34 upscale rooms in Sydney, editor-picked. occasion rooms in Sydney — destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Sydney food.
Ester ★ 4.7
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.
Cafe Paci ★ 4.7
newtown · 131 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Pasi Petanen's two-hat Finnish-meets-Asian room on King Street in Newtown, Sydney. Set menu only, snacks-to-dessert with sharp matched wines.
Mr Wong ★ 4.6
cbd · 3 Bridge Lane, Sydney NSW 2000
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 ★ 4.6
surry-hills · 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
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.
Lee Ho Fook ★ 4.6
cbd · Level 1, 203 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Victor Liong's modern Chinese room in Sydney's Porter House precinct on Castlereagh Street. Crispy eggplant, glossy Peking duck and Sichuan share plates.
Aalia ★ 4.6
cbd · 5 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
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 ★ 4.6
newtown · 10 Wilson Street, Newtown NSW 2042
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 ★ 4.6
newtown · 286 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Hussein Sarhan and Alex Tong's neighbourhood bistro on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. The ex-Fred's chef runs a tight, seasonal European menu.
Porcine ★ 4.6
redfern · 11 Marian Street, Redfern NSW 2016
French bistro on Marian Street, Redfern, Sydney. Boudin noir, confit duck and a no-bookings wine bar feel; Mediterranean-leaning natural-wine list.
Sean's ★ 4.6
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.
Spice Temple ★ 4.5
cbd · 10 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
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 ★ 4.5
potts-point · 12-16 Challis Avenue, Potts Point NSW 2011
Italian institution on Challis Avenue, Potts Point, Sydney since 2001. Pasta of the day, deep Italian wine list, booking ahead recommended on weekends.
The Palomar ★ 4.5
paddington · 7 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
Soho London-via-Paddington Mediterranean room on Glenmore Road, Sydney. Octo-hummus, the kubaneh bread service and Levantine plates from the open hearth.
Pellegrino 2000 ★ 4.5
surry-hills · 80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Daniel Pepperell's modern Italian room on Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. House-made pastas, classic Roman-Milanese plates, no-fuss room.
Baba's Place ★ 4.5
marrickville · 153 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Yugoslav-Mediterranean diner on Marrickville Road, Sydney. Cevapi, pljeskavica and a long natural-wine list; open Tue-Sun dinner and weekend lunch.
Grandfathers ★ 4.5
cbd · Shop 1, 1 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Modern Chinese on Bligh Street in the Sydney CBD. Crispy poultry, Sichuan beef tongue and oysters in chilli oil, recommended booking on weekends.
Lottie ★ 4.5
redfern · 97 Regent Street, Redfern NSW 2016
Modern Mexican by chef Mat Lindsay and team on Regent Street, Redfern, Sydney. Heritage corn tortillas, suckling pig tacos, single-region mezcal list.
Mister Grotto ★ 4.5
erskineville · 208 Australia Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Seafood-led neighbourhood bistro on Erskineville Road, Sydney. Crudo, whole-flat-fish hot off the grill and a Mediterranean-into-Aussie wine list.
Bessie's ★ 4.5
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.
Restaurant Hubert ★ 4.5
cbd · 15 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
French underground bistro on Bligh Street, Sydney CBD. Dark wood, low lighting, a long bar and a French menu of charcuterie, confit and grilled steak.
Tip: The downstairs bar takes walk-ins; the dining room books out two weeks ahead.
The Apollo ★ 4.5
potts-point · 44 Macleay Street, Potts Point NSW 2011
Modern Greek institution on Macleay Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Saganaki with honey and oregano, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, share-style table.
Tip: Bookings essential; the kitchen runs late Friday and Saturday.
Loulou Bistro ★ 4.4
cbd · Shop 4, 47 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
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.
Ananas ★ 4.4
cbd · Shop 3, 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
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.
Watermans ★ 4.4
barangaroo · Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Wood-fired Mediterranean on Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo, Sydney. Levantine-leaning small plates, charred Mediterranean fish, harbour patio seating.
Vin-Cenzo's ★ 4.4
darlinghurst · 234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Italian with French and Spanish flourishes on Palmer Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. House-rolled pasta, a tight Mediterranean wine list, neighbourhood vibe.
Olympus Dining ★ 4.4
redfern · 2 Baptist Street, Redfern NSW 2016
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.
Fontana ★ 4.4
redfern · 120 Redfern Street, Redfern NSW 2016
Roman trattoria on Redfern Street, Sydney. Bigoli, vitello tonnato and a deep amari list; the same crew behind Pellegrino 2000 in Surry Hills.
Three Blue Ducks Rosebery ★ 4.4
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.
Tip: Saturday morning brings the longest queue; weekdays best for a sit-down breakfast.
Longrain ★ 4.4
surry-hills · 85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Modern Thai institution on Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. The caramelised pork hock has stayed on the menu for more than two decades.
Tip: Communal long-table seating; bookings recommended on weekends.
Cibaria ★ 4.4
manly · Shop 4, 23-27 Belgrave Street, Manly NSW 2095
Italian neighbourhood room on Belgrave Street, Manly, Sydney. House-made pasta, Italian wood-fired pizza, the kind of beachside trattoria Manly was missing.
Tip: Book ahead on summer weekends; the terrace is the trophy seat.
Vineria Luisa ★ 4.4
newtown · 157 Enmore Road, Enmore NSW 2042
Italian wine bar on Enmore Road in Newtown, Sydney. Pasta, aperitivo, a small-producer Italian wine list curated by the team behind Marta and Cucina.
Tip: Walk-ins at the bar; book ahead for the tables on Friday and Saturday.
Young's Palace ★ 4.4
potts-point · 16 Llankelly Place, Potts Point NSW 2011
Suburban-Cantonese on Llankelly Place, Potts Point, Sydney. The Cantonese duck and roast pork are the house specials; open Tue-Sun lunch and dinner.
Tip: Bookings open four weeks ahead; the lunchtime yum cha is the easier ticket.
Osteria Mucca ★ 4.4
newtown · 20 Australia Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Old-school trattoria on Australia Street, Newtown, Sydney. Hand-rolled pasta, nose-to-tail Italian cooking, low-lit room from the Pasian & Daughters group.
Tip: Walk-ins at the bar; bookings open three weeks ahead.
Nick's Seafood Restaurant ★ 4.0
cbd · Shop 1, The Promenade, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney NSW 2000
Long-running waterfront seafood on Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney CBD. Whole grilled fish, prawn cocktails, the classic Aussie seafood restaurant by the water.
Tip: Lunch service has a harbour-bridge view from the outdoor seating.