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10 Best Hidden Restaurants in Sydney [2024]

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Hidden Restaurants Sydney

Best Hidden Restaurants Sydney
Best Hidden Restaurants Sydney

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, you’ll want to check out one of hidden Sydney restaurants. These establishments are off the beaten path and often offer an intimate setting and gourmet cuisine. From hidden gems in local neighborhoods to upscale eateries tucked away in quiet corners of the city, there is something for everyone when it comes to hidden restaurants in Sydney. If you’re visiting Sydney and wants to search for a new restaurant to try, here are 10 of our favorites!

1) Dumpling and Noodle House

Key ServiceFresh daily hand made dumplings 
AddressShop 1, 165 Victoria Street
Potts Point. NSW
Websitehttp://www.dumplingandnoodlehouse.com.au/
Phone93269639
Operating HoursMon–Saturday : 6pm —10pm

Dumpling and Noodle House is a hole-in-the-wall with fold-out tables on the street and an all-you-can-drink policy. The finest no-fuss dumplings may be found at Dumpling and Noodle House, a local eatery that does not disappoint. Come for the pan-fried dumplings and stay for the Xiao Long Bao; bring a six-pack and you’ll be in paradise.

Key Differentiators:

  • Fresh daily hand made dumplings 
  • Also serves hand stretched Noodles soup
  • Daily sourced freshest ingredients

Customer’s Review:

Hidden Gem! A small Chinese restaurant in Ultimo that serves a humongous portion of food at a quite reasonable price. The food taste was great and the friendly service was quick. This place offers takeaway food and dine-in.

Nicholas Osmond

2) Bill & Toni’s

Key ServiceItalian, hand-crafted coffee
Address72-74 Stanley St, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Websitehttp://www.billandtonis.com.au/
Phone(02) 93604702
Operating HoursCafé 6.30AM – 10.00PM
Restaurant
Lunch: 11AM – 3.00PM
Dinner: 5PM – 9:30PM

Bill & Toni’s is a Sydney landmark known across the world as an Italian café and restaurant. Stanley Street was once Sydney’s primary Italian outpost, dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. It became Australia’s first “Little Italy” a decade later. Bill and Toni’s worldwide reputation for excellent cuisine, great coffee, and a feeling of “at home” grew.

Key Differentiators:

  • Serves Italian food
  • Freshly made pasta sauce
  • Famous for their Italian, hand-crafted coffee

Customer’s Review:

Great atmosphere and wonderful history. Awesome to see good old-fashioned Italian cooking with lovely wait staff and a chef who came over to say hello. Highly recommended.

Leo Coco

3) LP’s

Key ServiceServes smoked sausages
AddressSuite 1 – 16/12 Chippen St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Websitehttps://lpsqualitymeats.com/
Phone(02) 8399 0929
Operating HoursThursday 5pm-LATE
Friday 5pm-LATE
Saturday 10am-LATE
Sunday 10am-4pm

There’s no denying that Black Label offers some of the best smoked meats and sweets in Colorado. LP’s quality meats is a restaurant and smallgoods production facility located in Chippendale, Sydney, known for its smoked sausages, high-quality smallgoods, and award-winning restaurant. LP’s chefs make some of the highest quality small goods in Sydney with a staff of enthusiastic cooks led by Luke Powell.

Key Differentiators:

  • Seasonal men
  • Smallgoods production facility 
  • Serves smoked sausages

Customer’s Review:

A very quality hidden restaurant Sydney for your meat cravings. We haven’t been back to this restaurant for a long time and they’ve made some changes to their approachable menu. Nevertheless, everything we had here was executed to perfection. The friendly service was impeccable. The highlight is definitely their lamb dish, it was super tender and succulent. It also comes with a side of roasted veggies.

Wilsen Tjhung

4) Mary’s 

Key ServiceFusion of restaurant and pub
Address6 Mary Street Saint Peters, NSW, Australia 2042
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/MarysNewtown/
Emailinfo@6marystreet.com
Operating HoursMon to Fri 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Sat 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Sun 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Mary’s has established itself as the ‘premier burger restaurant’ in Newtown, with melted cheese, blow-torched onions, and smoky bacon on its burgers. Mary’s is a burger joint and bar in the heart of Auckland, where Luke Powell, ex-Tetsuya chef, has created an impressive fusion of restaurant and pub.

Key Differentiators:

  • Burger restaurant
  • Fusion of restaurant and pub
  • Offers inventive cocktail menu

Customer’s Review:

A friend recommend Mary’s and told us it was hard to find. Check the photos and you will find them. We had a few beers and burgers. One Mary’s burger and one cheeseburger. The bit came with shoestring fries. At $21 each, you may think expensive for a burger. The buns are fresh as are the lettuce and tomato on Mary’s burger. The meat patty was homemade and cooked medium and was juicy, not dry. The only thing I didn’t like was the patty was a little too salty. But I’m sure if made fresh each day, it may be a different taste tomorrow. Well worth the visit.

Davyd_E

5) Rising Sun

Key ServiceJapanese menu
Address1C Whateley Street Newtown NSW 2042
Websitehttps://www.risingsunworkshop.com/restaurant
Phone(02) 9550 3891
Operating HoursSunday – Thursday 8am – 4pm
Kitchen closes at 3:30pm
Wednesday – Saturday
All day menu 8am – 3:30pm
Dinner 6pm – 10pm

Rising Sun’s sheer creativity is something that sets it apart from the competition. Not only is this Newtown pozzy home to delectable food, but it also serves as a communal motorcycle workshop. The restaurant has a lounge, as well as happy hour from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., and serves a variety of Japanese dishes for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Most of their ideas come from Japan, so you’ll see some interesting variations on their best dishes. 

Key Differentiators:

  • Japanese menu
  • Famous for their ramen
  • Quirky dinner spot

6) The Garden, Ashfield Leagues Club

Key ServiceStunning indoor garden
Address115 Liverpool Road, Ashfield NSW 2131
Websitehttps://westsashfield.com.au/the-garden/
Phone(02) 8752 2000
Emailinfo@westsashfield.com.au
Operating HoursLunch: Monday – Friday 11:30am 2:30pm
Lunch: Saturday – Sunday 12.00pm 3:00pm
Dinner: Sunday – Thursday 5.30pm 9:00pm
Dinner: Friday – Saturday 5:30pm 10:00pm

It’s no overstatement to say that when you enter The Garden, your jaw immediately drops to the floor. After you’ve collected your jaw, you may go ahead and really enjoy this magnificent garden sanctuary. You’ll lose all sense of time as you take in the breathtaking beauty of this stunning glass house that opens up to an equally beautiful indoor garden.

Key Differentiators:

  • Beautiful glasshouse
  • Stunning indoor garden
  • Hidden gem in Ashfield

Customer’s Review:

This place is an absolute hidden gem! I can’t believe it took me so long to find it. The Garden is a beautiful oasis hidden away in the Ashfield Leagues Club. It’s perfect for a romantic dinner or a night out with friends. The staff are attentive and the food is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend the Garden to anyone looking for a hidden restaurant Sydney.

Emma D

7) Circa Espresso 

Key ServiceServes refined specialty coffee
Address19 – 21 Wentworth Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Websitehttps://www.circaespresso.com.au/
Emailhello@circaespresso.com.au
Operating HoursMon – Fri, 7am – 2:30 pm
Sat – Sun, 8am – 2:30pm

Circa Espresso is creating dining out in a garage… kind of incredible. It’s the perfect spot for alfresco dining experience and neighborhood vibes, as well as delicious espresso drinks menu. The team’s specialty coffee, graffiti murals inside and out, as well as a menu posted on butcher’s paper, has earned it a reputation for producing one of the most delicious breakfasts in town.

Key Differentiators:

  • Serves refined specialty coffee
  • Seasonal menu
  • Inspired by flavours and textures of the Middle East

Customer’s Review:

Great small brunch and breakfast place near Parramatta station. Good coffee (large cups are disposable which was not great, but I guess it was a temporary thing) and really good food. Ottoman eggs and the crab pasta were excellent.

Bruno Rodríguez Armesto

8) Balgowlah Wine Room And Bar

Key ServiceFine wines
AddressLevel 2 of Balgowlah RSL Club,
30-38 Ethel Street, Seaforth 2092
Websitehttps://www.thewineroombalgowlah.com.au/
Phone02) 9949 5477
Operating HoursWednesday – Saturday
Bar | 5.30 – Late
Restaurant | 5.30 – 9.00

The highlight of the Wine Room and Bar is a wine wall with a century’s worth of history. (Yes, we went there.) There are fine wines, fireplaces, leather chairs, wooden floors, barrel tables, and shared platters that you wouldn’t want to share. Yep, you may expect to polish off all of the chargrilled ciabattas on offer, or tuck into a plateful of sizzling prawns, tomato, garlic, chili and toasted sourdough.

Key Differentiators:

  • Wine wall with a century’s worth of history
  • Fine wines
  • Shared platters

Customer’s Review:

The Balgowlah Wine Room and Bar is a hidden gem in the Northern Beaches. The wine selection is amazing and the food is delicious. The staff are attentive and welcoming, and the atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable.

Marie Lin

9) Lobo Plantation

Key ServiceLatin-inspired cuisine
Address209 Clarence St Sydney, NSW, Australia 2000
Websitehttps://thelobo.com.au/
Emailinfo@thelobo.com.au
Operating HoursTUES TO SUNDAY
5pm to 2am

The Lobo Plantation is a rum bar with a Caribbean design. It’s located just across the street from Baxters and requires a lengthy, steep stairwell to access their Cuban jungle hideout. There’s also plenty of room for sitting and great service to boot. Their cuisine is Latin inspired, with South American and Caribbean dishes that are ideal for sharing.

Key Differentiators:

  • Latin-inspired cuisine
  • South American and Caribbean dishes
  • Cuban jungle hideout

Customer’s Review:

The Lobo Plantation is a hidden gem in Sydney. The rum selection is amazing, the cocktails are delicious, and the food is Latin-inspired and perfect for sharing. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, and the staff are attentive and welcoming. I highly recommend the Lobo Plantation to anyone looking for a hidden restaurant Sydney.

Chris P

10) INDU 

Key ServiceModern Indian cuisine
Address350 George Street
Entry via Angel Pl
Sydney 2000
Websitehttps://indudining.com.au/sydney
Phone02 9223 0158
Emailreservations@indudining.com.au
Operating HoursTuesday to Friday 12pm until late & Saturday evenings 5pm until late
VIVID SUNDAYS – 29th May, 5th June, 12th June 5pm until late

The first time I visited, INDU was a new Modern Indian restaurant in Angel Place’s basement (off George Street). What I enjoy most about this place is the enthusiasm with which they give back to the villages that inspire them. You can learn more about their Village to Village program on the menu. The drinks list has been created to go with the spicy cuisine. They’ve also developed a pleasant cocktail menu and a diverse selection of liquors, in addition to beer and wine. What an exceptional modern twist to Indian cuisines!

Key Differentiators:

  • Modern Indian cuisine
  • Great cocktail menu
  • Drinks list was created to go with the spicy cuisine

Customer’s Review:

A must-try for any vegans out there! We had their vegan tasting menu and the food was delightful. My partner has a garlic intolerance and they were able to accommodate this on their menu.

Tanya Quach

Hidden Restaurants Sydney

Hidden restaurant Sydney is a great place to find hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for amazing wine selections, fantastic dining experience, delicious food, or a unique atmosphere, there’s something for everyone among the 10 best hidden Sydney restaurants. Thanks for reading!

Since you have made it to the end, it would be great if you could check out the awesome articles that we have written for you! Maybe, it will help you add more fun to your daily lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hidden restaurants in Sydney worth to find?

There is no one definitive answer to this question. Some people may find hidden restaurants in Sydney worth the effort to find and explore, while others may not find them as appealing. Ultimately, it depends on individual preferences.

Are hidden restaurants in Sydney expensive?

Some hidden restaurants in Sydney may be more expensive than others, depending on the type of restaurant and the location. However, there are many affordable options available as well.

Do hidden restaurants in Sydney offer modern Australian cuisine?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as each hidden Sydney restaurant may offer its own unique type of cuisine. However, many restaurants in the city offer modern Australian cuisine, so there is likely something to suit everyone’s tastes.

What are the favourite dishes in Sydney?

Sydney’s food scene is incredibly diverse, with something to suit everyone’s taste. Some of the most popular dishes in the city include fish and chips, pizza, burgers, and Indian food. However, there are many other fantastic and effortlessly cool dishes to explore as well.

Rachel Tan - FunEmpire

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I'm currently the editor at FunEmpire Media Australia. I've over 8 years of experience in the media industry discovering the best local businesses, places and things to do in Australia. From lifestyle, entertainment, food, travel, education and more, I strive to curate the very best Australia has to offer.