Best restaurants in Sydney
As the sun sets on Sydney Harbour, the city night life comes alive with bustling bars and restaurants. Here’s a preview of the best restaurants the city has to offer.
By Bonnie Jackson
You won’t need to leave the city to taste your favourite flavours from around the globe. From an Australian fine dining restaurant with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour, to a steakhouse hidden down a fire exit, you’ll discover a world of unforgettable restaurants in the heart of Sydney’s city.
Bennelong
Bennelong, Sydney, New South Wales ©Brett Stevens
One of Sydney’s finest culinary experiences is found at Bennelong, situated in one of the domes of the Opera House. Executive chef Peter Gilmore has produced a menu with Australian produce and wine, that is almost as delicious as the surrounding view of Sydney Harbour. As the sun sets behind the Harbour Bridge, the warm golden lights come alive, and the mood grows more enchanting.
Lana
A very welcomed new addition to Sydney’s foodie offerings, Lana, has quickly become a popular option for Italian dining. Located within Hinchliff House, Lana sets the mood from the moment you enter the room. With the dusty pink marble tables and the warm down lighting, this restaurant is the perfect spot for a date night or luxurious dinner for one.
Bistecca
Descend an inconspicuous fire escape and take a seat at the bar in the dim-lit waiting room. Here, you can indulge with a pre-dinner drink. Then you will be escorted to your table, where you will peruse the carefully curated wine list and discuss the size of T-Bone (up to 1kg). The barbeque is perfectly situated in the middle of the restaurant, so you can watch the talented chefs in their element. Make sure to order a few sides to compliment your steak, but don’t forget to leave room for dessert!
Quay
Quay, Sydney, New South Wales © Nikki To
There’s nothing better than dining at one of Australia’s best restaurants, with two of Australia’s most recognised icons within eyesight. This is exactly what you get when dining at Quay Restaurant Dining. The famous ‘white coral’ desert looks too good to eat, but executive chef Peter Gilmore has curated an extraordinary menu bursting with flavours and textures that will make you want to lick the plate clean.
Ploos
Along the cobblestone streets of The Rocks you’ll stumble across Ploos, a Mediterranean restaurant that not only serves incredible authentic Mediterranean flavours, but also an unbeatable view to compliment. While the Al Le Carte menu offers a smorgasbord of dishes, the set menu allows you to sit back and taste the best of what Executive chef Peter Conistis has curated for the menu. Whether you pay a visit during lunchtime or late in the evening, you are guaranteed to have Sydney Harbour’s best seat in the house.
Restaurant Hubert
Restaurant Hubert, Sydney, New South Wales © William Meppem and Australian Gourmet Traveller, Bauer Media
If you love French food, jazz music, and an exceptional dining experience, Restaurant Hubert is the perfect destination for you. From the moment you enter you’ll be transcended back to the 1920’s with the dark wood surrounds, vintage imagery, live jazz band and the waiters flurrying around serving guests. The popular dishes are the steak tartare and the duck parfait, but they also have meals for those less adventurous.
RE-
Also doubling as a cocktail bar, Re- is a leading restaurant in sustainable dining. With a no-waste mantra, dining in this future-forward venue not only tastes good but does good too. Everything you eat and drink here is sustainably sourced, from surplus produce from the markets to food waste from other businesses. But they don’t stop there, everything you touch is RE-cycled too (get it?)! So whether you’re just looking for an after dinner drink, or wanting to make your way through their small but mighty food menu, RE- will deliver you a wholesome dining experience.
