Dining with a view: 24 of the best waterfront restaurants in Sydney
Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra Waters
From the Pacific Ocean to the harbour and its estuaries, Sydney is surrounded by water and boasts an amazing number of venues overlooking glittering expanses of the harbour, sandy beaches and calm bays.
- 6 min read
Quay
Where: Circular Quay
The floor-to-ceiling windows at Quay frame Sydney Harbour in all its breathtaking beauty. The only reason to look away is to appreciate the culinary creations of applauded chef Peter Gilmore, who works closely with farmers, fisherman and artisans who cultivate bespoke produce exclusively for the restaurant.
Quay, Circular Quay - Credit: Nikki To
Cafe Sydney
Where: Circular Quay
Cafe Sydney offers another perspective of the Sydney Harbour from its perch high up on the roof of Customs House. Looking for the perfect venue to host an event? The private dining has terrace access, views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and floor-to-ceiling glass doors.
Views at Cafe Sydney, Circular Quay - Credit: Cafe Sydney
Opera Bar
Where: Circular Quay
You don’t have to break the bank to take in Sydney’s landmarks. Backdropped by the Opera House, the buzzy Opera Bar enjoys a panorama over to the Harbour Bridge. Order a drink and a dozen oysters and watch ferries and yachts in the harbour.
Opera Bar, Circular Quay
Ripples Chowder Bay
Where: Mosman
Across the harbour in Mosman, Ripples Chowder Bay is a modern Australian restaurant housed in a historic building, once a 19th-century submarine miners’ depot, overlooking the harbour. Make a day of it by hiking there along the Bradley's Head to Chowder Bay Walk, rewarding yourself with a long lunch at the end.
Ripples Chowder Bay, Mosman - Credit: Ripples Chowder Bay
Oncore by Clare Smyth
Where: Barangaroo
You won’t want to miss the Barangaroo precinct – it’s home to the city’s tallest building, Crown Towers Sydney. A rapid rollcall of restaurants are all on the menu here, with Oncore by Clare Smyth being a standout, where degustations are prepared by a three-Michelin-starred British chef.
Oncore by Clare Smyth at Crown Towers, Barangaroo
LuMi Dining
Where: Pyrmont
Pyrmont is home to LuMi Dining, an inspired Japanese/Italian fine diner with glass walls for views of bobbing yachts and twinkling harbour lights, sitting opposite The Star at Wharf 10. Led by chef Federico Zanellato and his wife, as well as head sommelier Michela Boncagni, come for a refined fine-dining experience of five courses for lunch or eight for dinner.
LuMi Dining, Pyrmont
OTTO Sydney
Where: Woolloomooloo
When the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf was built in 1915, it was the largest wooden wharf structure in the world. It’s now lined with alfresco restaurants, the kind of places you dress up for and plan to spend the best part of the day enjoying. OTTO is a highlight, dishing up modern Italian cuisine with a twist and featuring seats spilling out onto the historic wharf and enjoying vistas of the CBD skyline.
OTTO Sydney, Woolloomooloo - Credit: Nikki To - Fink Group
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
Where: Watsons Bay
Another longstanding hangout, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is all sun umbrellas and high-top tables, with live music and flocks of beautiful people lounging beside the water. Arrive via ferry from Circular Quay to make the most of your day out – and those epic water views.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay
Doyle’s on the Beach
Where: Watsons Bay
A few steps away is Doyle's on the Beach, serving up ocean-fresh seafood since 1885. The Sydney institution is set right on the edge of the sand at Watsons Bay, and the menu is made up of classics like fish and chips, seafood platters, snapper pie, oysters and barbecued lobster.
Doyles on the Beach, Watsons Bay
Catalina
Where: Rose Bay
Watch the seaplanes land from the expansive patio jutting out over the water at Catalina in Rose Bay. Executive Chef Mark Axisa and Head Chef Alan O’Keeffe pioneer a bright menu of modern and classic dishes, which stars some of the city's finest seafood including fresh poached Australian marron, a popular entree. Savour this with a fine drop from the wine list, frequently voted Australia’s best. There’s a reason why this establishment has been a local favourite for close to three decades.
Catalina Rose Bay, Rose Bay
North Bondi Fish
Where: Bondi
Many people visit Bondi for a swim or a surf; many more come to while away an afternoon in dreamy dining rooms with a view over the sand. Grab a table across from Sydney’s most famous beach at North Bondi Fish, specialising in fresh, high-quality seafood – alongside steak, salads and sliders – and owned by Matt Moran and Bruce Solomon.
North Bondi Fish, North Bondi
Sean’s Panaroma
Where: Bondi
Sean’s Panaroma is one of the celebrated restaurants in Sydney. Not only because it’s a hatted fine diner or at the cutting edge of the industry, but also due to its prime real estate: overlooking the golden sands and lapping waves of Bondi Beach. The restaurant is led by Sean Moran, a renowned chef with a Blue Mountains farm that supplies fresh produce to the venue, so expect a daily set menu of fresh, seasonal plates.
Sean's Panaroma, Bondi - Credit: Sean's Panaroma
Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
Where: Bondi
Alternatively, head to the other curve of the cove and sit by the windows at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar for views out over the iconic pool. It’s hard to feel anything but serene looking out across a dozen shades of blue, and the seasonal Italian menu and top-notch service are the cherry on top.
Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Bondi
Mimi's
Where: Coogee
Standing tall at the northern edge of the beach, Coogee Pavilion is three levels of dining, drinking and (occassionally) dancing. On the middle level, Mimi’s is an oasis of luxury, complete with tableside bumps of caviar and truffles shaved over anything you like. The views are just as delicious, the rolling waves of Coogee Beach framed by huge arched windows and blush pink walls.
Mimi's at Coogee Pavilion, Coogee
Ormeggio at The Spit
Where: Mosman
People who live in the Northern Beaches tend not to leave. Visit establishments like Ormeggio at The Spit, and you’ll begin to understand why. The seafood is perfectly prepared, and the view is like a painting: a palette of blues and yachts gliding around the marina.
Ormeggio at The Spit - Credit: Alessandro Pavoni | Ormeggio at The Spit
Pilu at Freshwater
Where: Freshwater
Further north, savour Sardinian specialties at Pilu at Freshwater, a two-hatted fine-dining venue overlooking the scenic Freshwater Beach. Housed in a beautiful beach house, book in for a long lunch or a special dinner.
Pilu at Freshwater, Northern Beaches
The Newport
Where: Newport
Set on the stunning shores of Pittwater, The Newport has been a local favourite since 1880, when it was the Newport Arms Hotel. Nestled among idyllic gardens, and home to various outdoor dining spaces and bars across the sprawling grounds, it’s not hard to understand why. Choose from baked goods from the Kiosk, fresh platters from the Seafood Market, woodfired pizzas from Vinnie’s Pizza or classic bites from The Shack.
The Newport, Newport - Credit: Merivale
Berowra Waters Inn
Where: Hawkesbury
Make a day of it with lunch or dinner at one of the city’s most remote waterside restaurants – Berowra Waters Inn – which you can reach by car, boat or seaplane. Perched on a riverbank in the serene native bush setting of the Hawkesbury, the restaurant is housed in a 1920s sandstone teahouse topped by a tin roof, with floor-to-ceiling glass louver windows overlooking the water.
Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra waters
Cottage Point Inn
Where: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Located alongside the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Cottage Point Inn also feels worlds away from human life. With outdoor seating right on the water’s edge, you’ll likely see river birds frolicking just metres from your table. Beginning life as a boathouse, general store and post office for the river community back in the 1950s, the space has been reinvented many times over. Now, it is a fine diner with a quarterly-changing menu of European-meets-Australian-style dishes.
Cottage Point Inn, Cottage Point
Jonah's
Where: Northern Beaches
Perched on a clifftop above the spectacular coastline of Whale Beach, Jonah’s is a fine dining restaurant serving modern Australian cuisine with an Italian twist. Take a seat in the dining room by the floor-to-ceiling windows, or on the terrace to feel the gentle ocean breeze.
Jonah's Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Whale Beach - Credit: Mandy Zieren | Jonah's
Canvas Restaurant
Where: The Rocks
Head up to level four of the Museum of Contemporary Art and you’ll find Canvas, a new culinary concept with some of the best harbour views in Sydney. It’s all about style here, with a rotating Chef-in-Residence. Currently at the helm is James Scott, who has worked at some of Sydney’s best restaurants, including Sepia and LuMi. Committed to Australian seasonal produce and native ingredients, he creates refined dishes that reflect his Scottish heritage and international culinary experience.
Canvas Restaurant, Circular Quay - Credit: Marcel Aucar
Bathers' Pavilion
Where: Balmoral
For classic coastal vibes, Bathers’ Pavilion at Balmoral Beach has it all: 1920s Art Deco charm, a dash of Mediterranean spirit, and panoramic views of Middle Harbour, set withing a grand heritage building. This is the spot for any occasion, whether it’s a fancy date night, a big family meal, or an impromptu beachside fish and chips.
On the terrace at the Bathers' Pavilion - Credit: Buffet Digital
Manly Pavilion
Where: Manly
Overlooking the postcard-pretty Manly Cove and Sydney Harbour (with the vista stretching to the CBD skyscrapers in the distance), water views don't come much more spectacular than those at Manly Pavilion. Housed in a 1930s bathing pavilion, the sunny deck is the ideal perch on a warm summer's day for a plate of pasta and some fresh seafood – and also one of the first venues you will come across if you are doing the gorgeous Spit Bridge to Manly Walk.
Manly Pavilion, Manly
The Fenwick
Where: Balmain
Set inside an immaculately restored 1880s stone building on the Balmain waterfront, The Fenwick offers a unique view of the ‘back side’ of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (and the sparkling harbour surrounding it, of course). It’s open for lunch and dinner every day, with breakfast served on the weekends, offering a rustic Italian menu that includes housemade pasta and lots of seafood.
The Fenwick, Balmain
