A food & drink guide to Potts Point & Woolloomooloo

Macleay Street & surrounds

This is the main street of Potts Point and home to an array of award-winning restaurants featured in the Good Food Guide. Head to The Apollo for Greek, Cho Cho San for Japanese, Parlar for Catalonian and Yellow for vegetarian. On nearby Challis Ave, Fratelli Paradiso is the spot for Italian, Fei Jai dishes up excellent yum cha and La Bomba does casual Spanish tapas. Around the corner on Victoria St, head to Ms G's for modern Asian, or Chaco Bar for adventurous yakitori inspired by the laneway restaurants of Fukuoka. If you are after French bistro-style dining, you are in luck: choose from Bistro Rex, Macleay St Bistro, Franca Brasserie and Bistrot 916.

Parlar, Potts Points

Woolloomooloo Wharf

One of the longest timber wharves in the world houses more fantastic restaurants. From Victoria Street, walk down the historic McElhone Stairs until you get to the heritage-listed wharf. Otto Ristorante and Il Pontile serve up Italian, Manta and Kingsleys are all about seafood, Alibi has an ethos of plant-based dining, and China Doll does excellent Chinese. If you want waterside dining on a budget, iconic pie cart Harry’s Cafe de Wheels has been serving late-night revellers and visiting celebrities since 1945.

Harry's Cafe De Wheels, Woolloomooloo

The Art Gallery of NSW and the Royal Botanic Garden are a short walk away and both boast restaurants by celebrity chefs. The former is home to Crafted by Matt Moran, with a modern Australian menu, while the latter has Botanic House by Luke Nguyen, which is all about modern Asian cuisine.

Botanic House, Royal Botanic Garden - Credit: Botanic House

Kings Cross

Among the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross you will find a number of hidden foodie gems. On leafy Kellet Street, Ezra is inspired by the flavours and vibes of Tel Aviv. Meanwhile Chula does Mexican plates and fun cocktails, and The Farmhouse holds intimate "dinner parties" at its 20-person communal table twice a night from Wednesday to Saturday.

Ezra, Kings Cross - Credit: Nikki To | Buffet Digital

Llankley Place

This small laneway linking Kings Cross and Potts Point punches above its weight on the flavour front. See why people line up for coffee at Room 10 and their new café Pina, around the corner on Orwell Street. Dear Sainte Eloise is an intimate wine bar with great food that's made for leisurely lunches, Pizza Boccone is all about that Italian staple and Et Al is a casual restaurant with serious cooking by Alastair Little, one of Britain's most respected chefs who moved to Sydney. 

Room 10, Potts Point

Cheap & cheerful

Chester White Cured Diner on Orwell Street does simple Italian and Gypsy Espresso, just off Macleay Street, is another spot for speciality coffee and simple cafe fare. The King Cross food market is held every Saturday, next to the dandelion-shaped El Alamein Memorial Fountain. In the back streets of Woolloomooloo, Flour and Stone serves up classic bakery delights, including coffee, pastries, cakes, and savoury sausage rolls and pies. 

Flour and Stone, Woolloomooloo

Pubs & bars

The Bourbon, by the fountain, is a Sydney institution and the Potts Point Hotel overlooking Springfield Mall is near the Art Deco gems of Carisbrooke and Carinthia. Head down the hill for more classic pubs, including the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel and the Bells Hotel. The Tilbury Hotel and Old Fitzroy Hotel are renowned gastropubs. If cocktails are more your thing, head to The Roosevelt or The Butler. The latter enjoys fantastic views of the city skyline on its open-air patio. For a small neighbourhood bar, cosy Jangling Jacks is the place for a late-night martini or an afternoon apertif to the sounds of jazz.

Inside The Butler, Potts Point - Credit: The Butler