- The best new restaurants in Sydney have been rounded up by the Sydney Travel Guide.
- Everything from Italian and Cantonese is on the menu for visitors to the Harbour City.
Sydney’s dynamic dining scene is constantly changing and never has this been more obvious than in the past few years. After a swift recovery from the pandemic, the city started demanding more luxurious, world-class restaurants and was given a big influx grand dining rooms as a result.
Recent months have restored a gentle balance to the scene, with a great diversity of new concepts: underground Italian restaurants with candlelit ambience (Neptune’s Grotto), beautiful evolutions of established legends like Saint Peter and Golden Century, unique cross-cultural clashes (Delta Rue), dramatic Greek restaurants with unforgettable spaces (Olympus Dining) and more Sydney restaurant openings.
To help guide locals and visitors around Sydney’s new dining scene, we’ve listed 10 of our favourite new Sydney restaurants for you to get across. And yes, consider this a challenge.
These are the best new restaurants in Sydney
Last Updated: April 2025
Editor’s Pick: The Dining Room, The Rocks
Best new restaurant in Sydney CBD: Eleven Barrack
Best new restaurant in Western Sydney: IFTAR
1. The Dining Room, The Rocks
Signature dishes: Coral trout with ‘nduja XO piperade; Margra lamb loin with braised cavalo nero.
As the headline kitchen for new venue The Collective (formerly The Argyle), The Dining Room fires on all cylinders. Premium food cooked exceptionally well with top-shelf local produce, standard-bearing service and a beautiful atmosphere that’s built well by The Collective’s choose-your-own-adventure offering. There are numerous venues within this historic sandstone building, including stalwarts The Cut and Sake and tiny cocktail bar Tailor Room.
But new takes precedence, and all eyes are on The Dining Room right now. The best way to play is by ordering up some of those large plates and sharing in a big group. Think Margra lamb loin ($58) with braised cavalo nero, coral trout ($80) with ‘nduja XO piperade, and baked short grain rice ($46) with harissa roasted bone marrow. Follow that up with a cocktail or two in Tailor Room or kick on to the lounge area upstairs with its rotating roster of DJs and nods to the building’s party-minded past.
Address: 12-18 Argyle St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (7am – 12am)
2. Corner 75
Signature dishes: Chicken broth with semolina dumplings; golden schnitzel.
Jean Paul El Tom (of Baba’s Place) and Daniel Puskas (of Sixpenny) have put their considerable culinary chops together and revived an under-radar Sydney classic. Randwick’s Corner 75 is all about traditional Hungarian food that’s now been lifted by interesting Australian twists, melting much of Baba’s strong sense of community with Sixpenny’s strong, exacting techniques to give Randwick some solid firepower when it comes to prying attention from the CBD’s splashy restaurants.
You’ll find dishes at Corner 75 that you wouldn’t spot anywhere else in Sydney. Think everything from classic Hungarian golden schnitzels to chicken broth with semolina dumplings.
Address: 75 Frenchmans Rd, Randwick NSW 2031
Contact: (02) 9399 5712
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Friday (5:30pm – 11pm); Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 11pm); Sunday (12pm – 5pm)
3. Tilda Dining, CBD
Signature dishes: bread and butter service; lobster mafaldine with shellfish butter.
It’s all about the massive platter of rich Mafaldine ($120/$220) with lobster, shellfish butter and basil. You could easily just split the bigger portion amongst four people and leave Tilda more than satisfied, but we recommend going for the smaller service and filling the table with a few other bits and bops from the restaurant’s beautiful, produce-forward menu.
As one of four venues curated by House Made Hospitality for Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, tilda shoulders much of what makes this five-star hotel’s hospitality scene such a masterclass for hotel dining in Sydney. The $39 bread and butter service is a definitive pop of theatre for the restaurant, featuring a large tableside tray where Pepe Saya butter is churned with macadamia, wildflower honey and wattleseed before being served up with a large slab of AP saltbush foccacia with some chewy, Haloumi-like jersey milk cheese on the side for good measure.
Address: 61-101 Phillip St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8530 0138
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (7am – 10pm); Saturday (5pm – 10pm)
4. AP Bread & Wine
Signature dishes: Smoked brisket tartine; leftover bread pasta with anchovy and zucchini; blue mackerel sandwich
Sydney’s most ubiquitous baker has nothing left to prove, but they’ve set out to prove it anyway. After several iterations for their traditional bakery offering, the carb-touting crew have now gone into dynamic day-to-night dining with AP Bread & Wine opening just off Oxford Street in an old sandstone cottage.
Want to pop by for a croissant gelato affogato in the afternoon? Sure. You can also come by a bit earlier for a premium ploughman’s platter with AP standards and other elevated breakfast dishes, or show up after dark with a menu that leans heavily on artisan pasta, like one with shapes made from leftover bread flavoured with anchovy and zucchini. An easy highlight? A masterfully simple beef rissole sandwich with peppercorn sauce, a fried egg and optional gruyere for $5.
Address: 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (7:30am – 3pm); Wednesday – Thursday (7:30am – 11pm); Friday (8am – 11pm); Saturday – Sunday (8am – 3pm)
5. Neptune’s Grotto, Surry Hills
Signature dishes: Egg yolk tagliatelle with pork and veal ragu; Cotoeletta alla Milanese; poached veal girello with smoked eel mayonnaise.
Although their beloved modern-French brasserie, Bistrot 916, is no more, hospo gurus Andy Tyson, Dan Pepperell and Mikey Clift have added another atmospheric notch to their increasingly impressive profile. Unlike the crew’s other Italian restaurant, the Taylor Swift-approved Pellegrino 2000, Neptune’s Grotto is a clandestine love affair with the regional specialties of Northern Italy.
Here you’ll find handmade pasta that you won’t see on any other menu in Sydney, like a Drurum wheat pasta ($40) with pork sausage and black pepper or the simply delicious egg yolk tagliolini ($39) with tomato and basil. Gentle twists on classic Italian cocktails take precedence over wine, although you’ll find a long list of Italian varietals as well—perfect for sipping the night away in those supremely comfortable leather booths.
Buoyed by a transportive ambiance, Neptune’s Grotto has already managed to set itself apart from all the other best Italian restaurants in Sydney.
Address: Young Street &, Bridge St, Sydney NSW
Contact: (02) 9167 6667
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (12pm – 11pm); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 12am)
6. Saint Peter, Paddington
Signature dishes: 12 day aged Yellowfin tuna; fish charcuterie; line caught John Dory.
Welcome to the new Saint Peter.
I would say “improved” but it’s mighty difficult to best what Josh Niland has done with his ode to sustainable seafood since it first opened in September 2016. Now ranked as one of world’s best restaurants, Saint Peter 2.0 has moved around the corner into The Grand National Hotel where Josh and Julie Niland have shaped an unforgettable, elegant boutique hotel with just 14 rooms.
Now Saint Peter thrives as a two-parter, split into a charming, understated bar (that doubles as the breakfast room for guests) where walk-ins sip on perfected martinis and bite into double yellowfin tuna cheeseburgers, and the main attraction: a tasteful dining room where every aspect has been carefully curated to complement the menu.
From plates made from old fish bones and oyster shells to expertly picked, seafood-loving wine, everything outside of the food helps build up the perfect ambiance for star dishes like fish charcuterie with John Dory liver pâté tarts, Southern Calamari with Yellowfin tuna ‘nduja, and a beautiful 12 day aged Yellowfin tuna served with a side of fresh summer vegetables.
Top tip: Stay as a guest at The Grand National Hotel and you’ll get to experience Saint Peter’s three-course breakfast, which elevates the typical hotel morning-starter with fresh fruit and Manjimup marron scrambled eggs with hollandaise made from the head.
Address: 161 Underwood St, Paddington NSW 2021
Contact: (02) 9167 3703
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday (5pm – 11pm); Thursday – Sunday (12pm – 11pm)
7. Delta Rue, CBD
Signature Dishes: Stir fried lobster with chilli sambal; Hanoi style roasted John Dory; roasted duck legs with spiced plum.
It’s rare to see Vietnamese in a luxury hotel, and yet a reinvigorated Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has designs on doing things differently in the world of upscale accommodation. Not only have they bought on one single hospitality group (House Made Hospitality) to curate the hotel’s dining scene, but the five-star has shown incredible forethought when it comes to grounding Australia’s oldest luxury hotel in complete and utter opulence.
Delta Rue is a French-Vietnamese restaurant showcasing another side of the famous hotel brand. The large-format, 210-seated restaurant is split into a dining room and terrace—a lively scene where vintage carts have been turned into bonafide Banh Mi trolleys and oversized pots of bamboo fill the spaces with life.
Crossing French decadence with produce-forward Vietnamese dishes does wonders for the menu, and distinguishes Delta Rue from just about all other Sydney restaurants. Think dishes like duck and foie gras spring rolls, chilli salt calamari, pork belly fried rice with five spice gravy, wok fried egg noodles with king prawns, and stir fried lobster and chilli sambal. Don’t forget the Hanoi style roasted John Dory to add a bit of Australian-ness to the mix, and regulars can’t seem to get enough of the roasted duck legs with spiced plum and pancakes.
Address: 101 Phillip St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8530 0138
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (7pm – 11pm); Wednesday (7am – 10pm); Thursday – Saturday (7am – 11pm); Sunday (7am – 10pm)
8. Bessie’s, Surry Hills
Signature dishes: Bone-in striploin with vine leaf chimmichurri; Moreton Bay bug sandwich; fried hot ocean jacket cheeks with green goodess.
The faultless team of Sal and Nathan Sasi with Morgan McGlone can do no wrong. At least it seems that way. When the reliable crew opened up Bar Copains on leafy Albion Street a few years ago, no one would have expected the tiny neighbourhood wine bar would go on to become one of the most highly prized venues in Sydney.
Now the team has taken over the former Chef’s Warehouse space just up the road and turned the space into a modern duo: a separate restaurant and bar under the same roof, with Bessie’s being the top pick for foodies. Fire-cooking takes pride of place for the menu, resulting in dishes like ocean jacket cheek nuggets ($22) with Green Goddess dip and bone-in striploin ($62) with vine leaf chimichurri.
This two-in-one looks to be unstoppable as the hype continues to pick up amongst Sydney’s most discerning foodies. Or you can just pop in for a quick Moreton bay bug sandwich ($24), slapped between two fluffy slices of white bread.
Top tip: Saunter on over to Alma’s for a lively, atmospheric cocktail lounge that’s perfect for drinks before and after dinner.
Address: 111-115 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday (5pm – 12am); Thursday – Sunday (12pm – 12am)
9. Cibaria, Manly
Signature dishes: King prawns with sun-dried tomato ‘nudja and chilli; spaghetti aragosta with rock lobster ragu; lumache with king prawns.
Alessandro and Anna Pavoni are clearly at their best when there’s a waterside location and Italian cuisine involved. The pair have given Sydney some of its most endearing coastal Italian institutions like the romantic Ormeggio at the Spit and Crown Sydney’s a’Mare. Now they’ve taken another pop at Northern Beaches glamour with the opening of Cibaria at the newly renovated (and recently award-winning) Manly Pacific Hotel.
There’s no mistaking the Mediterranean influences at this breezy beachfront diner, where the relaxed Northern Beaches lifestyle plays perfectly with fresh seafood like king prawns ($48) with sun-dried tomato ‘nduja and the crowd-pleasing spaghetti aragosta ($79) with rock lobster ragu. Team Pavoni has found such success with a’Mare’s gorgeous sense of theatre so expect a lot of tableside preparation and immaculate, efficient service—the greatest side dish of them all.
Top tip: flirt with the in-house gelato counter for some takeaway treats and take a little stroll alongside the beach (it’s just across the road).
Address: 55 N Steyne, Manly NSW 2095
Contact: (02) 8350 0895
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (7am – 11am, 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10:30pm); Friday – Saturday (7am – 11am, 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm); Sunday (7am – 11am, 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10:30pm)
10. Eleven Barrack, CBD
Signature dishes: F1 wagyu T-bone with Café de Paris and jus.
The Bentley Group has a strong track record of reliably pushing Sydney’s dining scene towards the world’s stage. Eleven Barrack is their latest attempt to dial in some sophistication for the Harbour City, giving an old heritage building the restaurant it deserves. Given the deathless love Sydneysiders have for fine dining icon Bentley Restaurant & Bar, it looks like we’ve just welcomed another future classic.
A highly textured, multicoloured dining room expertly makes such an intimidatingly grand dining room look casual. Such a balancing act isn’t easy to achieve, transforming an 1850s bank into a scene that’s both playful and glamourous. Think heritage marble columns left untouched but complemented by Tasmanian oak panelling, a high carved plaster ceiling and a grand piano, offset with exciting light fittings, horse paintings and a sightly purple column that cuts through the middle of the dining room.
The menu is conservative but focuses on simply dishes cooked exceptionally well with top-shelf local produce. You’ll taste the noble approach in dishes like coal-roasted Murray cod with green garlic sauce and an essential F1 wagyu T-Bone with Café de Paris and jus. Stick to the classics and you’ll have a fantastic time.
Address: 11 Barrack St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9220 0111
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (12pm – 10pm); Saturday – Sunday (5:30pm – 10pm)
11. IFTAR, Merrylands
Signature dishes: Lamb shawarma tacos; minced lamb pasta with garlic yoghurt and burnt butter.
Western Sydney’s rapidly modernising dining scene has a new hero. Historically, Merrylands has been a grey area for design-conscious, atmospheric restaurants but IFTAR—named for the fast-breaking feast during Ramada—and chef-owner Jeremy Agha is steady luring diners outside of the CBD with a gorgeous earth space with textured clay walls and marble floors.
But of course it’s not just aesthetic that’s got everyone talking about IFTAR. The food is uncompromising, sticking true to tradition with playful twists like lamb shawarma tacos and Wagyu kofta dumplings. Get some of that wood-fired sourdough bread and mop up all types of rich delights like manoush, batata harra and eggplant fetteh.
Breakfast is a must. Gorgeous platters of fresh produce track everything from fried eggs, foul and labneh to mixed pickles, dried fruit, seasonal vegetables and village cheeses. Do note that the restaurant is still brand new so is only open during Ramadan hours for breakfast and lunch right now. There are plans to introduce a dinner service soon.
Address: Main Ln, Merrylands NSW 2160
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (10am – 3pm)
12. Flora, Newtown
Signature dishes: Ricotta and cocao husk short stack pancakes; chickpea walnut burger.
As part of the newly opened Australia Street row, Flora is Newtown’s latest upscale vegetarian restaurant from the same team behind Sydney’s beloved Continental Deli. It’s all day, but most of the love so far has been focused on the earlier hours of the day with the kitchen’s ricotta and cocao husk short stack pancakes ($24) with espresso butter consistently pulling in rave reviews.
Expect the unexpected when walking up to the historic butter-yellow house. We’re talking roasted tomato and bullhorn pepper gazpacho ($22) with sheep’s milk yoghurt, cheese and rosemary bikini; purple congo potato gnocchi ($32) with cultured butter and herbs; and a fascinating signature burger ($24) with a chickpea walnut pattie, cheese, lettuce and tomato on a house milk bun.
The best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney typically stick to the expected. With The Bentley Group’s Yellow being an easy exception. Flora is a much-needed breathe of fresh air in that regard, perfectly slotting into Newtown’s progressive dining culture.
Address: 206 Australia St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 9123 5501
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm); Saturday – Sunday (9am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm)
Where else should I eat in Sydney?
While Neptune’s Grotto (beneath Clam Bar) and The Collective are currently the top picks in Sydney, there’s still plenty of other places that are helping push the city’s dining scene further onto the world stage to rival the likes of London, Chicago, Tokyo and New York City.
Neil Perry is doing great things over in Double Bay with both Song Bird and Margaret (and the drinks menu at jazz and cocktail bar Bobbie’s is delicious). Executive Chef Jacob Lee has perfected the art of Korean BBQ at Soot in Barangaroo. Sydneysiders can’t get enough of the chip butty with butter chicken gravy at Derrel’s. Head chef Jamie Robertson put the historic Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park onto a winner with Sydney Common.
There’s more. Executive chef Mike Eggert has given Merivale another stunner with Good Luck Restaurant Lounge. Head chef Charles Woodward and Joel Bickford are going great things with The Grill at The International in Martin Place and Tilda Dining in Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
You’ll also want to head on over the North Sydney, where Etymon Projects is doing weighty work with talent like Executive Chef Rhys Connell, who heads up the Walker Street precinct with bakery and wine bar Sol, bar and lounge Soluna, Japanese eatery and sake bar Genzo and providore Una. It’s a great place to mix-and-match: grab some Japanese dishes, maybe sit at the chef’s table as well, and then back that with some wine at Sol. This choose-your-own-dining-adventure approach is completely transforming how people eat out in Sydney.
What’s next for Sydney’s dining scene?
New Sydney restaurant openings won’t stop rolling out over the coming months. As above, we’ve got a big newbie from Hunter St Hospitality set to completely transform The Rocks. Then we also have the new Sydney Fish Market opening, and we’re hoping at least one of those restaurants will have a good, creamy butter poached bug roll on the menu.
For a deeper insight into all the new Sydney restaurant, bar and hotel openings coming this year take a read of our what’s new in Sydney guide.
Why trust this list?
Sydney Travel Guide’s staff have spent weeks dining out at the best new Sydney restaurants to help put together this round-up for our readers. We realised that bloated dining listicles can end up giving people choice anxiety so we wanted to keep it tightly curated and keep it just ten of our favourite new Sydney restaurants. This is by no means an exhaustive list, which is why we’ve included a section calling out a few other places you should eat around town.
Personally, I’ve been writing about food in Sydney for over ten years and feel like I’ve developed a great sense of what is good Sydney and what isn’t. As such, you can trust this list whether you’re a born-and-bred local or a visitor looking for places to eat in Sydney.
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