Sydney

Paddington

$$$Open now

Chef Josh Niland has pioneered whole-fish cookery, dry-aging seafood and utilizing parts of the fish usually discarded.

SignatureDry-aged coral trout with native sea succulents.

Sydney Fish Market

Pyrmont

Open now

A working wholesale market where you can select raw seafood from the counters and have it cooked on the spot.

SignatureFreshly shucked Sydney Rock Oysters.

Fish At The Rocks

The Rocks

$$Closed

A long-running, dependable institution serving classic preparations without modern pretension.

SignatureLobster mornay served with traditional shoestring fries.

Steak & grills

The city's steakhouses source premium grass-fed and wagyu beef from the lush pastures of New South Wales and Tasmania, often cooking over native wood fires.

Rockpool Bar & Grill

CBD

$$$Closed

Housed in a magnificent Art Deco building, this restaurant features beef sourced directly from producers and dry-aged on site.

SignatureCopperTree Farms pasture-fed rib eye.

The Gidley

CBD

$$$Open now

An opulent, subterranean steakhouse where diners eat in plush velvet booths under dim, atmospheric lighting.

SignatureThe Spinaliss (rib eye cap) cooked medium-rare.

Bistecca

CBD

$$$Open now

A highly focused Tuscan-style steakhouse where only one cut of meat is served, cut to order and cooked over ironbark coals.

SignatureT-bone steak ordered by weight, served Florentine style.

Porteño

Surry Hills

$$$$Open now

An energetic Argentinian grill where meats are slow-cooked over a central wood-fired pit.

SignatureSlow-roasted lamb (Cordero asado) cooked over ironbark.

Hubert

CBD

$$$Open now

A subterranean French bistro that pairs live jazz with exceptionally executed classic grill dishes.

SignatureBavette steak with classic cafe de Paris butter.

Chophouse

CBD

$$$Open now

A contemporary, industrial-chic steakhouse popular with the corporate crowd for its massive cuts of beef.

SignatureThe 1.7kg Tomahawk steak designed for sharing.

Tapas/local

Modern Australian dining is hard to define but characterized by wood-fired cooking, native ingredients, and Asian-influenced flavor profiles.

Ester

Chippendale

$$$Open now

An industrial concrete dining room where almost every dish touches the wood-fired oven, resulting in bold, smoky flavors.

SignaturePotato bread served with trout roe and kefir cream.

Poly

Surry Hills

Open now

The casual sibling to Ester, offering an inventive menu of wood-fired snacks and an extensive natural wine list.

SignatureGrilled sourdough served with house-cultured butter.

Nomad

Surry Hills

$$$Open now

Housed in a converted warehouse, this venue focuses on house-made charcuterie and Mediterranean flavors using local produce.

SignatureWood-fired flatbread with smoked cannellini dip.

Bentley Restaurant & Bar

CBD

$$$$Open now

An industrial-chic space where native Australian botanicals are paired with cutting-edge culinary techniques.

SignatureKangaroo loin with native berries and fermented grains.

Yellow

Potts Point

Open now

An upscale, plant-focused dining room that treats local vegetables with the same complexity usually reserved for meat.

SignatureHeirloom carrots with native botanicals and sea vegetables.

Three Blue Ducks

Bronte

$$Open now

A relaxed, coastal cafe and restaurant focusing on sustainable, ethically sourced local ingredients.

SignatureCharcoal roasted chicken with native herbs and lemon.

Fine dining

Fine dining here pairs world-class culinary technique with unmatched views of the harbor, operating with a relaxed but highly professional service style.

Bennelong

Circular Quay

$$$$Closed

Located directly inside the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House, celebrating Australian ingredients in a dramatic multi-level space.

SignatureThe Pavlova, designed to mimic the Opera House sails.

Firedoor

Surry Hills

$$$$Open now

Chef Lennox Hastie uses no electricity or gas for cooking, relying entirely on different species of native wood coals.

SignatureDry-aged beef rib on the bone, cooked over ironbark coals.

Aria

Circular Quay

$$$$Open now

A classic fine-dining institution offering polished service and a front-row view of the harbor's edge.

SignatureGlazed Berkshire pork belly with native plums.

Budget eats

The city's budget dining scene is dominated by high-quality Asian eateries, historic bakeries, and casual charcoal chicken joints.

Malay Chinese Takeaway

Circular Quay

Closed

A legendary, no-frills lunch spot famous for serving some of the richest, most authentic laksa in the city.

SignatureChicken and prawn laksa.

Marrowbone

Newtown

A casual, unpretentious spot serving hearty, pub-style meals at incredibly low prices.

SignatureRump steak with mushroom gravy and chips.

Chinatown Noodle King

Haymarket

$Open now

A busy, brightly lit eatery where you can watch chefs pull fresh noodles by hand behind a glass screen.

SignatureLanzhou beef noodle soup.

El Jannah

Newtown

Open now

A legendary Lebanese charcoal chicken outlet famous for its smoky meats and intense garlic sauce.

SignatureQuarter charcoal chicken with garlic sauce (toum) and pickles.

Bourke Street Bakery

Surry Hills

$$Closed

The original location of Sydney's most famous bakery, producing exceptional sourdough and savory pastries.

SignaturePork and fennel sausage roll.

Banh Mi Bay Ngo

Marrickville

$Closed

A local institution in the inner west, serving exceptionally crisp baguettes packed with traditional fillings.

SignatureClassic pork roll with house-made pate and mayonnaise.

Vegetarian/vegan

Plant-based dining is highly integrated into the local food scene, ranging from casual vegan pizzerias to upscale dining rooms.

Yulli's

Surry Hills

$$Open now

A lively, creative plant-based restaurant that pairs inventive Asian-Mediterranean dishes with local craft beers.

SignatureLeek and ginger dumplings with sweet plum sauce.

Gigi Pizzeria

Newtown

$$Open now

An authentic Neapolitan pizzeria that went fully plant-based, utilizing dairy-free alternatives and fresh herbs.

SignatureMarinara traditional pizza with extra virgin olive oil and garlic.

Shift Eatery

Surry Hills

$$Closed

Bass-heavy, industrial, and popular with a younger crowd.

A dedicated vegan deli and cafe serving outstanding sandwiches and plant-based breakfast staples.

SignatureThe 'Steve' (vegan bacon, egg, and cheese roll).

After dark

Nightlife

Where the night goes — clubs, rooftop cocktails and the rooms with the best live music.

Nightclubs

The club scene has rebounded with energy, centered around underground electronic music, inclusive spaces, and late-night licensing.

Chinese Laundry

CBD

$$Closed

Alternative, artistic, and always crowded on weekends.

One of the city's longest-running underground clubs, featuring multiple rooms and an outdoor courtyard.

Oxford Art Factory

Darlinghurst

Open now

Eclectic electronic music across multiple distinct rooms.

A multi-room venue that transitions from live indie band performances to late-night DJ sets.

The Abercrombie

Chippendale

Open now

Classic speakeasy with jazz music and highly knowledgeable bartenders.

A multi-level heritage pub converted into a late-night clubbing hub with a 24-hour license.

Cocktail & rooftop bars

The city excels at intimate, hidden speakeasies and breezy rooftop spaces that take full advantage of the temperate climate.

The Baxter Inn

CBD

$$Open now

Playful, sophisticated, and highly energetic.

A world-renowned subterranean whiskey bar hidden down an unmarked alleyway, featuring hundreds of spirits.

Maybe Sammy

The Rocks

Open now

Fast-paced, friendly, and highly artisanal.

An award-winning cocktail bar inspired by 1950s Las Vegas, known for theatrical presentation and impeccable service.

Cantina OK!

CBD

$$Open now

Chic, upscale, and perfect for sunset drinks.

A tiny, standing-room-only micro-bar located in a former garage, specializing in rare mezcals.

Smoke

Barangaroo

$$$Open now

Lively, scenic, and popular with both locals and visitors.

A sleek, multi-level rooftop bar offering views over Darling Harbour and creative, culinary-inspired cocktails.

Opera Bar

Circular Quay

$$$Open now

Moody, historic, and featuring live acoustic music.

Located directly on the water beneath the Opera House, offering the most iconic view in the city.

Palmer & Co

CBD

$$$Open now

High-energy, historic, and boasting excellent acoustics.

An underground, Prohibition-era style bar hidden down a brick alleyway, specializing in champagne and classic cocktails.

Live music

Live music is woven into the pub culture, with historic theaters and sticky-carpet bandrooms hosting local and international acts.

Enmore Theatre

Newtown

Grungy, loud, and classic inner-west pub style.

The city's oldest running live theatre, hosting major touring rock bands, indie acts, and comedy shows.

The Lansdowne Hotel

Chippendale

$$Open now

Intimate, moody, and musically diverse.

A legendary rock pub that has served as a launching pad for generations of local indie and punk bands.

Mary's Underground

Circular Quay

Bohemian, relaxed, and highly community-focused.

A basement venue located in a former jazz club, offering live music, natural wine, and rotisserie meats.

Lazybones Lounge

Marrickville

$$Open now

Sultry, vintage, and highly focused on the stage.

A quirky, multi-level venue in the inner west hosting live jazz, blues, soul, and world music seven nights a week.

The Vanguard

Newtown

Loud, dark, and highly welcoming to alternative crowds.

An intimate cabaret-style venue offering dinner-and-show packages alongside blues, roots, and burlesque performances.

Crowbar

Leichhardt

$$Open now

A dedicated heavy music venue hosting local punk, metal, and hard rock bands alongside a great craft beer selection.

See & do

Culture

Museums, landmarks and galleries worth structuring a day around.

Museums

The city's museums offer deep insights into natural history, maritime heritage, and the complex colonial and Indigenous stories of the continent.

Australian Museum

Darlinghurst

Closed

The nation's oldest museum, featuring world-class natural history exhibits and a significant collection of First Nations artifacts.

NoteFree general admission; allow 2-3 hours to explore the galleries.

Australian National Maritime Museum

Darling Harbour

Closed

Explores the nation's deep connection to the sea, allowing visitors to climb aboard real submarines and historic tall ships.

NotePaid entry required for vessel boarding; highly family-friendly.

Sydney Observatory

Millers Point

Closed

A historic sandstone observatory perched on a hill, offering stargazing through heritage telescopes.

NoteNight tours must be booked well in advance; daytime grounds access is free.

Landmarks & architecture

The architectural landscape is defined by the dramatic juxtaposition of mid-century modernist icons and heavy colonial sandstone.

Sydney Opera House

Circular Quay

Jørn Utzon's modernist masterpiece, widely considered one of the most significant architectural achievements of the 20th century.

NoteFree to walk around the exterior; paid guided tours are available inside.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Circular Quay

The world's tallest steel arch bridge, affectionately known as the 'Coathanger', spanning the harbor since 1932.

NoteWalking across the pedestrian path is free; the BridgeClimb is a paid experience.

Queen Victoria Building

CBD

Open now

A grand Romanesque Revival shopping arcade completed in 1898, featuring stained glass windows and historic cage elevators.

NoteFree to enter; excellent spot for coffee or high tea.

Galleries

From grand public institutions to cutting-edge private collections, the gallery scene showcases exceptional Indigenous, Asian, and contemporary art.

Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Domain

$Closed

Features a classical heritage building paired with the striking, modern Naala Badu wing designed by SANAA.

NoteFree general admission; features an outstanding collection of Aboriginal art.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

Circular Quay

Open now

An Art Deco building on the harbor's edge dedicated entirely to exhibiting and collecting contemporary art.

NoteFree general admission; the rooftop cafe offers excellent harbor views.

White Rabbit Gallery

Chippendale

$Closed

A privately funded gallery housing one of the world's most significant collections of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art.

NoteFree admission; features a tranquil Chinese teahouse on the ground floor.

Don’t-miss

Signature experiences

Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk

Eastern SuburbsHalf day

This cliffside path winds past ocean-fed rock pools, beaches, and parks, offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

via Google

Ferry to Manly

Circular Quay1-2 hours

The public ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly provides the best views of the Opera House and the harbor entrance for the price of a standard transit ticket.

via Google

BridgeClimb Sydney

The RocksHalf day

Climbing the steel arch of the Harbour Bridge offers a thrilling perspective and 360-degree views of the entire city and harbor.

via Google

Beyond the city

Day trips

The Blue Mountains

A World Heritage-listed wilderness area characterized by dramatic sandstone cliffs, deep eucalyptus forests, and the Three Sisters rock formation.

Getting thereTwo hours by direct train from Central Station to Katoomba.

via Google

Royal National Park

The world's second-oldest national park, offering rugged coastal cliffs, secluded beaches, and walking tracks through coastal heath.

Getting thereOne hour drive south of the city, or a train to Cronulla followed by a public ferry to Bundeena.

via Google

The Hunter Valley

Australia's oldest wine region, famous for producing world-class Semillon and Shiraz across rolling vineyard landscapes.

Getting thereTwo and a half hours drive north of the city.

Book ahead

Things to do in Sydney

Top-rated tours, tickets and experiences — book in seconds, skip the line.

from $425 approx.

private tour: Sydney City Lakes to Lighthouse of Cape Breton

5.0 (3)2 hours 30 min

from $157 approx.

Cabot Trail as Nature’s Masterpiece

5.0 (2)6 hours

from $144 approx.

Highland Village and Baddeck Tour

5.0 (2)6 hours

from $299 approx.

Private Historical & Scenic Tour Of Sydney NS Cape Breton Island

5.0 (1)1 hour 30 min

from $78 approx.

City and Coastal Highlights Museum and Lighthouse Stops Tour

5.0 (1)1 hour 30 min

from $102 approx.

Iona Highland Village Tour

5.0 (1)4 hours

from $898 approx.

Shore Excursion of the Glenora Distillery in Cape Breton

5.0 (1)7 hours

from $110 approx.

Alexander Graham Bell Museum Tour

5.0 (1)4 hours

from $127 approx.

Bell Museum Baddeck and Mini Cabot Trail Cape Breton, Sydney NS

5.0 (1)5 hours

from $100 approx.

Louisbourg Fortress & Lighthouse Tour from Sydney Cape Breton

4.8 (6)4 hours

from $140 approx.

Blackwood Tours: Highland Village, Baddeck, Bell Museum Tour

4.7 (82)6 hours

from $130 approx.

Highland Tours: Cabot Trail Excursion from Sydney Cape Breton

4.6 (22)6 hours