This Potts Point powerhouse is the brainchild of world-renowned chef Opel Khan, so the bar is high at Metissebefore you even walk through the door. But when you do, get set for spectacular. A luxury degustation combines chef Opel’s French gastronomic techniques with his fondness for spices and salts which stems back as far as his childhood.

The team sources local produce so fresh it bounces from plate to plate, and the degustation features a premium French wine pairing curated by an incredible sommelier. The Fruits de Mer, a severely tricked up seafood platter compiling Yamba prawns, octopus carpaccio, salmon confit and sea scallop is magical.

Burnt butter ties every inch of the flavour medley together and sparks goosebumps the moment your first forkful touches your lips. Consider the premium Kobe beef score 12, another ridiculously delicious choice. Melt-in-your-mouth doesn’t even cut it. Artful presentation, purposeful flavours and innovative flair tell a story of triumph, on full display at one of the best restaurants in Sydney right now.

Been yearning for your Chef Neil Perry fix ever since Rosetta in the CBD shut its doors? Same. Which is just one reason why Margaretevokes instant cheeriness the moment you clap eyes on it. Bright, light-filled and endlessly chic can best describe not just this gorgeous Double Bay fit out but also the warm staff who greet you before guiding you through the culinary veteran’s refined modern Australian menu.

Start with small local catches splashed with Asian flavours like the spicy tuna tartare, trevally ceviche with chilli and coconut milk and the fried coral trout wings, before moving to larger wood fire entrees and mains meat lovers could possible cry over —in signature Chef Neil Perry style, the steaks are always that good.

Rated by Sydney’s hospitality scene as the place to go if you’re in the know, Pellegrino 2000is a very cosy corner trattoria dishing up some of the city’s most authentic Italian (including one killer prawn ravioli dripping with a brown butter and sage sauce that you’ll prey never ends).

The team is slick and generous with their time before leaving you and your date to bask in the romance of red wine, good vibes and excellent food. The Fritto Misto is delicately battered to perfection, the artichokes are drenched just the right amount of herby oily goodness and the veal alla parmigiana will transport you straight to the shores of Sicily.

Speaking of sensational Italian, 10 William Streetis the long-loved neighbourhood bistro of your La Dolce Vita dreams. Squeeze inside the discreet shopfront to score a table either upstairs or downstairs and prepare to be spoiled in the way of food and vino at one of the best restaurants in Sydney. Staff will be surprised if you don’t order the pretzel with whipped bottarga — a cult favourite — but other knockouts include the tagliatelle al ragu and the ocean trout with fennel and onion puree. It would be a sin to neglect the heavily European wine list too. Allow one of the very knowledge team to help you pick the perfect match to send you soaring.

Who knew tinned fish and cold cuts were the stuff of hanger dreams? Just ask anyone who’s dropped into Continental Delicatessen, famed for levelling up the city’s lunch game with 12 tinned fish varieties slurped down alongside epic deli meats and cheeses.

The evening bistro menu steals hearts too with its lavish take on humble ingredients, and it’s that distinct out-of-the-box genius from the boys behind the marble-topped deli counter that lingers long after you’ve kissed this best restaurant goodbye.

Keep the good times rolling with the team’s canned cocktails (a ‘Mar-tinny’ is never a bad idea) or ask for Mike who’s often behind the bar knocking your socks off with his mad skills for shaking together big, bold, boozy liquid art.

Australia’s finest culinary star Chef Peter Gilmore continues to stun Sydneysiders and visitors alike with his utterly refined Bennelongexperience. Sure Quay’s spectacular overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour, but the intimate buzz of Bennelong, found inside the sails of the Opera House itself, cannot be replicated. The award-winning food celebrates native ingredients and brilliant seasonal produce, all the way down to the must-order Cherry Jam Lamington which dances over spoilt tastebuds as you start dreading the fact it’s all about to end.

They’re not joking when they say to book three months in advance. Although Mr. Wongopened its doors more than 10 years ago, the crowds refuse to tire — and doesn’t that say it all? Enter the enormous, dimly lit Sydney institute from a lane behind George Street and brace yourself for energy overload as some of the city’s finest Chinese fare rolls out of the kitchen thick and fast. All your classic noodle dishes, dumplings, stir fries, curries and roast meats are there (just prepared way yummier than you’ve ever had them) and then there’s the freshest of seafood drenched in layer upon layer of flavoured goodness. A sensory overload every visit.

There’s plenty going on at Barangaroo but choosing Cirrusover anywhere else in the business district is always a smooth move. Arrive in the day, like many inner-city workers do, and you’ll be treated to sensational views across Sydney Harbour, a beautiful backdrop to a menu that’s constantly evolving yet reliably exquisite.

The order of the day is fresh-caught marvels transformed into edible art like the fried steam bun with raw tuna, a whole lobster with scallop XO sauce or the extremely brilliant Hiramasa kingfish with salted strawberry. Can’t stand people taking photos of their food? We’re sorry to say you’ll be tempted to join them here.

A rooftop infinity pool, killer cocktails, pumping music and beautiful people everywhere. Have we stumbled into a Los Angeles rager? Theo’s Rooftop Baris the place to be in Penrith, offering a menu of mouth-watering share plates to split with mates as you’re flooded by stunning Blue Mountains vistas.

Arrive before dusk to score a table as the sun sinks and build your spread from aged meats, excellent cheeses, and traditional tapas. Really hungry? A small list of mains includes modern Australian favourites done with plenty of love.

A cosy neighbourhood hole in the wall whipping up inventive, mouth-watering dishes utilising quality local produce, Janeis a Surry Hills favourite. Along leafy Bourke Street, the restaurant pops up out of nowhere, blending right into the multi-million-dollar terrace homes. But while it feels casual, the food itself is anything but. Expect plenty of native ingredients paired with fresh seafood and top-notch meat, including the kangaroo tartare with bush tomato harissa and the beef dumplings with saltbush, chilli and yoghurt. Jane is delightful, personable and overflowing with personality.

Dishing up some of the most acclaimed fish-based handiwork of any Australian kitchens, Saint Peterhas built quite a reputation since opening its doors on trendy Oxford Street in 2016. Laser-focused on delivering ethically sourced seafood and outstanding seasonal produce to elevate the show’s stars, the team here is passionate and endlessly slick. Treat your senses to sea urchins, shellfish, spectacular vinaigrettes with fish you never knew existed and more. Pretty much everything good under the sea can be found celebrated here.

Tucked away in the postcard-perfect tree-lined backstreets of Paddington lies Ursula’s, a quietly confident Sydney restaurant local’s wish nobody knew about. Focused on doing fine seasonal produce total justice through serious technique and flair (this is, after all, the brainchild of Chef Phil Wood, an ex-Rockpool rockstar), this best restaurant in Sydney dishes up endlessly chic comfort food. Delight in a roast Sovereign lamb with green curry vinaigrette and braised eggplant, the popular chicken with creamed corn, vegetarian masterpieces and delicate seafood splashed with subtle Asian flavours.

Bar Reggiohas attracted a loyal following since opening in 1992, luring people from all over Sydney with its authentic, abundant and absolutely minimal-fuss Italian fare. Affordable and always delicious, the food is rivalled only by the ambience which is always buzzing with laughter, birthday celebrations and plenty of overexcited groups. It’s like you’ve stepped into a street party at Nona’s house — bellies are full and life is sweet. Select from an extensive menu of pizzas done with Napoli sauce and fresh mozzarella, classic pastas and traditional mains including Cotoletta Milanese and eye fillets with the creamiest of sauces.

The name says it all but there’s so much more to Porcinethan sensational French food inspired by the kitchens of Europe. Sure, the daily menu features masterstrokes with pigs, like the double smoked pork jowl dressed in dainty micro blooms and floating in a sea of elderflower honey, the revolving door of stunning Pate En Croutes (pastry wrapped around pate), and mouth-watering Berkshire pork chops but they’re also doing wonders with seafood, seasonal vegetables and roast birds. Take a seat by the fireplace and strap yourself in — this is intelligent and inspired dining at one of the best restaurants in Sydney.

A freshest-of-fresh menu at Alibi Bar & Diningin Woolloomooloo’s Ovolo hotel has been spearheaded by renowned plant-based aficionado Shannon Martinez. Filled with a seasonal, colourful and innovative selection inspired by the Mediterranean, signature dishes include a Cotoletta Parmigiana, fried eggplant with toasted hazelnuts, grilled stone fruits with radicchio and garlic labneh and oyster mushroom pinchos. For dessert (we know you’re interested), think quince-filled doughnuts, tiramisu and the delectable Crème Catalana.

News of Billy Kwong’s closure broke hearts right across the nation’s foodie circles but nobody doubted that Chef Kylie Kwong’s next venture would spark a cult following all over again. Which is why Lucky Kwong, her latest eatery, brought along one of the most anticipated launches in recent years. The verdict? It’s fuss-free soul food straight from the culinary master’s heart. Paying tribute to her heritage, dumplings, silken tofu, savoury pancakes, sung choi bao, ‘Uncle Jimmy’s Steamed Hokkien Noodles’ and the other items on her menu are all varying shades of flavour-packed bliss.

One evening atThe Charliewill have you wanting for many, many more. Part restaurant, part cocktail bar, this place delivers on all fronts, making it one of the best restaurants in Sydney. To start with, there’s an awesome menu to dive into. Think melt-in-your-mouth Korean fried chicken, kingfish ceviche, steak frites with herb fires, and delicious tacos, complemented by some of the most mouth-watering cocktails in the inner west. In terms of decor, The Charlie is a slice of tropical heaven, combining industrial elements with Barbie pinks and a touch of mint green, plus eye-catching fernery.

Love or hate the $10 ‘fancy Jatz’ that sparked controversy when Kilnunveiled the appetiser on its a la carte menu at the end of 2022, this is a restaurant unlike anything else in Sydney’s CBD. Found on the roof of Ace Hotel, 18 levels up, it’s literally elevating seasonal produce to unexpected new heights. The Jatz, topped with anchovy and smoked butter, is undeniably delicious as is everything else on the sophisticated menu including a whole flounder prepared with miso brown butter and a wagyu tartare with smoked mayo and mustard greens. The vibe is rocking as a glittering carpet of the city’s lights below provides the ultimate backdrop to a guaranteed great time.

It’s incredible to think just one restaurant could present so many iconic moments. The location, smack bang in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, is unrivalled yes but the food, oh the food. Home of the now-retired snow egg, God rest her soul, Quay Restaurantexcels in crafting cult dishes to utterly rock Australia’s food scene. Pulling from the most excellent seafood to be found in our nation’s waterways, this is dining that continues to make waves right around the world. You can go the four-course menu but it’d be foolish to skip any of the eight courses on offer at this unforgettable space, a best restaurant in Sydney like no other.

Kanadeis a vibrant new place to be if you’re in the middle of town. The menu is a seamless blend of traditional Japanese flavours with contemporary twists from an experienced team of chefs who have honed their craft in venues like LuMi Dining in Pyrmont and Kuon Omakase elsewhere in the city, making it one of the newest best restaurants in Sydney.

Try the roasted duck breast with corn salad and sesame miso sauce, the fluffy miso cream carbonara with onsen egg and the wagyu beef steak with yakiniku sauce for ultimate party in your mouth. Wash it all down with a delicious drinks list expertly crafted by top dogs in Sydney’s mixology scene from Maybe Sammy. The special sake barrel cocktail is lethal, and we can’t get enough of it.

Themuch-loved Gojifrom Penrith has set up digs in the big smoke, opening a second venue in the heart of the city. Taking inspiration from Chinese, Japanese and Malaysian cuisines, the menu is cleverly crafted by head chef Sam Chang who has 20+ years’ experience across all Asian disciplines.

Everything is designed to be shared so pick a few plates and get stuck in with your nearest and dearest at one of the best restaurants in Sydney. Standout dishes include the stir fry noodles with kung pow chicken and chillies, twice-cooked green beans with garlic and chilli, slow-cooked wagyu beef brisket rendang and one heavenly Ferrero Rocher fried ice-cream.

Located inside The Star Sydney and right opposite the Sydney Lyric Theatre,Rumblecelebrates the four classic flavours that permeate Southeast Asian culinary culture – sweet, salty, spicy, and sour. The menu is simple yet punchy, and the inventive cocktail list incorporates a range of spirits infused with spices, herbs, teas and fruits from across Asia.

Don’t miss the Suea Rong Hai (crying tiger), a Japanese A5 wagyu sirloin with Nam Jim Jaew. Think melt-in-your-mouth and bursting with flavour. This winning spot is open for lunch, dinner, drinks and pre-show snacks, seven days a week.

As it turns out, a seat at this cocktail bar will get you a ticket to some of the world’s most famed culinary destinations. Get to knowJackalberry, a restaurant found within the Hyatt Regency Hotel and a place where cultures come together in celebration of discovery and exploration. The menu derives inspiration and flavour from some of the tastiest plates from around the world, accompanied by a cocktail menu that will transport your taste buds both near and far.

Simply pick out a country and the mixologist will whip up an ode using the finest local ingredients. From Havana to Norway, there’s a recipe for even the most well-travelled among us, from Moroccan lamp chops and soy glazed salmon to the Thai pork salad and fresh burrata. Talking décor, the botanical design boasts moody tones, with emerald velvet booths and safari wallpaper ready to welcome guests.

Helmed by chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan, the menu at Glass Brasserieprovides guests with an exquisite culinary experience from the moment you enter the loft location above the Hilton Sydney’s lobby. Just the interiors alone, designed by New York’s Tony Chi, are enough to get you excited. The 240-seat space features a 13-metre floor-to-ceiling glass wall and perfectly positioned booths that offer views of the Queen Victoria Building.

Serving modern Australian cuisine, emphasis is placed on local and seasonal produce. Kingfish sashimi and tiger prawns are entrée heroes, followed by an ‘off the grill’ section that will really start some dinner table conversation. The staff are warm, attentive, and helpful – writing the book on how elevated dining should be done.

Located in the heart of downtown Sydney,Restaurant Hubertis the kind of vintage hole-in-the-wallthat will make you feel as though you’ve accidentally stumbled onto the set of a movie. The interiors at allow you to truly dislocate from the outside world. Upon entering, 4000 miniature liquor bottles line the spiral staircase that transports you into an alternative post-war Europe universe.

The wood-panelled space is dazzling, romantic and topped off with a 100-seat theatre complete with a grand piano perched atop a stage. Hubert is much about the ambience, good conversation and laughter, as it is the quality of the wine and the food. About which they also have plenty to brag.

To truly get the grand Hubert experience, we suggest travelling in a group. The banquet menu requires at least four people – and with the amount of food you get, you’ll also need at least four stomachs at the table. Whether it’s the whole garlic chicken, prime beef tartare or the can’t-leave-without-trying Escargots XO, make sure you wear your stretchy pants.

If you’re yet to experience the flavour bombs of Italian cuisine splashed with Asian spices, you may be dubious learning it’s the basis of Lana’s culinary chops. But dive in and don’t look back because this is pure brilliance unleashed and Sydney is hooked.

While the dreamy, pastel trimmed fit out looks the business blending exposed brick and dark timbers with slivers of gold, ocean blue and the restaurant’s signature blush pink, the atmosphere is light thanks to warm service and a menu that is relentlessly playful. Start with the very reasonably priced banquet and level up your experience with added extras, all exquisitely crafted and Instagram-perfect.

The CBD is spoiled for great business lunch spots but Aaliamight just be our favourite. Treat your senses to a journey through the Middle East and North Africa with meals finessed to utter perfection. Raw dishes include Persian caviar before moving on to delicious mezze plates you’ll struggle to avoid licking off the dish, stunning seafood creations and top-notch meats.

And if you really can’t hold back on licking those plates, you’ll be quickly forgiven. The vibe here is relaxed and upbeat as opposed to stuffy, hence eliminating the awkward small talk that comes with every working lunch.

Renowned throughout the city and beyond as one of the best restaurants in Sydney for Indian food, Chatkazzis unmissable thanks to its queue of hangry families crawling out the door. Inside, the tables may be a little bit sticky, and the vibe feels a bit churn-and-burn but the food comes as flavour hits so delicately paired and generously dished that all you’ll be wondering is why you haven’t visited before.

Don’t fill up on the flat breads, as difficult as it is to pass on perfectly puffed wheat flour stuffed with taters and spices. You’ll need ample stomach space for mouth-watering curries, stir fried rices and all your other Indian favourites.

Just a 50-minute zip from the city isBerowra Waters Inn, a destination restaurant held alongside Australia’s best since its 1984 inception. Housed on Berowra Creek, the rugged gorges and gum-tree-lined site is only accessible to diners by boat or seaplane.

Head chef Brian Geraghty owns and runs the space, which boasts a frequently changing menu based on availability. If you’re a stickler for cuisine, however, you could say it’s a mix of classic French with modern Australian. The degustation menu heroes the venue, explained ever so pleasantly by the delightful staff. And with floor-to-ceiling windows, every table has a window seat.

The hottest spot to dine on the Northern Beaches, Bert’sis lighting up the lives of locals just a 45-minute drive from Sydney’s CBD. The spotlight shines brightly on the freshest of seafood and seasonal ingredients like the hand-picked mud crab with lemon and mayonnaise, a daily raw fish selection, grilled whole fishes and the most delicious of shellfish.

It’s also very tempting to indulge in caviar on brioche toast and lobster tagliolini, so be sure to budget accordingly. Make it on a Thursday night and be treated to live jazz plus a limited-edition range of cocktails, shaken and stirred to perfection just like everything else this best restaurant in Sydney does.