Where to Eat Outside in Sydney When You Need Some Vitamin D
After being holed up all week in the office, get out and soak up some sunny Sydney.
Where to Eat Outside in Sydney When You Need Some Vitamin D
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After being holed up all week in the office, get out and soak up some sunny Sydney.
With its endless ocean views, (usually) stunning weather, and abundant green spaces, Sydney has a helluva lot going for it. And there are few better ways to take full advantage of these bountiful natural blessings than a good few hours of outdoor dining. Whether it's the weekend or an I-need-a-pick-me-up hump day, there's nothing like stuffing yourself silly while simultaneously getting your required dose of vitamin D. Throw in some wine or an ice cold beer and you've got yourself the perfect set-up.
To help you sift through the options, American Express helped us round up some of the city's solid gold spots to grab a meal while surrounded by water views or greenery. Plus, these venues are all Amex-accepting, so you can up your points balance while getting your tan on. So slap on the sunscreen, grab your most dramatic sunnies, and make like a Hollywood star on a much-needed summer holiday — if only for a precious few hours.
Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
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At Anason, it’s all about outdoor dining with picturesque wharf views. The indoor section is mostly dedicated to an open kitchen and wine storage, so more likely than not, you’ll be dining on the open-air terrace that feels a lot like a patio in Istanbul. The innovative menu is stridently Turkish, showcasing authentic mezze plates characterised by bold flavours and even bolder colour palettes. The generous dishes crafted from fresh, local produce are designed for sharing. Start with a few dips and breads while you peruse the list of local and imported Turkish wines. For mains, you’ll want to make this a seafood-heavy affair, with delights like the stuffed mussels and an impressive whole calamari dolma on offer. If you’ve managed to save some stomach real estate for dessert, the poached quince with tart green apple sorbet is the perfect ending to a leisurely, sun-drenched weekend meal.
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If you’re wistfully dreaming of a Parisian jaunt but the purse strings won’t allow it, there’s a solution a little closer to home. Jardin St James not only boasts a delightful French menu but also has one of the best, hidden settings in the CBD — with tables in the courtyard (and crypt) of St James’ Anglican church on King Street. The menu is heavy on the French cafe classics with salade niçoise, beef tartare and baguettes aplenty. It’s also well-suited to the afternoon aperitif crowd, with a menu that includes fromage croquettes with chipotle and a cheese and charcuterie board. Wash it all down with a carafe of wine from the strictly French wine list, and you’ll almost forget you’re not actually in the French capital.
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For farm-to-table eating at some of its most authentic, there are few better places than Camperdown Commons, the inner west community hub that’s home to Pocket City Farms and Acre Eatery. Surrounded by veggie patches, Acre is all clean lines, blonde wood, white chairs and lofty ceilings. The setting is perfect for the gorgeous seasonal menu, a sizeable chunk of which uses produce grown on-site. Anything you choose here is going to be wholesome, colourful and utterly delicious, but we’re particularly partial to the house salad and hefty free-range lamb shoulder served with salsa verde. Outside, there’s the spacious, shrubbery-surrounded Garden Terrace with weathered wooden tables and white umbrellas, perfect for warmer days. After your meal, grab a takeaway coffee from The Container and linger on the grounds for a good long while to stock up on your vitamin D.
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Housing quite possibly the country’s largest outdoor waterfront beer garden, The Newport is a picture-perfect place to soak up those rays of sunshine on the weekend. With flowering shrubs, jacarandas and wild cacti aplenty, this northern beaches favourite boasts multiple themed spaces to drink, dine and take those views in. With various stalls dishing up their particular specialities, it feels a little like walking through a permanent food festival. There’s seafood, pizza, burgers, café classics and practically anything else you’re craving. Throw in the ‘vintage gymnasium’ with badminton, exercise bikes that can charge mobile phones, ping pong tables and a giant magnetic scrabble board, and you’ve got yourself an epic day out(doors) with the crew.
Image: Bodhi Liggett.
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Chiosco by Ormeggio is the kind of place you can show up all salt-sprayed and wind-tousled for an excellent post-swim feed. Located mere meters from the water’s edge, this open-air, nautical-themed space boasts spectacular 300-degree views of luxury yachts and sparkling sea and serves up an Italian-inspired menu. Choose from deli items such as bresaola and burrata, house-made pastas or a range of meats and freshly caught seafood cooked on the charcoal grill. Plus, you can bring a bottle of champagne or a six-pack of golden ales with you because Chiosco is that rare treat among accomplished eateries: BYO. Alternatively, if you’re out boating for the day, Chiosco can also pack you a hamper, or they offer a takeaway menu of paninis, burgers and fish and chips you can take with you for a picnic at the neighbouring Spit Reserve.
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The latest offering from the absolute legends behind Bentley, Monopole and Yellow, Cirrus is best saved for a meal where you can linger a little because once you’ve sat down here, you’ll be hard-pressed to leave. Slip into one of those coveted outdoor tables with their sweeping harbour views, and get stuck into the gorgeous menu that’s designed for sharing. As is always the case with the Bentley folk, everything here is impeccably presented. The most spectacular dishes though would have to be the grilled rock lobster with shellfish cream and the mud crab from the Northern Territory with green garlic and tarragon. The epic platter crowded with oysters, strawberry clams, honey bugs and juicy prawns is also a standout.
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You might not associate the lower north shore with California, but swing by SoCal and you may just change your mind. In this little slice of Cali, it’s all about serious drinking and eating in sun-drenched style. The cheery courtyard is all bright yellows, pink flamingos, white timber, sky blue cushions and a lot of greenery. On the food side of things, there’s a MexiCali-inspired share plate scenario, with a focus on fresh flavours, barbecue and seafood. You’ll also want to check out the cocktail menu. Order one of the various mezcal or tequila-based drinks, or shake it up with a cocktail off the Smokal menu featuring concoctions smoked in-house. If you’re planning a visit on the weekend, then book into the bottomless rosé lunch to make a full sunny afternoon out of it.
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Keen to dive headfirst into the vermouth craze? Get yourself to Banksii, Sydney’s first bar and bistro dedicated to this aromatised wine, with no fewer than 40 vermouth options on offer. Grab yourself a table on the large outdoor terrace with its bright turquoise tables and metal chairs. Once you’ve found your spot in the sun, start with a glass of Chianti Vergano white vermouth served on the rocks, paired with some fried sardines with roast garlic aioli, before moving onto the house rosé vermouth — which they have on tap. Then, it’s time to dive headfirst into the mains. Perfect for sharing, the star dishes here include snapper, wild fennel vinaigrette, fermented chilli and dandelion and the roast spatchcock, with botanicals, fried bread and agro dolce.
Image: Nikki To.
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Shuk is the kind of place where brunch feels like a mini holiday. With rows of shelves displaying all manner of market wares, a deli and a bakery, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported straight to a mediterranean city. The menu is jam-packed with dishes that capture the imagination and deliver on the plate. A popular favourite is the fattoush, a summery mix of tomato, cucumber, mint, parsley and pita crisps, topped with crispy chicken schnitzel. If you manage to nab one of those coveted outdoor seats, you can easily while away the better part of an afternoon here, soaking up the buzz and pretty decor.
Image: Natalie Carroll.
As you drink and dine with your American Express, reap all the sweet rewards of being a Card Member. Explore the many ways American Express has your back here.
Header image: Bodhi Liggett.
