The 35 Best Restaurants in Sydney's CBD

Food

The 35 Best Restaurants in Sydney's CBD

Found in heritage buildings, down laneways and on the harbour, these CBD restaurants are some of Sydney's best for fine dining and casual feasting.

Alfie's

This no-fuss, fast-paced Bligh Street restaurant is offering a more approachable take on the steakhouse.

Restaurant Hubert

High-class French food in a subterranean space on Bligh Street, where the steak is the stuff of legend.

Kiln

Exciting hotel dining has well and truly returned to Sydney.

Jacksons on George

This CBD stalwart is back under the guidance of Maurice Terzini with inventive pub feeds, a European bistro and an expansive rooftop bar.

NEL

Take shelter from uninspiring food in this major player on the Sydney dining scene.

Esteban

The Tequila Mockingbird team's two-storey Mexican restaurant is home to a massive collection of premium tequila and mezcal and a mariachi band.

Sea Bay Restaurant

Visit for tasty northwest Chinese classics and some of the gooiest dumplings around town.

Clam Bar

The Bistrot 916 crew returns with an up-market New York style steak and seafood restaurant that takes no half measures.

Toko Restaurant

A go-to for great Japanese food in Sydney is now in a sleek new subterranean home on George Street with much to love.

Babylon Rooftop & Garden Bar

A luxe kingdom of meze, cocktails, slow-cooked meats and 300 wines atop Westfield Sydney.

Bistecca

This underground CBD restaurant specialises in just one cut of steak.

Botswana Butchery Sydney

This mainstay of New Zealand's hospitality scene has a huge 940-capacity restaurant with an open-air rooftop in Martin Place.

MuMu

Dan Hong's new all-day restaurant has arrived at George Street with Cambodian fried chicken and yuzu slushies until late.

Cash Only Diner

From the team behind Burrow Bar, this first-of-its kind Sydney restaurant is serving dishes showcasing the cuisine of regional Vietnamese city, Hue.

Bar Totti's

Your after-work go-to for cocktails, DJs and lots of cheese.

Sushi e

The multi-award winning Merivale establishment that will make your local sushi train feel like child's play.

Mr. Wong

A classic CBD eatery loved for its dim sim, mud crab and vintage setting.

Spice Temple

Spice Temple pushes Chinese cuisine to new heights without losing traditional flavours.

Palazzo Salato

You'll find this 120-seat haven for all things pasta and wine in a heritage-listed Clarence Street building, hailing from the team behind Ragazzi and Love, Tilly Devine.

Maydanoz

This Carrington Street spot boasts a predominantly plant-based menu and a seriously good happy hour.

Machiavelli Ristorante

A cozy family-run Italian restaurant in Sydney's CBD.

Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney

Rockpool Bar & Grill is glamorous, over the top and expensive. It's also worth every penny.

Ragazzi Wine and Pasta

A CBD wine and pasta bar from the Love, Tilly Devine crew.

Ichi-ban Boshi

It's worth braving the long lunchtime lines for great ramen at this CBD restaurant.

Pinky Ji

Daughter in Law's Sydney sibling, Pinky Ji, features Jessi Singh's rule-breaking Indian food.

Sky Phoenix

This CBD institution chooses class over chaos for its yum cha service.

AALIA

Take a tour through the history of Middle Eastern cuisine at this 150-seat venue in the former MLC Centre.

Shell House

Discover a cocktail bar in a clocktower, a ground-floor bistro and a sky-high drinking hole in this historic former hotel.

Gowings Bar & Grill

The old Gowings Bros buildings have undergone a $69 million redevelopment. The result? QT Hotel and Gowings Bar & Grill.

Mercado — CLOSED

Nathan Sasi's restaurant focuses on Spanish food and house-made smallgoods.

Palace Chinese Restaurant

Steamed duck meat dumplings and other delights.

CLOSED — Tetsuya's

Sure you might’ve been able to fly to Melbourne and back (twice), but dining at Tetsuya’s is an occasion that is slightly more palpable.

Uccello

A poolside Italian eatery in the heart of the CBD, perfect for a long lunch.

Tenkomori

A CBD ramen house where the pace is fast and food is decent.

Brasserie 1930

From the acclaimed hospitality crew behind Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Monopole, Yellow and Cirrus.

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