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Fine Dining Restaurants Sydney
If you’re looking for an unforgettable fancy restaurant options, Sydney is the place to be. There are countless world-class fine dining restaurants to choose from, but we’ve compiled a list of our 13 favorites. From intimate bistros to waterfront establishments, these special occasion restaurants will leave you feeling spoilt for choice. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your fine dining Sydney adventure today!
1) Quay
| Key Service | Thoughtfully curated wine list and menu |
| Address | Upper Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney 2000 |
| Website | https://www.quay.com.au/ |
| Phone | 02 9251 5600 |
| Operating Hours | LUNCH Saturday and Sunday Reservations from 12pm to 1.30pm DINNER Thursday to Sunday Reservations from 6pm to 8.45pm |
In 2018, this seaside beauty had a multi-million dollar refit that included two new degustation menus. Peter Gilmore raises uncommon local produce in his own garden, and the meal is a spectacular showcase of Australia’s finest ingredients with Sydney’s best view. The snow egg has disappeared, but you won’t be disappointed after a night at this hotel.
Key Differentiators:
- Australia’s most awarded restaurants
- With panoramic views encompassing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House
- Thoughtfully curated wine list and menu
Customer’s Review:
Our third time at Quay and they never disappoint! The food is just divine! The service excellent! All the staff are so friendly. They even have a pregnancy menu available. This is our favourite restaurant in Sydney.
Amelia Naidoo
2) Sixpenny
| Key Service | Exceptional food and service |
| Address | 83 Percival Road Stanmore, NSW, Australia 2048 |
| Website | https://www.sixpenny.com.au/ |
| Phone | (02) 95726666 |
| info@sixpenny.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | LUNCH Saturday & Sunday from 12:00 pm DINNER Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 6:00 pm Saturday from 6:30 pm |
With a focus on grown-in-backyard or family farm products, this ambitious restaurant serves some of the most finely cooked cuisine in the Inner West. The chef-egos or a million dollar fit-out are not typical of The Sixpenny, which is defined by letting ingredients speak for themselves in new and interesting ways.
Key Differentiators:
- Exceptional food and service
- Delicious bread and desserts
- Innovative menu
Customer’s Review:
One of the best fine dining experiences we’ve had based on the wonderful (friendly, warm, explanatory) service, exquisitely richly delicious food and excellent well thought out and knowledgeable wine pairings. We loved it! My food photography does not do the food justice though.
My Stationery Love
3) Rockpool Bar & Grill
| Key Service | Sodersteen-designed American style place |
| Address | Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney, 66 Hunter Street |
| Website | https://www.rockpoolbarandgrill.com.au/ |
| Phone | +61 2 8078 1900 |
| info@rockpoolbarandgrill.com | |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday & Wednesday 12pm-2.30pm & 6pm-9pm Thursday & Friday 12pm-3pm & 6pm-10pm Saturday 5.30pm-10pm |
For individuals who want a more elegant dining experience but still want to acknowledge each ingredient, Rockpool is the place to go. The restaurant, with its dark wood and creamy marble interiors filled with men in suits sipping pricey bottles of hearty reds, is a typical steakhouse. The fish and sides are treated equally as carefully as the steaks.
Key Differentiators:
- Sodersteen-designed American style place
- Uncomplicated – perfectly wood fire-grilled meats and seafood from Australia’s very best producers
- More relaxed dining experience.
Customer’s Review:
Really lovely service from booking the reservation to the final farewell at the door. I felt well-looked after given my food intolerances and celebrating my husband’s birthday, and appreciated that staff took the time to read the reservation notes carefully. Highly recommend! Staff should be proud this was the perfect experience for us.
Melissa Chung
4) Bennelong
| Key Service | Unbeatable ambiance and views |
| Address | Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, NSW 2000 |
| Website | https://www.bennelong.com.au/ |
| Phone | 02 9240 8000 |
| reservations@bennelong.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | LUNCH Saturday Reservations from 12pm to 2.15pm Sunday Reservations from 12pm to 3.30pm DINNER Wednesday to Saturday Reservations from 5.30pm to 8.45pm |
Back and better than ever, Bennelong is one of the finest dining experiences in Sydney, thanks to Peter Gilmore, one of Australia’s most renowned chefs. Bennelong is an iconic Sydney dining destination located in the city’s most famous harbourside location, the Sydney Opera House. With a spectacular venue and a firmly Australian cuisine that exceeds all expectations, it delivers on all fronts.
Key Differentiators:
- Sensational food
- Unbeatable ambiance and views
- Friendly, obliging and very attentive staff
Customer’s Review:
Unbelievable. Everything you would expect from one of the highest rated Sydney restaurants. The service was incredible and the food was the same. We had as much as we could physically stomach. Check the pictures out. It tastes better than it looks. We would also highly recommend the lobster addition. My partner claims that it is “probably the best meal of her life”.
Andrew Thornton
5) Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
| Key Service | Reasonable prices |
| Address | One Otts Avenue, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 |
| Website | https://idrb.com/ |
| Phone | 61 2 9365 9000 |
| idrb@idrb.com | |
| Operating Hours | Dining Room Lunch Wednesday to Sunday from Midday Dinner Wednesday to Sunday from 6.30pm Bar Wednesday to Saturday Midday to Midnight Sunday Midday to 10pm |
The south end of Bondi, even the most cynical Sydneysiders will agree, is a must-see location. Regardless of whether you’re a native or tourist, the magnificent pool view is impossible to overlook. Add a modern spin on Italian cuisine, great people-watching, and drinks that remind you of a holiday on the Italian coast, and you’ll see why its popularity endures.
Key Differentiators:
- Fantastic view
- Reasonable prices
- Quick service
Customer’s Review:
Another fantastic Sydney icon that is a must do for lunch or dinner. Enjoy relaxed cocktails in the bar, looking over one of Australia’s iconic beaches. Then onto dinner at sunset. Staff a very attentive and professional. Plenty of choice from the menu with a great wine bar to match. Always great food with friendly service. Love the dinner music events.
David R Linke
6) Aria
| Key Service | World-class wine list |
| Address | 1 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 |
| Website | https://www.ariasydney.com.au/ |
| Phone | (02) 9240 2255 |
| ariasydney@solotel.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | Wednesday: 5.30pm to 9:30pm Thursday: 5.30pm to 9:30pm Friday: 12pm to 3pm | 5:30pm to 9:30pm Saturday: 5:30pm to 9:30pm Sunday to Tuesday: closed |
In 2016, Aria underwent a renovation and menu update that restored it to the forefront of peoples’ thoughts. The Moran family’s lamb or lobster French toast are two of the best. Are you still hungry after seeing a performance at the Opera House? The post-theatre menu is served until 10:00 p.m.
Key Differentiators:
- Season-driven menu
- World-class wine list
- Art-filled space
Customer’s Review:
We had the seasonal tasting menu with the matching wine pairing and it was an exceptional culinary journey. From the service, to food, to the expertly curated advice of the sommelier, and the overall ambience, the experience was faultless. Can’t wait till we’re back there again.
Lennard Lopez
7) Automata
| Key Service | Frequently changing tasting menu |
| Address | 5 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008 |
| Website | https://www.automata.com.au/ |
| Phone | +61 2 8277 8555 |
| info@automata.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | Dinner from 6:00pm Wednesday – Saturday Saturday lunch from 12:00pm |
Automata, tucked along Kensington Street, is without a doubt the place to go for a variety of excellent cuisine and delectable bar nibbles. When it comes to searching for a Sydney-based restaurant for special events, we turn to Automata. Clayton Wells, the former Momofuku sous-chef who created a legendary tasting menu that is just as fascinating as it is minimal and delicious-designed Automata.
Key Differentiators:
- Warehouse-style space
- Frequently changing tasting menu
- Friendly staff
Customer’s Review:
Great service and a nice restaurant setting. We loved the yuzushu and had about 5 of them. The food was of good quality but a couple of the flavours were a bit hit or miss.
D Yang
8) Bentley
| Key Service | Eclectic list of wines |
| Address | Corner Pitt + Hunter Streets, Sydney, NSW 2000 |
| Website | https://www.thebentley.com.au/ |
| Phone | (02) 8214 0505 |
| info@thebentley.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | Daily 12 pm onwards |
This is not a restaurant that sits on its accomplishments, as the result of chef Brent Savage’s and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt’s successful collaboration. Instead of letting the cuisine speak for itself, it is emphasized on technique and creative combinations. The Bentley Restaurant + Bar is one of Australia’s most notable eating spots. It has received excellent reviews from critics all around the world.
Key Differentiators:
- Top-rated restaurant
- Eclectic list of wines
- Flavoursome food
Customer’s Review:
I love the ambiance here in this place! Will definitely be back!
9) KUON Omakase
| Key Service | Restaurant that only serves chef’s menu |
| Address | Shop 20/2-58 Little Hay St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Website | https://www.kuon.com.au/ |
| Phone | 0488 688 252 |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Saturday (5:30pm & 8:00pm) Thursday – Saturday (12:00pm) |
There are only eight seats at this restaurant. As a result, Hideaki Fukada’s Kuon Omakase dishes are tiny gatherings where he creates special menus based on the season. There are no a la carte options at Kuon Omakase. Unfortunately they are not able to cater any dietary requirements and NO substitutions can be made. Their food contains raw and cooked seafood, various shellfish, sesame, gluten, dairy and meat. It’s definitely of the best restaurants for special occasions!
Key Differentiators:
- Serves only chef’s menu
- Intimate meals
- Not many people are inside the restaurant
Customer’s Review:
The best sashimi I’ve had ever! 10/10 The courses come out very timely and you’re never bored since you can watch them cook. The chefs are very friendly and do a fantastic job. Great service as well from the team. I would love to come again, although it is $230 per person…
Very worth camping their booking site for (they are pretty much always booked out 10 minutes after their bookings open).
10) Restaurant Hubert
| Key Service | Restaurant/Bar |
| Address | 15 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Website | swillhouse.com |
| Phone | +61 2 9232 0881 |
| pastis@restauranthubert.com | |
| Operating Hours | Lunch: Thurs-Sat from 12pm Dinner: Mon-Sat 5pm—Late |
The restaurant’s dishes are testament to the chefs’ love of Paris as well as their understanding that the bistro belongs to everyone now. Its chefs take pleasure in serving oysters freshly shucked, hand-cutting tartare steak, and carefully tossing the Maman salad, while still having freedom to XO sauce escargots and frame duck parmentier with kumquat compote.
The wine list is led by France’s top artisanal vintners, and it’s filled with fantastic examples of the world’s best low-intervention and avant-garde winemaking, as well as benchmark bottles from its most renowned appellations.
Key Differentiators:
- It is designed specifically with one thing in mind: good times. Liberté, égalité, fraternité.
- Comprising three bars, a large central dining room, a pair of intimate private dining rooms and the Theatre Royale
Customer’s Review:
Worth the wait, a group of 3 friends and I waited about 4 weeks for our reservation and it was definitely worth it. Just ordered the set menu and got 2 bottles of red wine bar and was reasonably priced. The food was incredible and experience 2nd to none. Live Jazz playing with that dim lighting creates an excellent atmosphere. Great service and food, great for a date spot, will be returning in the future.
11) Ester
| Key Service | Trendy Restaurant |
| Address | 46-52 meagher stchippendale |
| Website | https://www.ester-restaurant.com.au/ |
| Phone | +61 2 8068 8279 |
| esterrestaurant@gmail.com | |
| Operating Hours | Lunch: saturday: 12:00pm – 3:00pm sunday 12:00pm – 3:30pm Dinner: tuesday to saturday: 6:00pm – late |
Ester is loved by off-duty chefs for getting back to basics in the greatest possible way. The decor is basic, the mood lighthearted, and the selection of wood-fired small dishes has been drastically streamlined. Mat Lindsay – who honed his skills at Billy Kwong and Rockpool – has the confidence to rely on locally sourced ingredients to talk for themselves.
Signature dishes include a blood sausage on sourdough bread and king prawns drenched in fermented shrimp butter. The wonderful drinks list at this cafe, which also includes an interesting range of orange wines, is highlighted by organic and biodynamic wines. Secure yourself one of the city’s most coveted seats.
Key Differentiators:
- Interesting selection of wines from their wine bar
- Incredible and unique food selection
Customer’s Review:
Consistently outstanding!
Ester promises you one of the best dining experiences in Sydney. Not only is the food incredible, the staff are amazing. I know the friendly staff was not a once off experience either because I called up for a booking on a seperate occasion and they went above and beyond to help me.
If you’re looking for a menu that excites the palate and a great overall experience. Look no further. I think Ester has set the bar!
12) Chaco Bar
| Key Service | Sydney’s home for Yakitori |
| Address | 186-188 VICTORIA STREET, POTTS POINT |
| Website | https://chacobar.com.au/ |
| Phone | (02) 8593 4567 |
| INFO@CHACOBAR.COM.AU | |
| Operating Hours | TUESDAY – SATURDAY 17:30 – 22:00 SUNDAY – MONDAY CLOSED |
At the fabric-draped door, you must surrender all inhibitions to enjoy the whole Chaco Bar experience. Nothing at this city-fringe restaurant goes to waste, thanks to Keita Abe’s love of yakitori and his inspiration for yatai – a traditional laneway izakaya or food cart from Fukuoka.
The food, while not as stunningly spectacular as the fire-licked skewers, is still delicious. It might be warayaki (hay-smoked sashimi), miso-marinated toothfish with cumquat jam, or a just-set chawanmushi on the menu. The modest yet effective drink menu includes sake and highball cocktails, which are musts.
Key Differentiators:
- Plenty of delicious things
- Absolutely exceptional fine dining experience
Customer’s Review:
Well worth the drive from the west. Great for occasions, groups or casual. The tasting menu was delicious with a variety of flavours and food we’ve never had before. The cocktails were very nice, especially the melon drink.
Dishes came out at a decent pace. The atmosphere is warm with the ambient lighting and smell of cooking meat. Staff were patient and friendly and took their time to explain each dish. Can recommend.
13) Saint Peter
| Key Service | an Australian fish eatery serving sustainably sourced seafood & Australian wines |
| Address | 362 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021, Australia |
| Website | https://www.saintpeter.com.au/ |
| Phone | +61 2 8937 2530 |
| Operating Hours | Monday Closed Tuesday-Wednesday 5:30–9pm Thursday-Sunday 12–3:30pm, 5:30–9pm |
While the idea of nose-to-tail cooking may be appealing, it’s important to remember that there’s a lot more to fish than its’ fillet. While you’re familiar with nose-to-tail cookery, you might not be aware of fin-to-scale, which is slippery sibling of nose-to-tail cookery.
The result? A carefully chosen selection of seasonal and line-caught fish. Consider swordfish bacon, coral trout, Murray cod, and of course, as the name implies, John Dory. Despite everything that has happened in the Fish Butchery and Charcoal Fish over the past three months of endless takeaway, nothing will keep them away from returning to Saint Peter’s Niland OG.
Key Differentiators:
- sustainable seafood restaurant
- unique dishes
Customer’s Review:
Absolutely outstanding restaurant. The food is simply sensational. Each dish was unique in its own way and left you exploring combinations of tastes and textures that you will be dreaming about. Decent size cocktails list and we went through about most of them. All the cocktails were deliciously smooth. Service was attentive and the staff definitely knows what they are doing. 10/10 experience for me. Highly recommend fine diner.
Fine Dining Restaurants Sydney
When it comes to experiencing fine dining Sydney, you have nothing to worry about because Sydney has no shortage of amazing fine dining restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a modern Italian spin on things or an exquisite warehouse-style space, there’s something for everyone. Our list of the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney will help you find the perfect spot for your next special occasion.
If you want to read more similar articles, check the links below:
- Best Brunch Places Sydney Spots (2024)
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- Best Michelin Star Restaurants Sydney Options (2024)
- Best Unique Restaurants Sydney Choices (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does fine dining mean?
Fine dining is a type of dining that is considered to be a step above regular dining. Fine dining usually involves more expensive and luxurious ingredients, as well as more elaborate presentation.
What are the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney Australia?
Some of the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney include Rockpool Bar u0026amp; Grill, Quay which is located near Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sixpenny, Bennelong and more!u003cbru003e
What are the best time to have fine dining experience?
Fine dining is a great way to celebrate a special occasion or to impress someone important to you. There are many amazing fine dining restaurants in Sydney that offer delicious food, beautiful surroundings
How special is Sydney’s fine dining restaurant?
Each restaurant has their own unique offerings, but in general, best fine dining restaurants in Sydney offer an upscale experience with luxurious ingredients and beautiful presentation.
How much can I spend on a one night of fine dining experience in Sydney?
The price of a fine dining experience in Sydney can vary depending on the restaurant you choose, the number of courses you order, and whether or not you include wine with your meal. Generally, you can expect to spend around $100-$200 per person for a complete fine dining experience.
What should I wear to a fine dining restaurant?
There is no set dress code for fine dining restaurants, but it is always best to err on the side of caution and dress more formally. This means avoiding anything too casual, like shorts, tank tops, or flip-flops. You should also avoid anything too revealing or overly flashy. A nice pair of slacks or a skirt with a blouse or button-down shirt would be a great choice for women, while men can’t go wrong with a collared shirt and dress pants.
What is the difference between fine dining and casual dining?
The biggest difference between fine dining and casual dining is the level of formality. Fine dining usually involves more expensive ingredients, as well as more elaborate presentation. Casual dining, on the other hand, is less formal and typically doesn’t involve as many frills.
What are some tips for fine dining etiquette?
Some basic tips for fine dining etiquette include arriving on time, turning off your phone, being respectful of your waitstaff, and not ordering more food than you can eat.
