The Best Restaurants in Sydney to Take Your Dad This Father's Day (or Any Day)

If you're looking for ways to spoil the leading man in your life (whether dad or father figure), we're here to help. Let's face it, your local pizza joint doesn't quite cut it (unless it's Bella Brutta) and the decibels at your favourite hole-in-the-wall ramen shop might be a little too high to allow for a meaningful chat. This is your chance to deliver something memorable and earn brownie points on the side.

Take your dad out this year on Father's Day for an exceptional dinner, a long boozy brunch or a morning coffee — all at some of our city's best parent-friendly eateries and drinking establishments. You've got enough selection anxiety on your hands with presents, so we've picked out our favourite dad-worthy spots. These are the best Father's Day restaurants, bars and cafes in Sydney.

Recommended reads:
The Best Pubs in Sydney
The Best Restaurants in Sydney
The Best Wine Bars in Sydney
The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney

THREE BLUE DUCKS, ROSEBERY

Three Blue Ducks has everything you need to impress dad on Father's Day. Hearty, approachable eats; top-notch coffee from Single O; the endorsement of beloved MasterChef judge and co-owner Andy Allen — they're all covered.

While the full suite of tasty goodies will be on offer on dad's day, Three Blue Ducks' expansive Rosebery eatery is offering a few special deals. If you're heading in for brekkie, the kitchen is rolling out fried chicken and waffles with bacon and maple syrup butter for $25. Later in the day, there will be two special Father's Day menu items: coal-roasted king prawns and cherry wood-smoked pork ribs.

NOUR, SURRY HILLS

Want to take dad to a buzzing Surry Hills space with contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine that you can really unpack in your lunch chat? Nour's pastel-heavy, airy interior is enough to fool diners into thinking they'll get by-the-numbers dining experience — but they'd be sorely mistaken. The lineup here mixes tried-and-true classics with bold experimentations.

Culinarily conservative dads will be stoked with the glazed lamb shoulder, wagyu beef skewers and chicken bits shawarma, while those with a more experimental streek can opt for mussel-topped hummus — or the raw bluefin tuna with caramelised kishk and bulgur.

MISC, PARRAMATTA

Out west, spoil dad with an unforgettable Mediterranian spread within the heart of Parramatta Park at the expansive and sleek venue Misc. The impressive 300-seat cafe and diner is the workings of Executive Chef Sebastian Geray, Menu Collaborator Joel Bennetts and Restaurateur Jad Nehmetallah (the last of whom you may recognise from Gogglebox).

Swing by in the morning for Stitch coffee, plus Misc's takes on cafe favourites like zucchini, kefalograviera and pea fritters, or a mushroom toastie with gruyere, caramelised onion and pickles. Later in the day, the menu is designed to be shared, with plenty of freshly sliced charcuterie, dips and buttery woodfired bread available alongside beef tartare, lamb ragu and roasted half chicken.

DA ORAZIO, BONDI

Orazio D'elia's beloved red-doored Italian restaurant Da Orazio returned to its original Bondi home in 2022. The 90-seat Hall Street spot is approachable with a touch of special-occasion luxury to it — so, perfect for Father's Day. Pizzas can be ordered for the table if you've got picky eaters in the family, or you can really elevate your meal with a spread of antipasti featuring marinated olives, marinated anchovies and terracotta-baked eggplant parmigiana.

If you've booked for four or more and your fam is known to get into ordering-based tiffs, you can opt for the reasonably priced $75 set menu featuring schiacciatina, salumi, calamari fritti, spicy vodka rigatoni, salad, a selection of pizzas and chocolate bomboloni for dessert.

THE GREENS, NORTH SYDNEY

Challenge dad to a spot of lawn bowls at The Greens this Father's Day. What was once a daggy bowlo has been transformed into a buzzy garden bar with million-dollar Sydney skyline views. Inside the North Sydney spot, floor-to-ceiling glass doors allow sunlight to stream into a plant-filled brasserie, which is fitted out with curved booths and long communal tables.

If it's a sunny day, head outside to the rustic garden, where you'll find plenty of daybeds and picnic settings adjacent to the lawns — and order a cocktail jug (a carafe of Pimm's perhaps) to share on the day of celebration. On Father's Day, the hilltop venue is offering a complimentary keepsake glass for all dads, plus a $30 lamb roast with a pint.

YULLI'S BREWS, ALEXANDRIA

Alexandria brewery Yulli's is pulling out all stops for Father's Day. If you have a craft beer-loving dad, there will be brewery tours at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm — all including a tasting paddle of beers for $30. There'll also be a DJ spinning dad-friendly tunes from 3pm, as well as a couple of food specials, most notably a $17 mushroom wellington pie.

All of the brewery's usual crowd-pleasing vegan eats will also be on offer, including pan-fried massaman curry buns, chilli and lime potato cakes, southern-fried cauliflower and pad see ew. Plus, it's a real family affair with kids and dogs welcome. If you're going for a brewery tour, make sure to book in advance.

ARMORICA, SURRY HILLS

Perhaps your dad is a fan of French fare? If so, the new Surry Hills outpost from the Franca team is the perfect spot to treat the father figure in your life. While the full Armorica menu is on offer on Father's Day — including the restaurant's famous chocolate bar for dessert — the kitchen is offering a special steak frites menu to celebrate all the meat-loving dads.

There are four different steak options available, ranging from a special little treat to an all-out dose of extravagance. Take your pick from the 250-gram rump cap ($39), the 250-gram sirloin ($45), the bone-in tenderloin ($70) or the half-kilo rib-eye ($130). All four options are served with a side of fries and your choice of béarnaise, mushroom or bone marrow butter.

HAPPYFIELD, HABERFIELD

Tucked into a corner of Ramsay Street in Haberfield is one of Sydney's best cafes, Happyfield. This sunny yellow spot knows how to nail breakfast, with stacks of pancakes paired with Pepe Saya butter; next-level brekkie burgers like the McLovin Muffin loaded with a chicken sausage patty, folded eggs, cheddar, chipotle mayo and chicken 'n' herb salt; and even shrimp po' boys for the family members who like to eat lunch for breakfast.

There's something for every dad here. Plenty of veggie options also grace the menu and the coffee list is extensive. Plus, if a boozy brunch is on the table, there's an adults-only section of the menu featuring espresso martinis, mimosas, boutique Australian wines and craft beers.

THE NEWPORT, NEWPORT

Before we start, expect The Newport to be busy on Father's Day. That doesn't mean that you should avoid it — there's plenty of room, just make sure to book early. Run by hospitality powerhouse Merivale, the Northern Beaches gem has a strong focus on food and live entertainment.

Don't expect a single-service counter or a straightforward menu at this renovated pub. Instead, you'll feel a bit like you're walking through a permanent food festival with all of the different dining options on offer. We'd gun for one of Vinnie's (Merivale pizza guru Vincenzo Biondini) pizzas. But there's also a kiosk and seafood market, and a cafe menu. If you'd prefer something a touch fancier, head inside and treat your dad for a meal at the 1930s-style bistro Bert's.

Leticia Almeida

THE BAXTER INN, CBD

If you want to truly treat the special man in your life, The Baxter Inn in Sydney's CBD is hosting a special Father's Day celebration. This one is for the whisky-loving fathers, with a guided tasting through rare whiskies available at the charming inner-city bar for $102.74 per person.

Attendees will be treated to a cocktail on arrival, paired beers throughout the experience, and a trip through some hard-to-find and off-the-beaten-path spirits at the hands of some of the whisky industry's most in-the-know folks.

Kitti Gould

OUT OF TOWN: MOTEL MEZZA SOCIAL BAR, WYONG

If dad lives outside of Sydney, there are still plenty of top-notch options for Father's Day. For a touch of luxury on the Central Coast, book the fam into Motel Mezza. The red-brick restaurant specialises in flavour-packed Middle Eastern eats in a luxurious space inspired by 1930s-era hotel lobbies.

Kick your feast off with falafel and chilli prawns, before moving on to heftier dishes like the barramundi sayadieh and slow-cooked chicken wings tossed in Lebanese spices. For more out-of-town ideas, check out our list of the best regional NSW restaurants.