Where to Make It Rain (Within Reason) on Payday

If the extra coin in your pocket is destined to be spent on wine, Monopole might be the best place for it. Known for their progressive, educated palates, the Monopole team don’t do what’s expected — think kangaroo with purple carrots and crisp lentils sitting next to one of the 500 wines on the menu. The dark-wooded interiors, designed by Pascale Gomes-Mcnabb, add to the sense that you’re in the right place to splash some cash.

Image: Letícia Almeida.

Unassuming from the street, Potts Point’s Cho Cho San is “Sydney dining” in a nutshell. Drinks-focused, with shared dishes inspired by Japanese izakayas and an interior decked in pale, natural materials, it attracts the upwardly mobile — like yourself, now you’ve got these fat stacks to burn. Head here for clever, contemporary Asian food and cocktails, such as a yuzu mirin old-fashioned.

Image: Nikki To.

Consistency is key at Toko. Its reliably well-executed Japanese food, with some modern touches, has earned it a loyal following since it opened in 2007. Known for its Asian-style cocktails and robata grill, Toko is cool and confident — right down to the music, design and lighting. Hello, robata-grilled scallops with sweet pickled apple and jalapeno garlic – take our money.

Tucked into a retail and hospitality complex in Bondi, Blanca is hard to categorise. The crisp white space is home to an Aussie and a Finnish chef, whose playful take on Asian flavours makes for a fun and unexpected evening — with a whiff of saltwater hanging in the air.

From the team behind Monopole, Bentley is known for pushing boundaries in technique and flavour. The grand space in the heritage-listed Radisson Blu Hotel building is the perfect stage for intricate dishes, inventive cocktails and some of Sydney’s best sommeliers.

Image: Letícia Almeida.

A Sydney gem, Chiosco is the more casual Italian seafood and pasta eatery adjoining Ormeggio, its super-luxe degustation sibling next door. The out-of-the-way location is part of the appeal. Overlooking bobbing boats at the Spit Bridge approaching Manly, Chiosco serves simple but delicious fare best enjoyed over a long lunch on a sunny afternoon.

Chef Clayton Wells is something of a boy wonder in food, and the restaurant he’s created speaks to his experimental approach. The industrial-cool space at the bottom of the Old Clare Hotel has been given a lot of thought, from the textural and sculptural crockery to the Instagrammable food styling. Served by passionate industry professionals, the booze is front and centre. For something a bit different, Automata is where it’s at.

One of the best openings in Sydney in years, Hubert is a stunningly designed underground French bistro that delivers from the moment you walk in the door. The first full-service restaurant from the Swillhouse Group (of Shady Pines fame), it has built a reputation for its extensive wine menu, incredible food and for attracting Sydney’s best bartenders. Hubert is all quality, without the attitude.

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.

Top image: Nikki To.