22 of the best restaurants in Sydney right now

Saint Peter 

Where: Paddington 

Chef Josh Niland is a pioneer of the ‘fin to gills’ seafood cooking movement, utilising every part of the fish in his innovative dishes. His original Saint Peter restaurant opened on Oxford Street in 2016 but closed in 2023. This new iteration, inside the refurbished Grand National Hotel, promises old favourites and new inventions. If you can’t bear to leave, there are 14 boutique hotel rooms upstairs. 

Saint Peter, Paddington

Ho Jiak 

Where: Haymarket 

Starting as a tiny shop in Strathfield Plaza, today there are four Ho Jiak outposts in Sydney (including one with a Chef’s Hat) and one in Melbourne. But Haymarket is the one that pays homage to chef Junda Khoo’s childhood in Penang, with homestyle Nyonya cuisine and authentic Malaysian street food dishes are on the menu. The char kway teow, laksa and indomie-goreng topped with duck egg have become Sydney cult favourites. 

Ho Jiak Haymarket, Haymarket - Credit: Ho Jiak Haymarket

Sean’s Panorama 

Where: Bondi 

With a prime position overlooking the northern end of the beach, Sean’s Panorama has been a Bondi institution for more than 30 years. The menu changes regularly, with just three courses and three options for each written on a blackboard. If you’re lucky, you’ll see chef and owner Sean Moran’s signature dishes on there – chilled cucumber soup with roe and linguini with lemon, chilli and parmesan. 

Sean’s Panaroma, North Bondi - Credit: Sean’s Panaroma

Porkfat 

Where: Haymarket 

There are almost 1,000 Thai restaurants in Sydney, but Porkfat is one of a kind. As the name suggests, everything on the menu is cooked with pork fat (as opposed to standard cooking oil), giving dishes a richer, more complex flavour. Don’t miss the baked prawns with vermicelli and the grilled pork jowl with smoked chilli nam jim. 

Porkfat, Haymarket - Credit: Leigh Griffiths

Bistecca 

Where: CBD 

You won’t need to see the menu at Bistecca – you're here to eat steak. A specific cut of steak in fact, bistecca alla fiorentina, a huge t-bone cooked over coals and served medium rare. You order your steak by weight and pair it with sides, like brussels sprouts with pecorino and sour cream or radiccio with woodfired grapes. Perfection. 

Bistecca, Sydney

Ante 

Where: Newtown 

Don’t let the casual and cool vibe at Ante fool you – this is some of the best Japanese-inspired food in Sydney with near fine dining level service. Chef Jemma Whiteman pairs tagliatelle with fermented shitake mushroom or stuffed cabbage with dashi, creating delicate fusions of global flavours. There are also more than 60 types of sake on the menu and a 2,500-strong record collection for diners to play. 

Ante, Newtown - Credit: Ante

Ester 

Where: Chippendale 

One of Sydney’s most influential restaurants for more than a decade, Ester is built around its wood-fired oven. It turns out dishes that are simple, flavourful and authentic, from rock oysters with chicken fat butter to twice-cooked pork belly glazed with burnt honey and blackened cauliflower heads. Even gourmet icon Nigella Lawson is a fan, booking a table every time she’s in town. 

Ester, Chippendale - Credit: Ester

Bathers’ Pavilion 

Where: Mosman 

One of Sydney’s most beautiful buildings, the waterside Bathers’ Pavilion is a stunning example of 1920s Spanish Mission architecture just steps from the sand at Balmoral Beach. Inside, things are impressive too with a two-hat restaurant helmed by executive chef Aaron Ward, formerly of Sixpenny and Shell House. Australian produce stars in exquisitely plated dishes that are almost too pretty to eat. 

Bathers' Pavilion, Balmoral Beach

Cafe Paci 

Where: Newtown 

Chef Pasi Petänen worked alongside the best in the business before opening his own restaurant, the chic Cafe Paci. The food draws inspiration from his Finnish heritage (expect to see some herring on the menu) but also hits the bistro classics, like the excellent steak Diane. Interesting and innovative flavours come together to create a special meal you can pair with the top notch natural and biodynamic wine list. 

Cafe Paci, Newtown - Credit: Cafe Paci

10 William Street 

Where: Paddington 

More wine bar than true restaurant, 10 William Street still serves up some of the tastiest food you’ll eat in Sydney. Grab one of the stools at the bar, choose a glass from the blackboard menu by the door and choose a few dishes from the compact, seasonal Italian-leaning menu – think fresh salads and crudites in summer or rich ragus and creamy polenta in winter. 

10 William St, Paddington - Credit: 10 William Street

Yoshii’s Omakase 

Where: Barangaroo 

Tucked inside Nobu in glittering Crown Sydney, Yoshii’s is one of the finest omakase experiences in the city. It may also be one of the hardest to get into – there are just 10 seats and bookings only open on the first of the month. If you secure a coveted spot, you’ll be rewarded with multiple courses of Japanese perfection crafted right in front of you. 

Yoshii's Omakase, Barangaroo - Credit: Yoshii's Omakase

Kiln 

Where: Surry Hills 

Pushing the boundaries of modern Australian cuisine, Kiln is led by an ex-Noma chef who knows the power of native ingredients. Expect lots of seafood and many vegetable forward dishes, though there’s also a 600-gram rib eye for the meat eaters. Sitting atop the Ace Hotel, you’ll have panoramic views over the grittier side of the city. 

Kiln, Surry Hills

Quay 

Where: Circular Quay 

Showered in international accolades and regularly named the best restaurant in Australia, Quay is a must-eat for any dedicated foodie. This is fine dining at its very best, with uninterrupted harbour views, impeccable service and a remarkable menu crafted by executive chef Peter Gilmore using the country’s top produce. The epic tasting menu finishes with Gilmore’s signature White Coral, a culinary work of art. 

Quay, The Rocks

Olympus Dining 

Where: Surry Hills 

Part of the new Wunderlich Lane precinct that has changed the face of this corner of Surry Hills/Redfern, Olympus Dining recreates the joyful ambience of a classic Greek taverna. The vast 220-seat dining room is centred around a 50-year-old bougainvillea tree, with the tables surrounding it heaving with meze plates, grilled seafood and slow cooked lamb. 

Olympus Dining, Surry Hills - Credit: Nikki To

Ursula’s 

Where: Paddington 

This welcoming European-style bistro blends French techniques with Australian comfort food. Though Ursula’s holds two Chef’s Hats, you can still find home kitchen classics like devilled eggs and golden syrup dumplings on the menu alongside Moreton Bay bug pasta with crustacean butter and roast duck with cherries. The cheerful dining room and whimsically illustrated menus complete the experience. 

Ursula's, Paddington - Credit: Nikki To

Pellegrino 2000 

Where: Surry Hills 

Sometimes you just want some really, really good Italian. Pellegrino 2000 delivers just that. This neighbourhood trattoria is loved by locals and hospitality staff in the know, serving up authentic dishes like fritto misto (fried seafood), rigatoni carbonara, veal saltimbocca and tiramisu. Arrive early to sip negronis in the streetside bar or linger late after dinner in the moody wine cellar. 

Pellegrino 2000, Surry Hills

Margaret 

Where: Double Bay 

The flagship restaurant of hospitality legend Neil Perry was chosen as the best steak restaurant in Australia and the second best in the world in 2025. As well as seriously good beef, Margaret is a celebration of Perry’s signature fusion of Australian and Asian flavours, exceptional local produce, and the family legacy. Be sure to order a martini with your meal – it was the favourite drink of Perry’s late mother and the restaurant’s namesake. 

Margaret, Double Bay - Credit: Petrina Tinslay

Jane 

Where: Surry Hills 

A delightful and tiny hole-in-the-wall on busy Bourke Street, Jane is the kind of place you’ll be rubbing elbows and sharing wine recommendations with your table neighbours. The name and 70s décor were inspired by chef Tristan Rosier’s grandmother and the menu is influenced by native Australian flavours, from kangaroo tartare and saltbush to tangy green ants. 

Jane, Surry Hills - Credit: Nikki To

Sixpenny 

Where: Stanmore 

Walking along the leafy Percival Road in Stanmore, you wouldn’t expect a three-hat restaurant to be hiding inside a 100-year-old terrace. With just 34 seats, Sixpenny is easily the most unassuming of Sydney’s four three-hat diners, focusing solely on flavours rather than flashy views. Much of what you’ll eat comes from their own farm in Bowral and the chefs love to play with fermentation techniques. 

Sixpenny, Stanmore - Credit: Sixpenny

Firedoor 

Where: Surry Hills 

As the name suggests, everything is cooked with fire at Firedoor. Chef Lennox Hastie sources different types of wood to feed the custom-built charcoal ovens, grills and hearths, and infuse each dish with unique flavours. Watch the team at work inside the open kitchen as you dine on the four- or six-course set menu, which you can choose to upgrade with one of the incredible dry-aged steaks. 

Firedoor, Surry Hills - Credit: Nikki To

King Clarence 

Where: CBD 

When it first opened in late 2023, King Clarence’s fish finger bao became an instant Instagram sensation. Order a couple to start, then explore the rest of the eclectic Chinese/Japanese/Korean fusion menu, from the drunken chicken liver skewers on Vegemite toast to the fried kingfish collar and fresh lobsters from the tank. With an industrial fit out and DJs playing electronic music, it’s the kind of restaurant where you’ll want to stay til late. 

King Clarence, Sydney - Credit: The Bentley Group

White Horse 

Where: Surry Hills 

This popular Crown Street pub has been given a seriously stylish makeover that extends to the menu at the restaurant. The new White Horse uses ethically-sourced produce and native ingredients to create an innovative menu with a reasonable price tag. Start with the pork belly French toast, move on to the flaky seafood pie and finish with a cordon cut riesling custard. 

White Horse, Surry Hills - Credit: White Horse