Sydney's Best Guestrants

World beaters

Marque Surry Hills
Voted Restaurant of the Year in the 2009 Time Out Food Awards, Marque Restaurant is Sydney's most exciting fine diner.

Quay The Rocks
Views over Sydney harbour of both the Bridge and the Opera House with stunning food to match. Order the degustation for maximum awesomosity.

Rockpool Sydney
You can't come to Sydney and miss out on Rockpool if you're a seafood lover - it's a winner from first bite till last.

Tetsuya's Sydney
As much of a destination as it is eating experience, the only views you'll need will be on the plate. Book months in advance.

A view to kill

Aria East Circular Quay
Ask for a window table in the rounded room overlooking the Opera House and order the five spice duck consomme.

Bathers' Pavilion Balmoral Beach
Book a window seat in the fine diner or rock up to the casual cafe for a royal treat right on Balmoral Beach.

Berowra Waters Inn Berowra Waters
There's no land access to the actual restaurant but waiting for the restaurant's own ferryman to pick you up is part of the adventure. The food is terrific.

Café Sydney Sydney
You don't have to eat in the restaurant to get the killer views, but having a seat on the balcony overlooking the harbour is definitely a highlight.

Cottage Point Inn Cottage Point
Get the seaplane from Rose Bay to this the Hawkesbury River favourite in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. 

Flying Fish Pyrmont
It's all about the mud crab. The mighty Queensland muddie comes as you like it (you've got a few choices), and Peter Kuruvita mixes it up with Sri Lankan style curries, raw fish dishes and some of the best chips in town.

Icebergs Bondi Beach
Carved into the Bondi rockface, Icebergs is a natural wonder. Check out the surfers as you eat some of Sydney's best steak.

Jonah's Whale Beach
Less than an hour's drive from the hustle and hassle of the city, Whale Beach has the fresh air of relaxed exclusivity. And if you want somewhere suitably decadent but discreet to eat while you're there, then Jonah's is the pony to bet on.

Le Kiosk Manly
Saunter along the shoreline from Manly to Shelly Beach and you'll come to this sweet, heritage-listed sandstone cottage right on the sand.

Manta Woolloomooloo
Woolloomooloo's finger wharf is dotted with fine boats and restaurants to match. The wine list at Manta is fantastic, as is the house-made pasta.

Peats Bite Hawkesbury River
There can be few more soul-enriching experiences than breaking city limits for a long, lazy set lunch at Peats Bite on the Hawkesbury. The hostess is superb.

Pilu at Freshwater Harbord
The massive old beach bungalow has panoramic views of Freshwater beach, which are great, especially accompanied by a plate of roast suckling pig.

Sean's Panaroma Bondi Beach
Watch the breakers peel over North Bondi from the comfort of the restaurant with a glass of Champagne.

Summit Sydney
Haute cuisine, high class at altitude with 360° views of the entire city.

Cheap thrills

Harry's Café de Wheels Woolloomooloo
Eat a "tiger" (a pie topped with mashed potato, mushy peas and gravy, accessorised with a plastic fork) and dangle your legs over the wharf.

Mamak Haymarket
Fantastic Malaysian food including roti, satay, and one of Sydney's best nasi lemaks.

Pastizzi Cafe Darlinghurst
The pastizzi here are under $2 each - not bad while you're on a Crown Street trawl. Not the most glamorous venue, but great value.

Rossopomodoro Balmain
Sit down by the harbour in Balmain and order super-authentic pizzas. It's very loud inside (it's all hard surfaces) but there are a couple of tables outside - bags one, if you can. 

Jasmins Lakemba
You'll find the best felafels in Sydney here and if you really want to blend in, do what the locals do and dip your chips in hummus.

Have you eaten here? Leave a review at the bottom of the page. No login required. Click for guidelines.