Sydney Bars and Restaurants That Are Undeniably, Unabashedly Romantic
Low lighting, jazz playlists, opulent cocktails — these date spots will help you to start planning the perfect Valentine's Day.
Alright, alright. So we've sat here all day grumbling about Valentine's Day, manufactured romance, disingenuous 'love' related holidays and the atrociously high price of roses. Words like 'phoney' and 'consumerist scam' have been bandied about. Pay no attention to the phones under our desk, messaging that special someone, planning a little get-together later on.
Sometimes you just have to lean into the gooiness of an occasion and if you're on the hunt for a dimly lit restaurant or bar to spend the night, Sydney's got plenty to offer. If we run into you at these undeniably romantic, unashamedly snuggly venues, don't be too harsh on us. We love love. These are the most romantic bars and restaurants you can book this Valentine's Day — or any day of the year where you want to impress that special someone.
Image: Nikki To
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RestaurantAnnata
69 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest
A hatted Crows Nest gem stepping up the North Shore's fine dining game with a seriously impressive wine list.
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BarAG Bar & Restaurant
14-16 Woodriff Street, Penrith
A boutique wine bar from the team behind Henri Marc.
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RestaurantSOUL Dining
204 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills
Daero Lee and Illa Kim's original diner championing Korean classics with a uniquely contemporary flare.
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BarBusby's Bar
21 Oxford Street, Paddington
The romance is turned up at Busby's, Oxford House's intimate bar with P&V wines, Maybe Sammy cocktails and snacks by Clayton Wells.
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RestaurantChez Blue
599 Darling Street, Rozelle
Find fine, affordable French dining at this chic diner in Rozelle.
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RestaurantKuro
368 Kent Street, Sydney
A hatted Japanese bar and restaurant inside a historic CBD sandstone building.
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RestaurantIl Baretto
338 Oxford Street, Paddington
The Surry Hills institution has relocated to Oxford Street.
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BarToko Restaurant
275 George Street, Sydney
A go-to for great Japanese food in Sydney is now in a sleek new subterranean home on George Street with much to love.
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RestaurantPino's Vino e Cucina
199 Lawrence Street, Alexandria
Dig into rustic dishes and divine cocktails set amongst dark timber and candlelight in the style of an Italian farmhouse.
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BarPaski Vineria Popolare
239 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
This two-storey wine bar in the former digs of This Must Be The Place hosts weekly wine tastings and boasts food from a former Ragazzi and 10 William Street chef.
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BarContinental Deli Bar Bistro
210 Australia Street, Newtown
Where drinking cocktails gets that much better because they're served in cans.
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BarGolden Age Cinema and Bar
Paramount House, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
This revamped screening room and small bar brings a little old-school charm to a night at the movies.
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RestaurantEsteban
1 Temperance Lane, Sydney
The Tequila Mockingbird team's two-storey Mexican restaurant is home to a massive collection of premium tequila and mezcal and a mariachi band.
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RestaurantLongshore
5 Kensington Street, Chippendale
Chippendale's seafood-focused restaurant and wine bar offers up luxe sustainable dining in the former Automata space.
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RestaurantMimi's
130a Beach Street, Coogee
This restaurant at Coogee Pavilion serves bumps of caviar and hand-rolled pipi pasta — and has its own cocktail bar.
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RestaurantBistecca
3 Dalley Street, Sydney
This underground CBD restaurant specialises in just one cut of steak.
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RestaurantRaja
1 Kellett Street, Potts Point
You'll find underrepresented Indian dishes from a former Firedoor chef at Ezra's next-door neighbour.
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RestaurantDean & Nancy on 22
2 Hunter Street, Sydney
Enjoy mid-century decadence and modern details at this high-rise cocktail joint.
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BarNick & Nora's Parramatta
45 Macquarie Street, Parramatta
Enjoy incredible views, a luxe 30s-inspired fit-out and a covetable Champagne collection.
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RestaurantRagazzi Wine and Pasta
2-12 Angel Place, Sydney
A CBD wine and pasta bar from the Love, Tilly Devine crew.
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BarThe Cumberland
17–19 Central Avenue, Manly
This Manly cocktail bar is hidden behind a fridge — with 250 different whiskies, creative cocktails and plenty of snacks.
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BarLove, Tilly Devine
91 Crown Lane, Darlinghurst
One of Sydney's first small bars, this Darlinghurst wine bar never gets old.
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RestaurantRestaurant Hubert
15 Bligh Street, Sydney
High-class French food in a subterranean space on Bligh Street, where the steak is the stuff of legend.
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BarCharlie Parker's
Basement, 380 Oxford Street, Paddington
The basement bar at Fred's with exposed sandstone, seasonal cocktails and killer bar snacks.
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RestaurantCho Cho San
73 Macleay Street, Potts Point
In a minimalist, well-designed setting, you’ll enjoy Japanese cuisine in a reimagined izakaya style.
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Bar10 William St
10 William Street, Paddington
This lively Paddington stalwart is a portal into some of the best wine, pasta and snacks this city has to offer.
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RestaurantBennelong
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Bennelong's food is somehow just as show-stopping as its views.
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