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
Restaurants in CBD
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
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
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
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
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
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
Fine Dining in CBD
Bennelong ★ 4.7
Peter Gilmore's two-hat Bennelong under the Opera House sails, Sydney. Native ingredients, harbour views, three-course or counter dining all year.
Aria ★ 4.5
Matt Moran's two-hat Aria has held its harbour outlook since 1999 on Macquarie Street, Sydney. Executive chef Tom Gorringe runs the line under Moran's name.
Shell House Dining Room ★ 4.6
Two-hat Mediterranean room atop Sydney CBD's Shell House. Joel Bickford runs wood-roasted seafood and seasonal Australian produce at rooftop level.
Bentley Restaurant + Bar ★ 4.5
Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt's two-hat Bentley on O'Connell Street, Sydney. Tasting menu, modern Australian produce and a 200-strong wine list.
Le Foote ★ 4.5
Swillhouse group Mediterranean room in The Rocks, Sydney. Wood-grilled fish, seasonal pasta and a long courtyard built into the 1840s sandstone walls.
Casual Dining in CBD
Restaurant Hubert ★ 4.5
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.
Signature: Steak tartare, Confit duck, Tarte tatin
Order: Steak tartare and the daily plat du jour.
Tip: The downstairs bar takes walk-ins; the dining room books out two weeks ahead.
Nick's Seafood Restaurant ★ 4.0
Long-running waterfront seafood on Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney CBD. Whole grilled fish, prawn cocktails, the classic Aussie seafood restaurant by the water.
Signature: Whole grilled snapper, Salt-and-pepper squid, Mixed grill platter
Order: Whole grilled snapper with chips and salad.
Tip: Lunch service has a harbour-bridge view from the outdoor seating.
Kid Kyoto ★ 4.3
Late-night izakaya on Bridge Street, Sydney CBD. Wagyu tartare, sake-driven cocktails, dark room with a constant playlist of 80s J-pop classics.
Signature: Wagyu tartare, Miso eggplant, Karaage chicken
Order: Wagyu tartare and miso-glazed eggplant.
Tip: Bar walk-ins after 9pm; kitchen open till midnight Friday and Saturday.
Cafés in CBD
Cabrito Coffee Traders ★ 4.3
CBD specialty cafe on King Street, Sydney. Rotating local and overseas roasters, breakfast bowls and a small counter for stand-and-drink commuters.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Coffee Roasters in CBD
Skittle Lane ★ 4.4
Skittle Lane specialty coffee bar in the Sydney CBD. Single-origin filter, espresso program and a regular booking of inner-city diners on weekdays.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Industry Beans ★ 4.4
Melbourne import's CBD flagship on York Street, Sydney: the Fitzroy crew's third-wave espresso, daily seasonal filters and an all-day coffee-bar food menu.
Sources from: Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription
Bars in CBD
Maybe Sammy ★ 4.8
Maybe Sammy on Harrington Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Italian-American mid-century cocktail bar, longstanding presence on the World's 50 Best Bars list.
Signature drink: Sammy's Negroni
Food: Bar snacks
The Baxter Inn ★ 4.6
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.
Signature drink: Whisky flight of three
Food: Snacks
Cantina OK! ★ 4.7
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.
Signature drink: Mezcal flight
Food: Mexican snacks
Old Mates Place ★ 4.5
Two-level cocktail bar on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD with a rooftop terrace and Aussie native-ingredient cocktail program. Open Tue-Sat from 5pm.
Signature drink: Wellington 1873
Food: Snacks
Dean & Nancy on 22 ★ 4.5
Top-of-tower cocktail bar on Hunter Street, Sydney CBD. Floor 22 of A by Adina Hotel; harbour view, theatrical martini service, bookings essential.
Signature drink: Martini service
Food: Caviar and bar snacks
The Lobo Plantation ★ 4.4
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.
Signature drink: Rum punch
Food: Caribbean snacks
Ramblin' Rascal Tavern ★ 4.5
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.
Signature drink: Espresso martini
Food: Hot dogs
The Caterpillar Club ★ 4.3
Subterranean Pitt Street music lounge by the Frankie's Pizza crew: 10,000-LP collection, DJs deep into the night, dry-aged burgers and tuna melts till late.
Signature drink: Dive bar negroni and a vinyl set
Food: Diner classics, dry-aged burgers, tuna melts
Stitch Bar ★ 4.3
Below-street speakeasy on York Street, Sydney CBD. Hidden behind a haberdashery facade, American-leaning cocktails, peanut shells on the floor.
Signature drink: Pickleback shot
Food: American snacks
The Doss House ★ 4.4
Whisky-bar in 1840s sandstone cellars on George Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Single-malt regional flights and an underground room with stone walls.
Signature drink: Whisky flight by region
Food: Snacks
PS40 ★ 4.5
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.
Signature drink: House-made cola highball
Food: Snacks
The Glenmore Hotel ★ 4.3
Rooftop hotel bar on Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Wide-open harbour view to the Opera House, pub-grade lunch and pints from midday.
Signature drink: Beer with a harbour view
Food: Pub food
The Rook ★ 4.3
Seventh-floor rooftop bar on York Street, Sydney CBD. Mezcal-leaning cocktail program and a partly open-air courtyard above the city. Tue-Sun from 4pm.
Signature drink: Smoky margarita
Food: Mexican snacks
Bopp & Tone ★ 4.4
All-day restaurant-bar on Carrington Street, Sydney CBD. Italian small plates, oysters at the bar, the city's most reliable after-work spritz address.
Signature drink: Aperol spritz
Food: Pasta and small plates
Uncle Ming's ★ 4.3
Basement Chinese cocktail bar on York Street, Sydney CBD. Tea-infused cocktail program, dumplings to share, dim red glow and lantern-lit corners.
Signature drink: Tea-infused cocktail
Food: Dumplings
Rockpool Bar & Grill ★ 4.4
Bar inside Rockpool Bar & Grill on Hunter Street, Sydney CBD. Long marble bar, dry-aged beef snacks, old-school cocktail program that runs into the evening.
Signature drink: Manhattan
Food: Steak and bar snacks
Burrow Bar ★ 4.4
Underground cocktail bar on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD. Australian native-ingredient cocktail program, intimate basement room with leather banquettes.
Signature drink: Native-ingredient martini
Food: Snacks
Street Food in CBD
Hoy Pinoy ★ 4.4
Filipino skewer pop-up at Barangaroo Reserve and seasonal Sydney events. Chicken inasal, pork barbecue and atchara pickle; check the Hoy Pinoy site.
Try: Filipino chicken inasal skewer
Mr Spanish Churros ★ 4.3
Spanish churros stall at Vivid Sydney's Fire Kitchen, Barangaroo Reserve. Crisp fried sticks dusted in cinnamon sugar, hot chocolate dipping sauce.
Try: Spanish churros with chocolate
Markets in CBD
The Rocks Markets ★ 4.2
Weekend artisan market on George Street, The Rocks, Sydney. Sourdough loaves, cheese stalls, native-ingredient honey and the city's best market location.
Food Festivals in CBD
Good Food Month ★ 4.6
Sydney's monthlong food festival in October from the Good Food Guide team. Long lunches, chef collaborations and the Night Noodle Markets at Hyde Park.
Night Noodle Markets ★ 4.5
Pan-Asian street food market at Hyde Park, Sydney in October. Vietnamese pho, Singaporean laksa, Thai grills and Japanese izakaya across 40-plus stalls.
Bastille Festival Sydney ★ 4.4
Sydney's four-day Bastille Day food festival at Circular Quay and The Rocks, Sydney. French wine, cheese, charcuterie, oysters and live cabaret programming.
Good Food and Wine Show Sydney ★ 4.3
Three-day food and wine consumer show at ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour. Cheese, charcuterie, hatted-restaurant chef demos and Australian wine producer stalls.
Cooking Classes in CBD
Sydney Language Solutions Korean Cooking ★ 4.4
Korean home-cooking class at Sydney Language Solutions, George Street, CBD. Bibimbap, kimchi-making, japchae and Korean dessert across a three-hour session.
Sake Restaurant Sushi Masterclass ★ 4.4
Sushi-making class above Sake Restaurant, The Rocks, Sydney. Two-hour session: rice prep, knife skills, rolling maki and nigiri, then a tasting at the bar.
Late-Night Eats in CBD
Frankie's Pizza by the Slice ★ 4.4
Sub-street rock-and-roll bar on Hunter Street, Sydney CBD. Live bands nightly, pizza by the slice, the city's most reliable 2am venue. Open Wed-Sun.
Try: New York-style slice
Kid Kyoto ★ 4.3
Late-night izakaya on Bridge Street, Sydney CBD. Open past midnight on weekends, walk-in friendly, sake list and yakitori counter for post-midnight diners.
Try: Wagyu tartare
City Extra ★ 3.8
Twenty-four-hour, two-level diner at Circular Quay East, Sydney CBD. 300-seater bistro food, the canonical Sydney late-night steak-and-chips room.
Try: Schnitzel and chips
Ramblin' Rascal Tavern ★ 4.5
Late-night cocktail dive on Park Street, Sydney CBD. Hot dogs at midnight, espresso martinis, the city's loudest sound system at 1am. Tue-Sat 5pm-3am.
Try: Hot dog at midnight