17 restaurants in Sydney, editor-picked for monday dinner. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Sydney.

Mr Wong ★ 4.8

cbd · 3 Bridge Lane, Sydney NSW 2000

Hours: Mon-Wed 12:00-15:00, 17:30-23:00, Thu-Fri 12:00-15:00, 17:30-00:00, Sat 10:30-15:00, 17:30-00:00, Sun 10:30-15:00, 17:30-22:00

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.

Porteno ★ 4.8

surry-hills · 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Hours: Daily 00:00-00:00

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.

Aalia ★ 4.7

cbd · 5 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-15:00, 17:30-22:30, Sat 17:30-22:30

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.

Ante ★ 4.7

newtown · 10 Wilson Street, Newtown NSW 2042

Hours: Mon 17:00-23:00, Wed-Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-23:00

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.

South End ★ 4.7

newtown · 286 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042

Hours: Mon 17:30-22:00, Thu-Fri 17:30-22:00, Sat 12:00-15:00, 17:30-22:00, Sun 12:00-15:00

Hussein Sarhan and Alex Tong's neighbourhood bistro on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. The ex-Fred's chef runs a tight, seasonal European menu.

Spice Temple ★ 4.6

cbd · 10 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00, Sat 17:30-23:00, Sun 17:30-22:00

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.

Fratelli Paradiso ★ 4.6

potts-point · 12-16 Challis Avenue, Potts Point NSW 2011

Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-16:00

Italian institution on Challis Avenue, Potts Point, Sydney since 2001. Pasta of the day, deep Italian wine list, booking ahead recommended on weekends.

Pellegrino 2000 ★ 4.5

surry-hills · 80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Hours: Mon-Sun 17:00-23:00

Daniel Pepperell's modern Italian room on Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. House-made pastas, classic Roman-Milanese plates, no-fuss room.

Bella Brutta ★ 4.5

newtown · 135 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042

Hours: Mon-Thu 17:30-23:00, Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-16:30, 17:00-23:00

Sicilian-leaning pizza on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. Long fermented dough, tinned-fish toppings, a list of negronis and aperitivos. Open Tue-Sun.

Ho Jiak Haymarket ★ 4.4

haymarket · Shop 6, 87-93 Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Hours: Mon-Wed 11:00-23:00, Thu-Sat 11:00-23:30, Sun 11:00-22:00

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.

Chat Thai Haymarket ★ 4.4

haymarket · Shop 1, 20 Campbell Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Hours: Sun-Thu 10:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 10:00-02:00

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.

Grandfathers ★ 4.3

cbd · Shop 1, 1 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-15:00, 17:00-01:00, Sun 12:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00

Modern Chinese on Bligh Street in the Sydney CBD. Crispy poultry, Sichuan beef tongue and oysters in chilli oil, recommended booking on weekends.

Eleven Barrack ★ 4.2

cbd · 11 Barrack Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 17:30-22:00

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.

Ho Jiak Strathfield ★ 4.2

strathfield · Shop 33, 11 The Boulevarde, Strathfield NSW 2135

Hours: Mon-Sun 10:30-20:30

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.

Bessie's ★ 4.2

surry-hills · 111-115 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Hours: Mon-Wed 17:00-23:00, Thu-Sun 12:00-23:00

Casual contemporary Australian dining on Riley Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Wood-fired sourdough, share plates, the kind of room locals book on repeat.

Ananas ★ 4.1

cbd · Shop 3, 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks NSW 2000

Hours: Mon-Wed 12:00-16:00, 18:00-00:00, Thu-Fri 12:00-16:00, 18:00-03:00, Sat 18:00-03:00, Sun 18:00-00:00

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.

Vin-Cenzo's ★ 4.1

darlinghurst · 234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Hours: Mon 17:00-23:00, Tue-Fri 12:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 13:00-23:00

Italian with French and Spanish flourishes on Palmer Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. House-rolled pasta, a tight Mediterranean wine list, neighbourhood vibe.