Eight Late Night Darlinghurst Restaurants to Hit Up When After-Dark Hunger Pangs Strike

In late 2021, Fortuna arrived in Sydney, taking over the corner or Liverpool and Victoria Streets with its boldly bright exterior. And as you’re welcomed by a warm Italian greeting, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped off the plane in sun-drenched Italia.

Fortuna provides diners with comforting food and a jovial atmosphere — unless your spin of the Wheel of Fortuna yields no fruit (read: a round of shots for your table) — from breakfast all the way through to a late-night bite. Expect bowls of homemade pasta and sauce, as well as house made warm-from-the-oven focaccia, burrata bathed in a vivid green herb oil and a variety of antipasti to share.

You can also choose to get your fill via Fortuna’s Bottomless Italian Feast. For $89, you and your gang can sip free-flowing mimosas, Aperol spritzes, negronis, Peronis and vinos while soaking it all up with a bountiful spread of the Italian joint’s hero dishes.

Oxford Street’s late-night dining and party haunt Big Poppa’s serves modern Italian dishes and wine with a side of hip hop till 3am. The award-winning restaurant has a dimmed, moody interior that serves up the right mood for both a vibe-heavy date or an all-out night out. On the food front, there’s prawn spaghetti tossed in lemon and chilli, hand-cut pappardelle with lamb shoulder ragu atop and golden orbs of pumpkin and ricotta gnocchi coated in brown butter — and that’s just the start.

The menu offers a huge selection of gourmet cheeses — 23 to be specific — which come cosied up next to preserves, bread and seasonal fruit.

Image: Kitti Gould

Sitting pretty on Oxford Street, Dimitri’s is a favourite among locals and blow-ins alike. Famed for its wood-fired sourdough pizza, pasta made from scratch and beer and natural wines, it’s a sure-fire winner if you’ve got a late-night craving.

The heart of the restaurant is the traditional brick pizza oven, meaning pies reach your table quicker and crispier. This is where the old school tradition stops though — the toppings are creative and constantly changing with the seasons, so if you’re a newbie you should definitely opt to be daring. Go ahead and try the Bee Sting: a savoury-sweet mixture of tomatoes, mozzarella, sopressa and hot honey. Now that’s amore.

Image: Kimberley Low

Named after infamous Sydney crime boss Tilly Devine, this effortlessly cool laneway spot is one of the city’s benchmark bars, and it’s got a special focus on wine. The menu spruiks around 300 international drops — from the likes of the Yarra Valley, Wachau and even Jura — so you’re sure to sip a natty of your choice, something you’re yet to discover or a glass that’s hard to come by.

The intimate tables, rough timber accenting and down-a-back-alley location make it the perfect place to head late at night if you’re after an air of romance. Holding the hand of the stellar drinks list is an equally satisfying food menu: share plates of crispy and acidic fried artichokes, spread umami-laden butter over hunks of warm bread and try to pick just one of the pastas.

Image: Nikki To

Paski Vineria Popolare (or ‘Paski’ as it’s commonly known) is a two-storey bar and eatery with a minimalistic edge. But don’t let that fool you; the drinks and dishes are hearty and even bombastic. Maybe sausage and rapa crostino for you? Or a bright bowl of rigatoni pomodoro?

Only just scraping into the Darlinghurst postcode, the hero at Paski is the union between the colourful wine list and the artful food. Not a spot for a cheap and cheerful feed, the wines are rare and the food is exceptional. And sometimes, that’s exactly the treat you’re after late into the night.

Image: Nikki To

Slurp up a big bowl of late-night ramen at this intimate Crown Street joint. With a menu focused exclusively on the umami-laden soup, there are both classics and specials on offer. The noodles arrive steaming to the table in renditions of classic soy, yuzu scallop, fish salt, chilli coriander, veggie and cold-tomato truffle.

The cosy digs are kitted with an exposed kitchen and communal tables, which only add to the feel. If La Nina sticks around, we may have soup weather well into 2023. That’s one side-effect we won’t be complaining about.

Image: Letícia Almeida

Located on Taylor Square, Cafe Freda’s is a great spot to stop at for a drink or a small bite. With the longer daylight hours that have just graced our after-work lives, balmy nights are hopefully on the horizon too, so an outdoor seat here is an optimal one.

Enjoy your late-night eats with live music and Oxford Street people-watching as you tuck into a menu that features a tight selection of tapas with contemporary Australian accents. The food is complemented by a thoughtful drinks list featuring creative cocktails and (mostly) French and Italian wines.

Image: Cassandra Hannagan

La Farmacia is tucked away behind a Stanley Street sandwich spot — which transforms into a taco and margarita joint by night, which has Mexican hip hop alongside. La Farmacia — translating to ‘the pharmacy’ — is about making folks feel good. There’s a 16-strong margarita menu and, for the daring, the Reaper — a sip that mixes Carolina Reaper-infused tequila and doubles it down with a habanero rim.

Food-wise, there are all the regulars — like grilled corn, guac and tacos — plus ceviche, cactus salad and queso fundido (a Oaxacan cheese pot topped with grilled chorizo or mushies). On Tuesdays, all tacos are half price — that’s $3, people! — and those spectacular margs are a very reasonable $15.