40 upscale places in Sydney, editor-picked. occasion restaurants in Sydney: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Sydney food.
Mr Wong ★ 4.8
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 ★ 4.8
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.
Maybe Sammy ★ 4.8
cbd · 115 Harrington Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
Maybe Sammy on Harrington Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Italian-American mid-century cocktail bar, longstanding presence on the World's 50 Best Bars list.
Cantina OK! ★ 4.8
cbd · 1 Council Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Twenty-seat mezcaleria on Council Place, Sydney CBD. On the World's 50 Best Bars extended list; rare agave-distilled spirits. Daily 4pm-2am, walk-ins only.
10 William Street ★ 4.8
paddington · 10 William Street, Paddington NSW 2021
Paddington's natural-wine ground zero on William Street, Sydney. Pasta of the day, Italian-leaning list, a small upstairs counter, nightly seating.
Lee Ho Fook ★ 4.7
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 ★ 4.7
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 ★ 4.7
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 ★ 4.7
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.
Restaurant Hubert ★ 4.7
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 Baxter Inn ★ 4.7
cbd · 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Whisky basement on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Over 1,000 bottles on the back wall; the bartenders dress in arm-bands and braces. Mon-Sat from 5pm.
Old Mates Place ★ 4.7
cbd · 199 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Two-level cocktail bar on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD with a rooftop terrace and Aussie native-ingredient cocktail program. Open Tue-Sat from 5pm.
Dean & Nancy on 22 ★ 4.7
cbd · Level 22, A by Adina, 2 Hunter Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Top-of-tower cocktail bar on Hunter Street, Sydney CBD. Floor 22 of A by Adina Hotel; harbour view, theatrical martini service, bookings essential.
Love Tilly Devine ★ 4.7
darlinghurst · 91 Crown Lane, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Back-alley natural-wine bar on Crown Lane, Darlinghurst, Sydney. Matt Swieboda's room has poured one of Australia's deepest minimal-intervention lists.
Spice Temple ★ 4.6
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 ★ 4.6
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.
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.
Ester ★ 4.6
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 ★ 4.6
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.
The Apollo ★ 4.6
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.
Ramblin' Rascal Tavern ★ 4.6
cbd · 60 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Cocktail dive on Park Street, Sydney CBD. Dive-bar aesthetic, top-shelf bar program; hot dogs at midnight and a sound system that runs loud.
PS40 ★ 4.6
cbd · 40 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000
House-soda cocktail bar on King Street, Sydney CBD. The team distil their own sodas in-house; the rosehip-and-pepper soda highball is the bar signature.
Dear Sainte Eloise ★ 4.6
potts-point · 20 Llankelly Place, Potts Point NSW 2011
Natural wine bar on Llankelly Place, Potts Point, Sydney. Same crew as Love Tilly Devine; Mediterranean small plates and a deep Champagne-by-the-glass list.
Monopole ★ 4.6
potts-point · 71a Macleay Street, Potts Point NSW 2011
Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt's wine bar on Macleay Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Open 7 nights; small-plates menu and natural-leaning wine list.
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.
Three Blue Ducks Rosebery ★ 4.5
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 ★ 4.5
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.
Shady Pines Saloon ★ 4.5
darlinghurst · 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Below-street dive bar on Crown Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. Taxidermied walls, country music, American whiskey and Tecate-and-shot service.
The Lobo Plantation ★ 4.5
cbd · 209 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Cuban-Caribbean tiki bar on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Rum-forward cocktails, jazz nights and the city's deepest rum back-bar. Open Wed-Sat from 5pm.
The Roosevelt ★ 4.5
potts-point · 32 Orwell Street, Potts Point NSW 2011
Cocktail bar on Orwell Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Long mahogany counter, a Sazerac on the menu since 1942 and a piano on Sundays. Open 7 nights.
P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants ★ 4.5
newtown · 94 Enmore Road, Newtown NSW 2042
Bottle shop and bar on Enmore Road, Newtown, Sydney. Mike Bennie and Lou Dowling's natural-wine retail by day, by-the-glass and pintxos by night.
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.
Earl's Juke Joint ★ 4.4
newtown · 407 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Whiskey-and-beer dive on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. American whiskey-heavy back bar, country playlist, a New Orleans Sazerac on every menu.
The Wild Rover ★ 4.4
surry-hills · 75 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Two-storey Irish whiskey bar on Campbell Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Live music upstairs, 200+ Irish whiskeys behind the bar. Open Tue-Sun from 5pm.
Tio's Cerveceria ★ 4.4
surry-hills · 4-14 Foster Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Mexican spirits and beer bar on Foster Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Modelo on tap, micheladas, tortas at midnight, a cult crowd of bartenders.
Wine Library ★ 4.4
woollahra · 18 Oxford Street, Woollahra NSW 2025
Wine Library on Oxford Street, Woollahra. Deep by-the-glass list, snack menu and a regular Sydney crowd through the late afternoon and evening.
Baba's Place ★ 4.3
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 ★ 4.3
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 ★ 4.3
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.