Lana

Hinchcliff House, the four-storey mega-venue in the heart of Sydney's Circular Quay has become somewhat of its own self-contained drinking and dining destination — now home to Grana, Apollonia (which is on our list of the best bars in Sydney), Bar Mammoni and Lana.

The latter is a vibrant Italian restaurant with Asian influences set upstairs within the converted Hinchcliff Wool Stores building. It throws luxury loft vibes with exposed wooden beams and original brickwork throughout. Natural decorative elements are also used for added drama — the striking pink marble bar takes pride of place in the dining room, while large-scale dried flower installations are scattered throughout the space.

This provides a fairly cosy background for the casual fine dining experience that Lana has created — which is all about the sharing, set menu format focusing on seafood.

You can take it easy, opting for the high-end express lunch that consists of three snacks, a salad and main and Lana's freshly baked house-made focaccia served with a side of black garlic butter — a fab option for a luxe work lunch.

But the larger set menus are where Lana really shows off.

The classic sharing menu comes with a lineup of snacks, a choice of two different mains and a dessert. And then there's the group menu that consists of 11 dishes for which you're in for a proper feast of small bites and larger offerings: Scallops with grapes and capers, saffron, pork and smoked ragu pasta and whole Murray cod coated in a thick ginger sauce. It's thoroughly modern Italian cooking with a focus on the finest Australian produce.

Refreshingly, dietary requirements are fully catered for with any of these menus. The chefs get incredibly creative for the vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free patrons. Ornate dishes are thrown together and presented with just as much love as the usual set menu options — as long as you give them at least 24-hours notice. This customer-first versatility truly helps Lana standout amongst the crowd of Sydney dining venues.

That's especially true for the extensive wine list that's almost entirely made up of Australian and Italian drops. There are a number of by-the-glass options alongside a daily 'cracking' — the sommelier will open a few vinos that are usually only available by the bottle, letting diners sample something extra special.

Each team at Lana clearly takes great pride in their own craft — be it food, drink or service — making for a highly creative, well-polished yet unpretentious dining experience in the heart of Sydney.