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

If you're looking for ways to spoil the leading lady in your life (either Mum or another mother 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 some serious brownie points on the side.

This Mother's Day, take your mum out for a long boozy brunch, high tea, or an exceptional dinner at some of our city's best and parent-friendly establishments. You've got enough selection anxiety on your hands with choosing a present, so we've picked out our favourite mum-worthy spots. These are the best Mother's Day restaurants, bars and cafes in Sydney.

The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria

After all those late nights you thrust upon your parents, the least you can do is rise a little early to avoid the lines at The Grounds of Alexandria. The cafe's buttermilk pancakes will rival mum's finest offerings and a Grounds coffee will probably beat anything you were thinking of brewing at home.

Nothing says "thank you for tolerating me all these years" quite like an enchanted high tea at The Grounds leafy oasis, where you can enjoy poached lobster choux with créme fraîche and caviar, a decadent passionfruit and mango cremeux, or a truffled mushroom and onion tarlet.

Nour, Surry Hills

Want to take Mum to a buzzing Surry Hills space serving contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine? Nour's menu mixes tried-and-true classics with bold experimentations — pairing glazed lamb shoulder with smoked mussels on a falafel crumpet, for example.

On Mother's Day, the pastel-hued, airy restaurant is serving a special set menu for $129 per person. For the special occasion, there will be chicken bits shawarma, charcoal octopus skewers, woodfired haloumi, twice-cooked baharat duck and a woodfired coconut basbousa with custard and ice cream for dessert. You both deserve that kind of feast on a Sunday.

Misc, Parramatta

Out west, spoil mum with an unforgettable Mediterranean spread within the heart of Parramatta Park at the expansive and sleek Misc. The impressive 300-seat venue is the work of Executive Chef Sebastian Geray, collaborator Joel Bennetts and restaurateur Jad Nehmetallah (whom you may recognise from Gogglebox).

Swing by on the big day for Misc's special-edition set menu that's designed to be shared, with plenty of sliced charcuterie, dips and buttery woodfired bread, followed by crumbed chicken cutlets or a gnocchi alfredo, with tiramisu for dessert. Not a bad way to spoil Mum on her big day.

The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney

Want to treat your mum to a stylish high tea with great service? Look no further than The Fullerton Hotel. The lavish dining room is slick, leafy and spacious. The sophisticated setting is the perfect spot to spoil Mum with a luxe dining experience in one of Sydney's most stunning venues.

This year, the afternoon offering, available throughout the Mother's Day weekend, is in partnership with Martin Place jewellery brand Calleija. The decadent bites are based on lavender colours and gems, including sweet treats like London fog verrine and vanilla cassis roulade, alongside savoury snacks like chicken and pumpkin ballotine, smoked salmon sandwiches, and potted shrimps and egg. Bookings start at $90 per person, and can be upgraded to include flutes of Veuve Clicquot.

The Bob Hawke Leisure Centre and Lucky Prawn, Marrickville

This is the place to book if you're after more casual dining. And don't worry, Mum will definitely approve — paired with a cold pint, she'll be treated to a range of Asian-fusion and retro Australiana delights that subvert her expectations. For the occasion, the team has put together a 'Mum Cha' menu that will please anyone and their mums. Expect steamed scallops with ginger, dim sum, prawn toast and decadent, deep-fried Viennetta.

To boost the inevitable income of brownie points, you can pre-order bubbles, flowers and special Hawke's merchandise that will already be on your table when you arrive, showing Mum that you take her special day very, very seriously.

Sinclair's, Penrith

For riverside dining, book a spot at Sinclair's in Sydney's West. Penrith's sophisticated restaurant pairs serene scenes of the Nepean River with quality modern Australian eats. For Mother's Day, the Sinclair's team has continued to do what they best: showcase produce from the Nepean Valley and Blue Mountains for some truly divine flavours.

For just under $100 per person, you can treat Mum to luxury dining with the expansive venue's Mother's Day menu. The celebratory spread includes Sonoma sourdough with beef fat butter and Katoomba honey; confit Windsor duck croustade with local quince; and iron bark-smoked Arcadia chicken with green romesco and wild grains; along with a glass of complimentary sparkling on arrival.

Four Hundred Bar & Kitchen, North Sydney

Take Mum to a bottomless brunch for a fiesta worthy of her special day. Four Hundred Bar & Kitchen — North Sydney's sunlight-filled venue — is offering a bottomless bonus on its usual Mexican fare to celebrate the lucky lady.

This two-hour booking will have you working through a delicious arrangement of Mexican share plates and bottomless margs and spritzes. And to give Mum a pleasant surprise, add a fresh custom flower bouquet to your booking to personalise your table and put a smile on her face.

The Old Fitzroy Hotel, Woolloomooloo

Expect The Old Fitz to be busy on Mother's Day. That doesn't mean you should avoid it — there's plenty of room, just make sure to book early. Run by the hospitality experts at Odd Culture Group, this lively pub boasts a sophisticated food offering focused on French cuisine.

Soak up the sunshine from The Old Fitz's breezy outdoor seating or leafy, sunlit bistro as you sip your way through cold bevs — plus, the outpost is very dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your beloved pooch along, too. For eats, the Mother's Day menu stars its usual French-Australian staples, from the baguette and lamb scrumpet to the roast carrot salad, alongside a hefty Sunday roast featuring crackling pork belly and slow-roasted squash.

With a glass of Mumm Marlborough Brut on arrival and a decadent coconut cake with pandan, sorbet and sticky rice for dessert, the $140 per person price tag seems worth the expenditure.

Manly Pavilion, Manly

Raise a glass to the most important woman — or women — in your life with Manly Pavilion's gorgeous waterfront view as a backdrop. If Mum is located in Sydney's north and getting her across The Spit is a tough sell, this waterside spot is a crowd-pleaser.

Indulge in a fragrant Garden Spritz or bottle of Chandon Blac de Blancs as you soak up the stunning surrounds. This specially-curated luncheon will span three tasty courses and will also include a complimentary family portrait photographed by Iris & Me photography.

Robert Walsh

Infinity at Sydney Tower, CBD

Make this Mother's Day unforgettable by treating Mum to a dinner that she wouldn't ordinarily treat herself to. Take quality time to the next level — about 81 floors up, specifically — at Infinity inside Sydney Tower, with an ultra-luxe dinner that'll shower Mum with gifts throughout. From a welcome glass of Mumm Grand Cordon to a live jazz band playing ambient tunes and an exclusive box of tempting truffles, Mum is guaranteed to feel absolutely spoilt with Infinity's limited-time offering.

Serhat Karakas

Kolkata Social, Newtown

Kolkata Social is all about Bengali cuisine, so if Mum wants a bit of a kick in her feast, this is your spot. Kolkata's menu is all about home cooking, and the Mother's Day set menu looks to follow suit with a range of traditional, unapologetically Indian dishes for $75 per person. You'll find no butter chicken or cheese and garlic naan here, but it's a fantastic choice for those who dabble in adventurous dining.

St Siandra, Mosman

Add a little extra sunshine to Mother's Day with a celebratory meal at the vibrant St Siandra. Sitting right on the water, Mosman's inviting venue takes cues from costal European summers, donning a sunny fit-out and spectacular waterfront views.

Pair the restaurant's bright decor with a Mediterranean-inspired sharing menu led by Head Chef Sam McCallum, and you've secured one of the best Mother's Day itineraries. St Siandra's four-course menu will feature staple items like the soft potato flatbread with tahini; roast chicken with pearl onion, radicchio and jus gras; and beef cheek with almond, leeks and medjool dates. Plus, the menu can be amended to include vegetarian and kid-friendly options.