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Best Restaurants in Sydney (2026)

Eating out is one of the great pleasures of a visit to Sydney, and the city's restaurants cover a wide range of styles and prices. For a special occasion, Bennelong inside the Opera House and Aria on East Circular Quay pair contemporary Australian cooking with harbour views, while Saint Peter in Paddington has made its name with inventive whole-fish cooking. Firedoor in Surry Hills cooks its entire menu over wood fire, and Ester in Chippendale builds its menu around a wood-fired oven.

Asian food is a particular strength. In Haymarket, Chat Thai on Campbell Street and Mamak on Goulburn Street serve Thai and Malaysian food at moderate prices, and Spice Alley in Chippendale gathers hawker-style kitchens in one laneway. For a quick, inexpensive local classic, try a pie from Harry's Café de Wheels in Woolloomooloo. Many of Sydney's most popular restaurants are booked out weeks ahead, so reserve as early as you can for weekend evenings. Several are closed early in the week, and some casual favourites do not take bookings, so arrive early or late to avoid long queues.

10 places · Updated October 24, 2026

Our top 3 restaurants in Sydney

  1. Bennelong Contemporary Australian fine dining, Bennelong PointA contemporary Australian restaurant inside one of the Sydney Opera House shells, with a three-course dining room menu, à la carte counter seating and a bar.
  2. Aria Modern Australian fine dining, Circular QuayA long-running fine dining restaurant on East Circular Quay, associated with Matt Moran, serving Australian produce with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
  3. Firedoor Wood-fired Australian, Surry HillsChef Lennox Hastie's Surry Hills restaurant, where seasonal Australian produce is cooked entirely over wood fire in an open kitchen.

Restaurant

1. Bennelong

Contemporary Australian fine dining$$$$Bennelong Point

A contemporary Australian restaurant inside one of the Sydney Opera House shells, with a three-course dining room menu, à la carte counter seating and a bar.

View details — Bennelong

Restaurant

2. Aria

Modern Australian fine dining$$$$Circular Quay

A long-running fine dining restaurant on East Circular Quay, associated with Matt Moran, serving Australian produce with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

View details — Aria

Restaurant

3. Firedoor

Wood-fired Australian$$$$Surry Hills

Chef Lennox Hastie's Surry Hills restaurant, where seasonal Australian produce is cooked entirely over wood fire in an open kitchen.

View details — Firedoor

Restaurant

4. Saint Peter

Seafood fine dining$$$$Paddington

Chef Josh Niland's Australian fish restaurant in Paddington, known for its whole-fish cooking, dry-aged fish and use of every part of the catch.

View details — Saint Peter

Restaurant

6. Ester

Wood-fired modern Australian$$$Chippendale

Chef Mat Lindsay's modern Australian restaurant in Chippendale, where a wood-fired oven shapes a menu of shared plates.

View details — Ester

Restaurant

10. Spice Alley

Asian hawker-style dining laneway$Chippendale

A laneway of hawker-style Asian kitchens off Kensington Street in Chippendale, with Singaporean, Thai, Malaysian, Cantonese, Korean and Japanese food.

View details — Spice Alley