A Delicious Guide to Sydney's Best Bars & Restaurants

Sydney is a multicultural culinary haven with an abundance of choice between Modern Australian, Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern and the list goes on! Join me in this delicious guide where I take your taste buds on a journey through Sydney’s Best Bars & Restaurants.

The Ultimate Guide to Sydney’s Best Bars & Restaurants

Chin Chin Sydney

69 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

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My ultimate favourite place on this list of Sydney’s best Bars & Restaurants! An overload for the senses, Chin Chin is quintessentially Australian with a South-East Asian injection of a carefully blended mix of freshness, spice, heat and exotic herbs. Housed in a beautiful, historic and heritage-listed Griffiths Tea building this place is bound to make you call up all your friends for a fun day or night out in town.

Must Try: Rendang Curry of Beef (pictured) and Kingfish Sashimi.

Maranello’s Woodfired Pizza Restaurant

Pacific Square Shopping Centre, 51/737 Anzac Parade, Maroubra NSW 2035

For the best Italian I can 100% guarantee you will love and be back for more is this homely little restaurant tucked away in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Maranello’s Woodfired Pizza Restaurant hits the top of the list for Sydney’s best bars & restaurants! After spending a beautiful day out at Maroubra beach order some delicious carbs and feast on some of the best pasta and pizza in Sydney.

Must Try: Olive Ascolani, Fettuccine Carbonara (pictured), Gamberi Alla Crema, Tortellini Boscaiola (pictured) (there isn’t anything on this menu that isn’t good!)

Maranello's Italian Restaurant, Maroubra

Fettuccine Carbonara at Maranello's Woodfired Pizza Restaurant

Boon Cafè

1/425 Pitt St, Haymarket NSW 2000

A bright cafe with a grocery offering Thai specialties with a modern twist. They offer a variety of flavoursome dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner where the food is always fresh and always tastes amazing.

Must Try: Croissant Pandan Custard (pictured), Pineapple Fried Rice (pictured), Khao Gatah- pan-baked eggs with tomato fried rice, bacon and pineapple (pictured), Duck Noodle Soup (pictured)

The Rook – Rooftop Bar

Level 7, 56 – 58 York Street, Sydney

This cool rooftop bar is is nestled above the CBD’s busy streets accessible by a small elevator inside a tiny little hallway that can be easily missed! This highly sought after Sydney Bar is known for its inventive cocktail list, gin tasting events, top notch bar food and bespoke range of liquors. Enjoy views of the skyline and the stars through the atrium-style retractable rooftop.

Must Try: Charcuterie Board and the Angus Beef Burger with Parmesan Truffle Fries

The Rook- Sydney's Best Bars & Restaurants

Things to do in Sydney:

Blu Bar on 36 | Shangri-La Hotel

176 Cumberland St, Sydney NSW 2000

Enjoy a glass (or bottle) of wine sitting high above the harbour with uninterrupted views across the city. This Cosmopolitan lounge set with soaring windows and harbour views is a great place for classic cocktails and delicious bar bites.

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Dutch Smuggler

200 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

Ok, so not technically a restaurant however this place needs to be included in this guide to Sydney’s Best Bars & Restaurants due to their mouth watering signature Mi-Goreng Toastie! There’s new toastie options added each and they also do turn into a bar at night with beers, house wines and cocktails on tap.

Things to do in Sydney:

Fratelli Fresh

Multiple restaurants located all over Sydney

Fratelli Fresh is a casual Italian restaurant heroing the very best of Italian cooking. The menu combines simplicity, robust flavours and beautiful produce.

Bentley Restaurant & Bar

Corner Pitt + Hunter St, Sydney NSW 2000

Fine dining at its best, this upscale restaurant offers Modern Australian cuisine, plus an acclaimed wine list, in an industrial-chic luxury hotel. Visit on a Saturday for their awesome tasting menu that is both eccentric as it is appetizing.

Establishment Bar

Ground Floor, 252 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

With magnificent columns lining the walls and a 42-metre-long marble bar as its center-piece, Establishment Bar exudes style and sophistication. This historic venue is a Sydney icon, and a unique place to enjoy a drink. The menu has everything from traditional Thai to classic Aussie pub food.

Must Try: The Fried Rice is one of the best I’ve had.

Establishment Bar- Sydney's Best Bars & Restaurants

Candelori’s

685 The Horsley Dr, Smithfield NSW 2164

About a 30 min drive out of Sydney’s CBD but well worth the distance, Candelori’s makes the list on Sydney best bars & restaurants thanks to the hand made bread and pasta made in-house every day.

Must Try: zucchini flowers, hand cut pappardelle with osso buco ragù (pictured) and potato gnocchi (pictured).

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Planning a Trip to Sydney- The Logistics

What to Pack

Sydney is on the top of everyone’s bucket list and you can be so busy planning your trip you may forget to pack some essential items. That’s why I’ve made an essential Travel Packing list that you can use when you visit Tasmania, so you have everything you need for your trip and be prepared for any season. You can also download a FREE PDF version too!

If you are interested in upping your photography game then you may also want to see what’s in our camera bag for all the best travel photography gear we use when we travel. There is plenty of beautiful spots around Sydney so be sure to pack a good camera!