A food & drink guide to Parramatta

Eating in Parramatta

Start out on Church Street, Parramatta's major eat street, which is lined with alfresco dining options, cafes and restaurants. Enjoy a coffee and a pastry at Bourke Street Bakery. Visit local institution Pho Pasteur for amazing noodle soup and Holy Basil for flavour-filled Lao and Thai cuisine, an outpost of the Canley Heights original. Discover more delights in the smaller side streets, such as the acclaimed Singaporean-Malay restaurant Temasek and bistro favourites at The Collector Hotel, while Bay Vista has all your dessert cravings covered. 

Head to the new Parramatta Square dining precinct for pan-Asian at Lilymu, Japanese ramen and udon at Mikazuki, and loaded subs at Harvey's Hot Sandwiches. In neighbouring Harris Park, you’ll find some of the best Indian and South-Asian restaurants in Australia such as Chatkazz, Momozz, Ginger Indian Restaurant, Not Just Curries, Jaipur Sweets and Dosa Hut. Wigram Road is another foodie hub, packed with a tempting range of eateries, including casual and vegetarian options.

Eat Street, Parramatta

Drinking in Parramatta

Like the rest of Sydney, Parramatta locals take their coffee seriously. Circa Espresso is a standout for coffee and Middle Eastern-inspired breakfasts. If you can't get in, other popular brunch options include Lil Miss Collins, Paper Plane Café, XS Espresso, White Henry Espresso Bar, the Instagrammable Social Hideout and social enterprise Darcy St Project. If coffee isn't your preferred form of caffeine, the tea rooms at Elizabeth Farm are open on weekends and offer another chance to step back in time for a colonial-style high tea.

Parramatta enjoys an emerging bar scene. Scan the cocktail menu at Alex & Co or soak up breathtaking city views from Nick and Nora's, a luxe rooftop champagne bar on level 26. For something more laid-back, grab a table in the beer garden at The Albion Hotel, while a visit to the cellar door at Riverside Brewing Company is a must for any craft beer enthusiast.

Champagne fountain, Nick and Nora's

Parramatta food festivals

In October, the Parramatta Lanes festival takes over the streets to showcase the city’s great food, wine and art, with food stalls, pop-up bars and live music. In March, Parramasala celebrates Western Sydney’s cultural diversity with food, music, dance and more. In the last few years, Parramatta has also hosted the one-day, sold-out Open For Lunch pop-up. Find out about more arts and culture events in Parramatta by checking out the exciting events calendar.

Western Sydney Long Lunch at Commbank Stadium, Parramatta - Credit: Alexandra Adoncello