The grass is always greener on the other side, especially inside Aria chef Matt Moran’s glasshouse-inspired Woollahra space. The restaurant is known for creating thoughtfully sustainable dishes made with produce grown on-site.

The word institution gets thrown around a lot when it comes to restaurants in Sydney — especially when talking about old-school Italian restaurants. But, nowhere quite lives up to the moniker more than Darlinghurst’s famed Beppi’s. 

Out of all three Sake Restaurant and Bars in Sydney, the Manly location has to be our favourite. Each excels in serving up luxe Japanese fare, but this spot boasts incredible waterfront views that are unmatched by the other branches.

Perched on absolute prime cliff frontage at Bondi’s southern end, the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar delivers five-star luxury for both your eyes and tastebuds. 

Quay might just be the most well-known fine-dining restaurant in Sydney (or Australia, for that matter). Head Chef Peter Gilmore is famous for his appearances on Masterchef and the restaurant has one of the best views in the city.

When the Chin Chin team was first planning to set up shop in Sydney, they specifically searched for a building that could be transformed to cater for all kinds of private events.

Back in 2018, Chatswood scored a big infusion of contemporary Chinese flavour. Located in The Concourse, the 180-seater made quite the impression, with its restaurant, bar and private dining areas boasting striking interiors.

After a private dining room on Sydney’s North Shore? The luxe gastropub Park House is going to be your best bet. There are a heap of event and private dining spaces at this haunt — allowing you to host various kinds of functions.

Take the lift in Westfield Sydney up to level seven and you’ll find this massive 1200-square-metre Middle Eastern restaurant and bar where an impressive calibre of hospitality vets are waiting to wine and dine you. 

While Golden Century may have shut its doors, its legacy lives on through XOPP. Located in Darling Square, the expansive restaurant is serving up a heap of Golden Century favourites, including the pipis in XO sauce.

Mimi’s on the middle floor of Coogee Pavilion is an homage to the idyllic coastal location and is guided by an Australian-accented take on modern Mediterranean cuisine. 

With more than 50 dishes on Spice Temple’s menu, this long-standing Sydney venue pushes Chinese cuisine in new directions without losing traditional flavours. It’s a must-visit for any lover of contemporary Chinese cuisine.

Back in 2022, a new venue from Sydney hospitality giant Merivale arrived in its Ivy precinct. MuMu was the latest venture from beloved local chef Dan Hong (Ms G’s, Mr Wong), serving up southeast Asian street food-inspired dishes to the masses. 

Located in the striking, if controversial, Crown Casino building at Barangaroo, a’Mare is an elegant Italian restaurant offering exceptional Aussie produce paired with classic Italian ingredients. 

An era of omakase has well and truly arrived in the CBD. From the picturesque Bay Nine in The Rocks to tiny 12-seat Besuto at Quay Quarter, the luxuriously indulgent multi-course experiences have well and truly entered the mainstream. 

Located in the former Flying Fish site at the end of Jones Bay Wharf, and headed up by Executive Chef Danny Russo, Sala delivers fresh takes on Italian classics and plenty of seafood in a 160-seat space. 

Following Bondi Pavilion’s massive seven-year transformation, the team behind Circular Quay’s luxurious multi-level venue Hinchcliff House has set up shop with its multi-dimensional venue Promenade. 

One part glam, one part retro and one part mixologist’s fantasy, The Roosevelt is an irresistible mix that has long made it one of the eastern suburb’s most in-demand cocktail destinations. 

,Within the walls of Buon Ricordo, as if in Italy, that constant flow of chatter removes the need for music. The huge painting on the wall also transports you to Europe, with giant unfurling flower petals that resemble radicchio leaves. 

One underground restaurant dedicated to steak wasn’t quite enough for Bistecca‘s James Bradey and Warren Burns. The Gidley is an opulent basement restaurant inspired by old-school New York and London steakhouses.