Sydney Bars and Restaurants That Are Perfect Date Material
Must have: a comprehensive wine list, casual buzz and preferably low lighting.

Sydney Bars and Restaurants That Are Perfect Date Material
There are a few things that make a perfect date bar or restaurant. Low lighting helps unless you're a day date type, and you're often looking for some kind of booth or alcove and a serious drinks list. If it's a restaurant, it should probably take bookings; if it's a bar, it should do a killer Negroni. These are the venues we recommend to our date-planning friends. Just try to have a bad night in one of these dimly-lit corners and fresh-air restaurants.
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The Wine Library
The sassiest library this side of the Eastern Distributor. If you like wine, you'll love it here.
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Love, Tilly Devine
One of Sydney's first small bars, this Darlinghurst wine bar never gets old.
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Different Drummer
Before the rise of the small bar, this was Glebe's cocktail oasis in a desert of old-man pubs.
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WA
Minimalist delicacy weaves its way through the menu and décor of this Japanese haunt.
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Vini - CLOSED
A favourite of the young foodie crowd that inhabits Surry Hills, Vini shows exactly what Sydney has to offer.
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Timbah
A neighbourhood wine bar pouring whatever's open and dishing out a world of flavours.
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Eau de Vie - CLOSED
This cocktail bar is about as close as you can get to the guilty pleasures of 'Boardwalk Empire'.
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Buon Ricordo Ristorante
Neopolitan peasant food executed with refinement and delivered via first-class service.
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The Corner House
Rustic yet refined, The Corner House provides Bondi with a healthy dose of old school charm.
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Sushi e
The multi-award winning Merivale establishment that will make your local sushi train feel like child's play.
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Felix
If Felix was in an arrondissement of Paris rather than the Sydney CBD, no one would blink a perfectly curled eyelash.
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Fei Jai
If this is the food that transforms you into ‘fat boy’, then I’m willing to take the risk.
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Porteño
Doors have shut on Cleveland Street as a new chapter for the meatmasters begins.
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Izakaya Fujiyama
Rows of sake line the wall above the long wooden bar, where patrons propped up on bar stools get a front row view of the bustling open kitchen.
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Corridor
This aptly-named small bar is brimming with more than its fair share of goodness.
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Aki’s Indian
Situated on Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf and alongside some of the best restaurants in town, Aki's is truly a delight to visit.
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Hemingway's
The atmosphere of a writer's den, insanely long opening hours, fun and flavorsome food, a drinks menu that will keep even the most inspired drinker guessing, and not even the slightest degree of pretension.
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Jah Bar
Take a typical tapas bar in Barcelona then polish slightly, adding cut crystal glasses and a pinch of Almodóvar references.
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Opera Bar
A must-do with out-of-towners or when you're seeing a gig at the Opera House.
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Buffalo Dining Club
There is one very compelling reason to visit this cosy joint: spaghetti in a giant cheese wheel.
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Reuben Hills
A cafe that encapsulates the slick inner city vibe of Surry Hills with its seriously good coffee roasts.
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The Roosevelt
A refined, NYC-inspired bar sending you back to the 1950s with champagne, plenty of cocktails and oysters.
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Govindas Cinema and Restaurant
This spot turns the 'dinner and a movie' trope into a very affordable package deal.
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Revolver
A well-oiled machine, celebrating great coffee, generous food and a homely milieu.
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Palmer & Co.
A hidden, but well-known, cocktail bar reminiscent of Sydney's notorious past of speakeasies, sly grog and razor gangs.
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Three Blue Ducks - CLOSED
While Bronte could be dubbed Bondi’s shy kid sister, Three Blue Ducks borrows little from the quiet beach suburb’s gene pool.
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The Cottage Bar & Kitchen
Where every night is the dinner party you've dreamed of one day throwing.
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Arcadia Liquors
A fairy light-lit small bar with a sweet little courtyard out the back.
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Chiswick
The grass is always greener on the other side, especially from inside Aria chef Matt Moran's glasshouse-inspired space.
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The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room
The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room has injected lower George Street with that little bit of glamour we've all been waiting for.
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Hugos Manly
Hugos Manly is quite possibly the perfect spot to bunk down of a warm evening.
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The Fox Hole
Perched on the corner of Kent and Erskine Streets in the CBD, the Fox Hole lures you into its basement with hazily candle-lit tables and speakeasy charisma.
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Mrs Sippy - CLOSED
Double Bay, as many would have you believe, has long been starved of a healthy bar scene. Mrs Sippy, however, presents an argument to the contrary.
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Niji
There is an abundance of Asian eateries in Kingsford, but Niji Sushi Bar stands out, for all the right reasons.
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Chica Bonita
Chica Bonita offers oodles of atmosphere and bang on Mexican fare. So go on, head north.
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Tapavino
Tapavino represents everything tapas stands for: eating fine food and drinking even finer wine.
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Gowings Bar & Grill
The old Gowings Bros buildings have undergone a $69 million redevelopment. The result? QT Hotel and Gowings Bar & Grill.
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Queenie's - CLOSED
Queenie's, the Drink & Dine boys' latest venture, will leave you with some lasting impressions. Coconut, jerk chilli and pineapple to say the least.
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La Grillade
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Crows Nest, La Grillade is a cheap alternative to a holiday in Provence.
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Street Market Asian Tapas
Make your way into the sensory celebration that is Street Market.
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Rabbit Hole Bar & Dining - CLOSED
Down the rabbit hole is a pleasing journey into French cuisine, fuelled by cocktails that will send you to la-la land.
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Kepos Street Kitchen
All-day Israeli dining, where you can have falafel for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Suzie Q Coffee & Records
A stellar lineup of coffee, retro tracks and a crowd to match.
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The Paddo Inn
Expect casual drinks and burgers in the front bar, and Matt Moran-created grill in the dining room.
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The Botanist
Sprightly and whimsical, The Botanist is abloom with good food, great drinks and a fun, furzy mood.
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Rockpool Bar & Grill
Rockpool Bar & Grill is glamorous, over the top and expensive. It's also worth every penny.
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The Bridge Room — CLOSED
You can tell a lot of hard work and attention to detail has gone into every element of this restaurant.
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Monopole
Discover a 500-strong wine list, international cheese platters and simple, delicious share plates from the Bentley crew.
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Excelsior Jones
A welcome neighbourhood cafe pumping out old favourites and good times.
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Sixpenny
A tiny seven-table restaurant in culinary ghost town Stanmore is turning heads.
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Despana
The United Nations foodie world of Glebe Point Rd just got a new member. Welcome to Despana, a Spanish tapas joint that's open from breakfast to 11pm.
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Mejico
A buzzy eatery serving a modern-twist on Mexican cuisine — and plenty of tequila.
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Vasco
For the rock 'n' roller, walking into Vasco is a little like walking into that dream where you got everything you ever wanted.
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Mary's
A rock 'n' roll Newtown stalwart, with standout Maccas-style burgers and natural wines.
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Ombretta - CLOSED
What Italian joints across Europe have been selling for centuries: a place to spritz and snack.
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Crane Bar Restaurant - CLOSED
A fabulously innovative menu puts this among the top Japanese restaurants in Sydney.
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Osteria di Russo & Russo
The Bridge Room's John Saxby dishes up Italian food that's not like your mama used to make.
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Bronte Road Bistro
A classically trained chef starts making eggs for the hungover masses.
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Bondi Hardware
Bondi is not just for summer, with a Notorious P.I.G and mulled Batlow cider there to lift winter spirits.
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Yebisu Yakitori
Regent Place continues to flourish with this party room where the sake flows.
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Earl's Juke Joint
Bourbon Street meets Newtown at this New Orleans-infused, broody bar.
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Fratelli Fresh Alexandria — CLOSED
The Fratelli empire's Alexandria outpost is all about well-loved seasonal produce and hearty Italian meals.
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Yellow
The owners of Bentley and Cirrus are serving up vegan fine dining in Potts Point.
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Nomad
'Nomad' appears to be a misnomer: this is one place we'd be very content to set down some roots.
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Neighbourhood
Next time your throat is dry and sunstroke has you seeking shelter, grab a Neighbourhood Bloody Mary.
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Spring Street Social
Spring Street Social is Bondi's next big thing, a hole in the wall hiding an underground club.
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Flour Eggs Water A Tavola Bondi
The same ingredients that made Darlinghurst's A Tavola a hit, but with a heavier hit of the ocean.
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Riley St Garage
Raw, edgy and impossibly chic, Riley St Garage brings a slice of the New York Meatpacking District to Woolloomooloo.
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Mille Vini
An exciting overhaul of the Italian bar brings a fresh face to Surry Hills' eat street.
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Chester White Cured Diner
Dig into moreish cured meats, cheese-wheel cacio e pepe and braised beef cheeks at this charming converted cottage.
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The Tilbury Hotel
Linger over a long lunch or dive into dessert at the new-look Tilbury.
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Bentley Restaurant + Bar
The loved CBD fine diner has a dedicated vegetarian tasting menu.
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Momofuku Seiobo - CLOSED
Put your Blackjack money back in your wallet and save it for a fantastic night of unconventional eating.
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Tetsuya's
Sure you might’ve been able to fly to Melbourne and back (twice), but dining at Tetsuya’s is an occasion that is slightly more palpable.
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Alpha
Food, drink and service all get a big fat Greek tick here. We just need the big fat Greek atmosphere too.
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Sugarcane - CLOSED
After a menu and design shake up, Sugarcane is back with a dynamic take on South-East Asian cuisine that fuses the traditional with the contemporary.
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The Potting Shed
Dine by candlelight in the nighttime green oasis of The Grounds of Alexandria.
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Pizza Autentico - CLOSED
The grown-up version of your primary school Pizza Hut party shovelfests, Pizza Autentico is all-you-can-eat reimagined.
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Hotel Centennial
Offering Justin North's food in striking surrounds, the Hotel Centennial is where you take the folks for an upmarket weekend meal.
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Longrain - CLOSED
How is Longrain faring without founding chef Martin Boetz? Just fine.
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The Bucket List — CLOSED
Bondi Beach's favourite watering hole doesn't go into hibernation for the winter.
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Cho Cho San
In a minimalist, well-designed setting, you’ll enjoy Japanese cuisine in a reimagined izakaya style.
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Secret Garden Bar
Secret Garden Bar has once again reinforced that if you’re a fan of fun, the inner west needs to be your playground.
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Yayoi Garden — CLOSED
Finish off a Japanese feast with a matcha affogato at Yayoi's new incarnation.
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One Penny Red
The location is great, the atmosphere is just what you want and the food? More than worth the journey.
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Sagra
One of Darlinghurst's most talked-about Italian restaurants is tucked inside a cute corner terrace on Stanley and Riley Street.
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Mantecato - CLOSED
Journey into the cold depths of Balmain for warming pasta and risotto.
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Knox Street Bar
This cement-walled drinking dungeon hosts live music, storytelling, burlesque and drink-and-draw classes.
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Bowery Lane
New York and Sydney may be almost 10,000 miles apart, but this cafe restaurant brings them a little closer.
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Zigi's Wine Bar
Art, wine and cheese, it’s the golden trifecta. It’s not in the title, but it does cooking classes, too.
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Wilhelmina’s Liquid + Larder
From the folks behind Grandma's and The Wild Rover comes a masterful bar that's fresh, seasonal and sensational.
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Manly Wine
Head to the beach without hitting the sand in this chic beach house by the sea.
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Gazebo
The transformation is a success, the food is excellent and the service is genuinely friendly and knowledgeable.
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Chiswick at the Gallery - CLOSED
The Art Gallery of NSW latest acquisition equally satisfies both eyes and stomach.
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The Spice Room
Head chef Darbyan Singh transforms Peshawari-style Indian street food into must-try, high-end dining.
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Biru Biru
Darlinghurst is home to Sydney's first Japanese beer bar and restaurant, from the team behind Zushi.
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Ester
With a woodfired oven as the restaurant's core, Ester's hearth produces food with heart.
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The Butler
Feast your eyes on this luscious French-Caribbean terrace restaurant and bar.
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Tokyo Bird
Tokyo Bird is ruling the roost with a focus on hot-right-now Japanese whisky and yakitori sticks.
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Raw Bar
Bondi's Raw Bar is the classic light, summery Japanese joint everyone wishes was in their 'hood.
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Redfern Continental — CLOSED
Arcadia Liquors' European bistro is the perfect neighbourhood bistro
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Pagoto Gelato & Waffle House — CLOSED
A challenger to Messina and N2 comes from the Greeks and their watermelon feta gelato.
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Casoni
Fresh pasta plus Aperol spritzes and negronis on tap equal Casoni's formula for a good night.
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Catalina
Casual diners now have a place at waterfront Catalina, with the bar having undergone an invisible transformation.
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The Winery
Drinking classy means having a 'champagne bell' alert the waitstaff when your glass gets empty.
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Archie Rose Distillery
If you're looking to lift your spirits, this gin distillery is the place to be.
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Harry's Bar and Dining
Ex-Tilbury chef Bryan O'Callaghan is helping turn this former convenience store into a real Bondi institution.
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Arte Bianca
This addition to Double Bay's smart-casual scene deserves to be added to any za-lover's list.
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Kin by Us
Get onsen eggs at their most liquid-soft in dishes from My Kitchen Rules couple Shanelle and Uel Lim.
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The Swinging Cat
A sophisticated homage to New Orleans and its signature drink, the sazerac.
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nel.
Take shelter from boring food in this major new addition to the Sydney dining scene.
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Bombini — CLOSED
Orchard-plucked produce and cottage verandah dining are your new reasons to day trip up to Avoca.
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The Devonshire - CLOSED
A quiet achiever hitting all the right notes in a suburb where restaurants open and close more often than kitchen doors.
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The Coffee Emporium Restaurant & Bar - CLOSED
There's a new contemporary dining breeze blowing through New South Wales' second biggest city.
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Thievery - CLOSED
The Middle Eastern restaurant home to that burnt butter hummus — and a cracking vegetarian feast.
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The Temperance Society
Named after a group of alcohol abstainers, this place has the welcome surprise of taps flowing with local ales.
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Drake Eatery
Bondi Beach's new home of warm timber panelling and warming Thirlmere duck.
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Bennelong
Bennelong is more casual and relaxed than ever before — but that doesn't mean the food isn't show-stopping.
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Mecca Alexandria
Where Darkhorse blend is roasted out back, brewed out front and sometimes comes fizzy from a tap.
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Lotus Dumpling Bar - The Galeries
In a long and illustrious career of dumpling eating, some of the most perfect dumplings we've ever had.
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Porch — CLOSED
Bondi's home of the Breaky Bowl has queues out the door on weekends (even in winter).
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Middlebar
Inspired by Cuban cocktail joints, the former Lo-Fi space is now a make-your-own G&T bar.
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Sappho Books Cafe & Wine Bar
Have tea in the sci-fi section at this long-loved bookstore cafe.
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The General
Two ex-Jonah's chefs have built their own casual eatery and hang spot in Dulwich Hill.
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Dead Ringer
The Bulletin Place team reinvent Bacardi Breezers, Redskins and so many nostalgic favourites.
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Automata
An experimental dining experience by top Australian chef Clayton Wells with one of the best degustations around.
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Continental Deli Bar Bistro
Where drinking cocktails gets that much better because they're served in cans.
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Maybe Frank — CLOSED
Your new Surry Hills go-to for everything from caprioskas to capricciosas.
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The Clare Bar
Three high-end restaurants, 62 guest rooms and its very own custom-designed scent.
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Harbord Hotel
The historic northern beaches pub has reopened with a sunny terrace, live music and a spot to leave your surfboard.
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Darlo Country Club - CLOSED
An LA-style social club from the team behind the Lobo Plantation.
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Jangling Jack's
Find blues, soul and cocktails inspired by the notorious historic locals of Potts Point at this neighbourhood speakeasy.
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Assembly Restaurant
The CBD bar has its own Italian restaurant — with former Da Orazio chef Nick Pulcher in charge of the menu.
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Busby Under The Garage
Discover this hidden basement bar underneath Riley Street Garage.
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Koi Dessert Bar
Chippendale's beloved dessert bar and restaurant from MasterChef alumni.
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Folonomo - CLOSED
Sydney's first 'profit for purpose' eatery isn't just a good deed to those in need — it's a treat for your stomach as well.
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The Four in Hand by Guillaume
Paddo's beloved pub has a new hatted chef in the dining room.
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Gelato Messina Rosebery
Get a scoop at Sydney’s beloved gelateria’s headquarters in the inner south — or learn to make your own.