With summer in full swing, here are some awesome bars and restaurants that will have you appreciating the multicultural diversity of Sydney’s culinary offerings and the city’s fantastic weather.
Sydney’s dining scene is a dazzling reflection of the city itself – creative, wonderfully multicultural, proudly diverse and always evolving. Its myriad food offerings are a flavour-laden global mix that keeps the city endlessly tasty and get togethers something to remember.
Wander around any neighbourhood in Sydney and you’ll find whole worlds of flavour and fresh ideas sitting side by side, competing for your attention. Vietnamese bakeries whipping up banh mis next to zesty tasting plates and wraps lovingly created by Lebanese families. A Korean BBQ a few doors down from Japanese teppanyaki, and the scent of nonna’s cooking wafting on the breeze escaping from Italian trattorias across the street. Plus, the Americano sports bar cum eatery dishing up mouth-wateringly good burgers and ribs to write home about.
Hatted chefs draw on their heritage and find inspiration from their worldly travels, not afraid to mash things up in clever and delicious ways then slap an Aus-modern tag on it.
Start your day indulging in French pastries or an Italian panini for breakfast, grab fresh takeaway Thai for lunch on the run, have some afternoon oysters with a glass of pinot gris, and settle into a refined Chinese banquet or a rustic Greek feast as night falls.
Whether you’re seeking a restaurant with an iconic view, people watching paired with seafood and fine wine, or an intimate restaurant hidden away from the busy streets where classic, refined dishes are affordable, we have you covered.
Ambience and Asian flair at Spice Temple
Spice Temple is an Asian-inspired Sydney institution that acclaimed Australian chef and restaurateur Neil Perry opened with Chef Andy Evans in 2009.
Andy is still at the helm, and he recently launched The Peony Banquet, which is a four-course menu inspired by his journey through regional China. All of the eleven dishes on the menu are bursting with flavour and showcase the breadth and tradition of tasty Chinese cuisine.
The steamed eggplant with aged black vinegar and shallot oil, twice-cooked pork belly with baby leeks and chilli, Hunan-style coral trout, stir-fried river prawns and corn fritters with coconut sugar will have your taste-buds dancing, and the almond cake with a jasmine-pearl syrup is pure, sweet delight. Designed to share and priced per person, the banquet offers a thoughtful balance of spice, texture and regional authenticity, in a moodily lit underground restaurant that is relaxed and romantic.
Mexican vibes at Bar Patron
Bar Patrón is a harbour-front Mexican tequila bar and the only Patron bar in the world, making it the perfect place for a summer celebration. Perched above busy Circular Quay with trains zipping right by the bar, it’s a top spot for sunset margaritas or late-night drinks by the harbour. The menu is a lively celebration of modern Mexican flavours: think fresh zingy ceviche, delicious shareable tacos and tostadas, and refined takes on coastal Mexican dishes designed to pair perfectly with tequila-based cocktails and a carefully curated wine list.
There are 19 expressions of Patrón tequila on offer, which includes a wide selection from the standard lineup to more exclusive options like the Roca and Gran Patrón series. Some are showcased in collectible Lalique bottles, with price tags that’ll have your jaw dropping. The bar has a chic, hacienda-style vibe inside – bright terracotta walls, luxe leather stools and potted cacti making it the real deal.
Italian inspiration at Bar Torino
Bar Torino in Double Bay’s Gaden House has two distinct sections, so you can choose one to match your mood and your occasion. There’s a relaxed, Italian-inspired basement bar with Speakeasy vibes that seats 80, and an alfresco terrace on Bay Street that’s a dream locale for Sydney summers and people-watching.
The menu is made for sharing, with light and lovely snacks such as sourdough crostino with tuna tartare and a delectable pistachio and green olive salsa that you can pair with some Sydney Rock Oysters and a flute of prosecco. Vegetarians will love the pumpkin, pea and parmesan arancini balls and the grilled paninis loaded with eggplant, tomato and baked ricotta, dribbled with a Sicilian pesto. For something heartier, tuck into the veal and ricotta meatballs with tomato sauce and pecorino with a glass of pinot noir. The drinks list leans into Italian classics – enjoy a fine wine, Aperol spritz or a Negroni while you soak up the chilled vibes.
Indulge amongst icons at the Opera Bar
Perfectly positioned between three Sydney icons: the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Opera Bar has a location like no other in the world.
A favourite for locals and tourists, it’s always heaving with guests, and sometimes you do have to wait for a seat. But it’s worth it! During the day, the summer sun floods the open-air restaurant, while at night the towering Sydney skyline glitters. Add the sight of ferries cruising back and forth past cruise ships and super yachts, and a peppering of skiffs and fishing dinghies, and you have an Australian vista like no other.
Recently taken over by Applejack Hospitality to create an even better ambience for revellers who love this special pocket of Sydney, it’s one of those places that you have to experience to understand the electric atmosphere.
The menu is casual and an ode to modern-Australian cuisine made for sharing: fresh oysters and crispy calamari, perfectly cooked pizzas, sashimi platters, and a huge range of drinks, from local craft beers, fine wines from Australia and beyond, and classic cocktails. It’s the perfect spot for a lazy lunch, pre-show snack or dinner, a catch-up with friends or sundowner with colleagues after work.
Bistro Ebony
Tucked into the grand marble lobby of Angel Place in Sydney’s CBD, Bistro Ebony offers fine dining at affordable prices. It’s French-meets-Italian fare is grounded in European flavours with chef Alessandro Mandelli leading the way for diners who appreciate beautifully balanced, refined dishes where the produce is the star of the show. The wagyu short-rib agnolotti in saffron butter in a standout, as is the Western Australian marron wrapped in kataifi pastry with chilli mayo, and veal Milanese cotoletta.
Wine lovers will rejoice, as there’s a 1,000-bottle wine wall to choose that special drop. Owner and founder Joey Commerford (who previously managed high-end establishments such as Melbourne’s The Press Club and Vue de Monde), has not spared a dime on the ultra-luxurious décor and fittings. One of his prized pieces is a drinks trolley handmade in Italy that has a gas cooktop so that staff can roll it over to your table and create the delicious Grand Marnier Crepes Suzette with a vanilla bean Chantilly cream right in front of you.
Bistro Ebony has a calming atmosphere making it a perfect place for special weekday lunches, after-work drinks or Saturday night dinners that are incredibly special, without the premium price tag.
Can’t get enough of these summer offerings in Sydney? To discover the best places to dine next to Sydney icons, click here.
Rex flies to Sydney. Head to the Rex website or check out the route map below for more details.
