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NONE of these meals were gifted, and this post is not sponsored; these are my honest views.
I love food. I love it so much that I once travelled solo for days to reach a remote valley in the Eastern Himalayas just to try a unique tribal restaurant I’d heard a mere whisper of.
This post, however, is about my absolute favourite restaurants in Sydney, Australia. While a Sydney food trip might not sound quite as intrepid, this global city boasts one of the most exciting culinary scenes in the world.
After living here for 18 months whilst saving for my next round of travels, I managed to eat my way through a very respectable number of the city’s eateries. If you are wondering where to eat in Sydney, this curated guide features my personal picks for the best restaurants in Sydney for 2026.
The Sydney Food Scene: What to Expect
Sydney has an incredibly diverse culinary offering—though decent Mexican food is still lacking (sorry, Sydneysiders!). New restaurants and bars pop up across the city continually. However, competition is fierce, and locals are fickle, meaning many venues don’t survive past the 10-year mark.
Whether you are a tourist visiting Australia for the first time or a local looking for your next dinner spot, this Sydney food guide will give you plenty of inspiration.
7 Best Restaurants in Sydney to Try in 2026
1. Cafe Paci (Newtown) – The Best Restaurant in Sydney Overall
Cafe Paci is an industrial-chic dining room that delivers a flawless small-plates menu. It is one of those rare, magical restaurants where every single dish hits the mark, every time. I visited three times during my tenure in Sydney and tried most of the menu; everything was insanely good.
Pair that with fair wine prices, a buzzy inner-west atmosphere, and friendly service, and you have my favourite restaurant in Sydney.
- Cuisine: Modern Australian with a Scandinavian twist
- Neighbourhood: Newtown
- Must-Try Dish: Beef a la plancha with rocket and parmesan
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2. Porkfat (Haymarket) – The Best Thai Restaurant in Sydney
For an authentic dining experience with the best Thai food in Sydney, head straight to Porkfat. This restaurant serves perfectly balanced dishes that truly sing, using seasonal ingredients and traditional spices. True to its name, they cook everything with pork fat, making every bite incredibly rich and delicious.
The service is excellent, although I do wish the 90-minute allocated dining time were a bit longer!
- Cuisine: Authentic Thai
- Neighbourhood: Haymarket / Chinatown
- Must-Try Dish: Baked Mooloolaba King Prawn with Vermicelli
Baked Mooloolaba King Prawn with Vermicelli at Porkfat
3. Bennelong (Sydney CBD) – The Best Restaurant in Sydney for Wow Factor
If you have friends or family visiting Australia, Bennelong is the place to take them for an unforgettable dinner. This is contemporary Australian fine dining done exceptionally well. The restaurant is spectacularly set inside the iconic Sydney Opera House, offering sweeping views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
My only critique is that it will break the bank (the wine prices are especially astronomical), making it a special-occasion spot rather than a regular hangout.
- Cuisine: Fine Dining / Contemporary Australian
- Neighbourhood: Sydney Harbour / CBD
- Must-Try Dish: Roasted Wollemi Duck with preserved cherries, blackberry, rosehip, and Kampot pepper
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4. Kisuke (Potts Point) – The Best Restaurant in Sydney for Omakase
Kisuke is the intimate, memorable omakase experience we spent weeks looking for in Japan but never actually found. Tucked into a discreet corner of Potts Point, this exclusive six-seater counter is easily one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney.
The moment you step inside, you are transported to Tokyo. Chef Yusuke Morita and his wife, Izumi (who greets guests in a beautiful kimono), serve exquisitely crafted nigiri and seasonal Japanese delicacies.
- Cuisine: Japanese Omakase
- Neighbourhood: Potts Point
- Must-Try Dish: The menu is entirely up to the Chef (Omakase style), so sit back and enjoy!
5. Firepop (Enmore) – The Best Restaurant for Flavour Bombs and Great Value
Located on the bustling Enmore Road, Firepop is a sophisticated diner that originally started as a beloved Sydney food truck. The menu focuses on hyper-creative skewers and small plates grilled over charcoal and open fire.
These skewers (or ‘pops’) are bite-sized flavour bombs with unique flavour combinations like Duck & Kiwi or Scallop & Pork Jowl with Oyster Cream. Firepop has a great value set menu, and they host a BYO wine night on Tuesdays.
- Cuisine: Charcoal Grill / Skewers
- Neighbourhood: Enmore
- Must-Try Dish: Wagyu Cube (Fullblood MBS9+ Wagyu beef with sweet soy and cured egg yolk)
6. Olympus (Redfern) – The Best Restaurant for Buzzy Atmosphere and Great Service
If you are looking for the buzziest atmosphere and best group dining in Sydney, Olympus is a massive vibe. It isn’t fine dining, but rather a bustling Greek taverna with a retractable glass roof for semi-alfresco lunches.
Expect generous portions of delicious Greek classics, a gorgeous aesthetic centred around a bright pink Bougainvillaea tree, and fun, warm service. Their Greek-heavy wine list is highly impressive and very fairly priced compared to other venues in town.
- Cuisine: Greek
- Neighbourhood: Redfern
- Must-Try Dish: Kefalotyri Saganaki (fried cheese drizzled with honey and lemon)
The beautiful Bougainvillaea tree in the middle of Olympus Dining
The delicious, slow-roasted lamb from Olympus in Redfern
7. Nour (Surry Hills) – The Best Restaurant in Sydney for Unique and Innovative Dishes
Nour is the absolute crown jewel of the ESCA restaurant group. While it is occasionally overlooked by its two-hatted sister restaurant, Aalia, I personally think Nour is much better. It offers a clean, elegant, and cosy environment paired with Middle Eastern-inspired dishes that are packed with bold, innovative flavours.
It’s the exact type of complex food I could never replicate at home, which is why I happily ate here 7 or 8 times during my stay in Sydney.
- Cuisine: Modern Middle Eastern
- Neighbourhood: Surry Hills
- Must-Try Dish: The “Snack of the Year” – Batata harra (crispy potato) with toum and fermented chilli.
Final Thoughts on the Sydney Dining Scene
There are naturally a few famous spots I missed during my 18 months in the city. I never quite made it to Saint Peter, Sixpenny, or Ester. There are also a few highly renowned spots that I personally didn’t rate (like Icebergs in Bondi), which is why they didn’t make this list.
What do you think are the best places to eat in Sydney? Let me know in the comments below!
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Happy travels!
xx
