Olympic Meats

Restaurant · Greek · $$$$$ · marrickville

When this cross between a gyradiko and a taverna opened, it kept selling out of everything, every night. We can see why. Stop by for great grilled meats and pita, rotating meze, house-made filo and spanakopita, and a warm vibe.

12 Dudley Street

Jane

Restaurant · $$$$$ · surry hills

A handsome brasserie-style spin-off by the team from Arthur Restaurant. It’s primed for casual afterwork drinks and snacks with a sharing menu focused on zero-waste.

478 Bourke Street

Homer Rogue Taverna

Restaurant · Greek · $$$$$ · cronulla

It’s Greek by the beach, but Homer is more inspired by Athens than Mykonos or Santorini. Particularly the ancient capital’s new-school tavernas. That means a menu of approachable Greek classics, remixed with contemporary edge.

Surf Road

Clam Bar

Restaurant · Seafood · $$$$$ · sydney

A handsome, New York-inspired seafood grill and steakhouse that’s all about irreverently executed classics. It’s only been around for a little while, but Clam Bar already feels woven into the fabric of the CBD.

44 Bridge Street

Tita Carinderia

Cafe · Filipino · $$$$$ · marrickville

Tita isn’t your typical Filipino carinderia. Hit this heaving cafe and bakery for classic Filipino breakfasts, egg and longganisa sausage muffins, house-made pandesal buns, and ube soft serve ice-cream.

359 Illawarra Road

Noon

Cafe · $$$$$ · manly

The Chica Bonita team takes on brekkie at community-minded Noon. Find the usual breakfast darlings, plus creative morning plays showcasing suppliers you don’t usually see on the northern beaches.

18 Raglan Street

Bar Planet

Bar · $$$$$ · newtown

The Martini reigns supreme at this psychedelic cocktail bar. The gun bartenders pour them any way you like, and the bottomless popcorn will keep you thirsty.

16 Enmore Road

An Restaurant

Restaurant · Vietnamese · $$$$$ · bankstown

The recipes at this Saigon-style eatery, which is now one of Sydney’s oldest and most popular pho joints, haven’t changed since it opened back in 1987. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

27 Greenfield Parade

Ursula’s

Restaurant · $$$$$ · paddington

Acclaimed chef Phil Wood’s first solo project is an elegant take on the classic bistro, where he brings Australian ideas to life using classic European techniques. It’s the kind of place you could happily eat at every week.

92 Hargrave Street

Bar Herbs

Bar · $$$$$ · sydney

They conquered the Marg with Tio's, Cantina Ok and Centro 86. Then they came for the Martini with Bar Planet. Now, the Mucho Group's latest hot spot focuses on the Negroni. The drinks are bitter but the vibes are sweet.

213 Clarence Street

Firedoor

Restaurant · $$$$$ · surry hills

Lennox Hastie's seminal Surry Hills fine diner helped usher in a wave of fire-focused restaurants around Australia. But the original is tough to beat. The menu has morphed and developed over the years, and feels as vital as ever.

23-33 Mary Street

Bills Darlinghurst

Cafe · $$$$$ · darlinghurst

This Darlinghurst legend created the “Australian cafe” blueprint that’s now imitated worldwide. And Bill Granger’s classic dishes – from corn fritters to ricotta hotcakes – still hit just as hard today.

433 Liverpool Street

Sixpenny

Restaurant · $$$$$ · stanmore

This “little restaurant in Stanmore” serves ferment-forward dishes that are inventive, accessible and deeply Australian all at once. It’s a vision brought to life in a tiny historic building on a suburban backstreet.

83 Percival Road

Bistro Grenier

Restaurant · French · $$$$$ · newtown

Odd Culture is one of Sydney’s essential bars. But last year it got even better with the addition of Bistro Grenier – a sexy upstairs bistro. Come for faithful French cooking, a romantic ambiance, and a varied drinks list.

266 King Street

MMC Slice Shoppe

Restaurant · Pizza · $$$$$ · marrickville

After an extensive research trip to New York, the team behind My Mother’s Cousin have opened a nostalgic pizzeria firing out round pies and squares by the slice like they do in the Big Apple.

65 Addison Road

Earl's Juke Joint

Bar · $$$$$ · newtown

Hidden behind the facade of old butcher shop on King Street, you’ll find a lively cocktail bar that’s serious about stiff drinks, but promises a rollicking good time all at once. Come for classic cocktails and Reschs on tap.

407 King Street

Sean’s

Restaurant · $$$$$ · bondi

This “rickety-chic” institution has been winning over Sydneysiders with its ever-changing seasonal menu since 1993. It’s packed with ultra-fresh – check the restaurant chalkboard details. Cheerfully charming and dangerously good.

270 Campbell Parade

Mensho Tokyo

Restaurant · Japanese · $$$$$ · sydney

The Sydney outpost of Tomoharu Shono's Michelin-recommended ramen chain. Hit this “farm to bowl” spot for a signature chicken soup – featuring house-made noodles made from Australian wheat varieties.

2 Temperance Lane