Sydney Food Guide
Today I’m sharing a roundup of some of the best restaurants in Sydney, including a mix of restaurants we went to during our time there, and a few that came highly recommended to me by locals that we didn’t get a chance to try ourselves.
Sydney has some seriously great food, and we loved eating our way through Harbour City. If you’re planning a trip to Sydney, be sure to check out my complete Sydney Travel Guide.
Sydney Food Guide: For Asian Fare
Mr. Wong
Mr. Wong is a super popular Cantonese-style restaurant with basically everything you could ever want in a Chinese restaurant. Delicious dumplings, off-the-hook Peking duck, a fun atmosphere, and fabulous cocktails.
Momofuku Seiōbo
David Chang’s Seiōbo is not to be missed, especially if you’re a fan of the Netflix show Ugly Delicious. They offer a tasting menu for $185 AUD, and while they refuse to categorize their food on their website by cuisine, you can call it Asian-European fusion.
Sit close to the cooking action in their 30-person dining room and let Chef Paul Carmichael take you on a culinary adventure.
Long Chim
Long Chim means to come, sample, and taste, and we did exactly that with their Maa Long Chim set menu.
As our waiter told us, their Thai menu and spices aren’t “dumbed down,” so you’re in for some heat and flavor. The pineapple pork curry was one of our favorites, and they also had some pretty kick-ass cocktails.
Cho Cho San
Cho Cho San’s modern Japanese cuisine has made quite a mark in Sydney’s foodie scene. Don’t expect a large sushi roll menu, but instead indulge in the izakaya, hibachi, and plates like the pork udon noodles.
Sydney Food Guide: Cafes
Le Monde Cafe
Sydney has an incredible cafe scene, and Le Monde was one of our favorites. We had a delicious brunch here that included their truffled poached eggs with grilled halloumi (as yummy as it sounds) and the crunchy potato rosti.
We almost skipped out on something sweet, but I’m so glad we decided to share the matcha hotcakes because they were honestly my favorite and I still dream about them.
Pablo & Rusty’s
They have a couple of locations, but the one in Surry Hills has a cafe with some yummy eats. The miso buttered mushroom toast with poached eggs was bomb AF.
There, I said it. ? And when I saw their iced coffee involved a double shot of espresso with vanilla ice cream, I was all in.
Sydney Food Guide: For a fancy night out
Bennelong
See the Sydney Opera House from the inside at this gorgeous restaurant. We stopped here for drinks, but the menu looks absolutely divine.
Olio
Olio serves up fantastic Sicilian food. We started off with their arancini and I knew we were in for a great meal.
We had the salt-baked branzino and the ravioli with prawns and truffle sauce as our entrees, and both were delicious.
Even though we were so full, we had to get their tiramisu because it’s one of my favorite desserts and it was amazing. Olio has a gorgeous ambiance inside as well as a lovely outdoor terrace and bar, perfect for drinks.
Quay
If you’re really up for a splurge, Quay is one of Sydney’s most celebrated restaurants.
Peter Gilmore’s ten-course tasting menu is talked about all over town, but it does come with a $275 AUD price tag. There’s also a $210 option if you’re ok with cutting the tasting menu down to six courses.
Sydney Food Guide: For beach-side dining
Coogee Pavillion
This is a great place to grab some food at either the end of the Bondi to Coogee walk.
Be sure to ask to sit upstairs at the rooftop for views of gorgeous Coogee beach! They have lots of great food on the menu, with seafood, Mediterranean fare, pizzas, or burgers, so there’s truly something for everyone.
The Boathouse Shelly Beach
If you’re taking the ferry north to check out Manly Beach, definitely plan for lunch at The Boathouse.
It’s got that whole beachy indoor-outdoor vibe, with gorgeous views of Shelly Beach. I loved their smoothies, and we had some delicious (albeit small-portioned) fish and chips here.
Doyle’s on the Beach
If you’re heading to Watson’s Bay, you won’t want to miss Doyle’s on the Beach.
It’s literally right on the beach, and it’s Australia’s first seafood restaurant. They’re known among tourists and locals alike for their extensive seafood menu.
Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
Can’t forget Icebergs! Every iconic shot you’ve ever seen taken of the Icebergs pool and Bondi beach was taken here.
We relaxed at the bar for drinks and snacks and to soak up the views, but I’ve heard the Italian food on their dining room menu is great too.
Sydney Food Guide: For great food and a fun atmosphere
Porteño
I was really excited to try this Argentinian steakhouse after seeing it on Anthony Bourdain (RIP ?). You can see the meats being BBQed over a fire pit front and center, which is fun…and a little hot.
Don’t miss the provoleta (hello, wood fired cheese), any of the red meats, and the brussel sprouts (trust me).
Fred’s
This place came highly recommended to me by several people, and unfortunately, I didn’t make it there with our busy itinerary.
But the menu looks delicious and changes daily since they use seasonal sustainable produce.
Rockpool Bar & Grill
For modern, Australian cuisine, set in a beautiful dining room in an art deco skyscraper. They’ve won a lot of awards and are another frequently buzzed-about place in the heart of Sydney.
Looking for dessert? Try the infamous watermelon cake at Black Star Pastry located in Sydney NSW 2000, and don’t forget to take a photograph for Instagram since their watermelon cake is so aesthetic!
Here’s a few things I didn’t get a chance to do that you should definitely try: the Sydney Fish Market, Darling Harbour, and Fix Wine Bar + Restaurant. All these places are a must and you’ll eat food all day long!
If you’re traveling to Melbourne next, be sure to read my Melbourne Food Guide and tag me on insta @wtfab so I can see where you decided to eat.
Like this food guide? Be sure to check out my other city food guides here. Here’s some more Australia content to help inspire your trip planning.
Melbourne Food Guide
Places to Visit in Melbourne: Melbourne Travel Guide
Epic Three Week Australia Itinerary
Perth Itinerary: Top 7 Things to Do
10 Fun Things to Do in Brisbane
FAQs
Some of the most popular food in Australia is Chicken parmigiana., barbequed snags, meat pies, vegemite on toast, and pavola. The list can go on.
The average meal in Australia will cost you between $15 AUD to $20 AUD. At a nicer restaurant, the average meal could cost you around $40 AUD.
Sydney is definitely worth visiting at some point in your life. Sydney has a beautiful harbor, the opera house, fine dining, art, culture, and beaches.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
