell Street, Sydney CBD. Dry-aged beef, large-format roasts, an old-school grand-dining room.
Signature: Dry-aged ribeye, Lobster thermidor, Steak tartare
Eleven Barrack ★ 4.5
Two-hat steak and seafood room on Barrack Street, Sydney CBD. Bone-in steaks, fresh oysters, a polished room that landed two hats in the 2026 Good Food Guide.
Signature: Bone-in ribeye, Smoked oysters, Beef Wellington
Ho Jiak Strathfield ★ 4.5
The original Ho Jiak on The Boulevarde, Strathfield, Sydney. Junda Khoo's Malaysian menu of nasi lemak, char kway teow and hawker-style noodle dishes.
Signature: Nasi lemak, Char kway teow, Hokkien mee
Vin-Cenzo's ★ 4.4
Italian with French and Spanish flourishes on Palmer Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. House-rolled pasta, a tight Mediterranean wine list, neighbourhood vibe.
Signature: Cacio e pepe, Pici pasta, Tiramisu
Bessie's ★ 4.5
Casual contemporary Australian dining on Riley Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Wood-fired sourdough, share plates, the kind of room locals book on repeat.
Signature: Wood-fired sourdough, Lamb shoulder, Stracciatella with stone fruit
Olympus Dining ★ 4.4
Modern Greek dining on Redfern Street, Sydney. Charcoal-grilled whole fish, mezze and Greek dessert pastries; one of 2025's strongest openings in the south.
Signature: Taramasalata, Whole charcoal fish, Loukoumades
Fontana ★ 4.4
Roman trattoria on Redfern Street, Sydney. Bigoli, vitello tonnato and a deep amari list; the same crew behind Pellegrino 2000 in Surry Hills.
Signature: Bigoli with sardines, Vitello tonnato, Cannoli
Porcine ★ 4.6
French bistro on Marian Street, Redfern, Sydney. Boudin noir, confit duck and a no-bookings wine bar feel; Mediterranean-leaning natural-wine list.
Signature: Boudin noir, Confit duck leg, Tarte tatin