I really don’t visit Sydney often enough. But whenever I am there, I can trust a few friends to show me some of the best eating places. The following is a few of the must-go places, especially for first-timers to the city. Here is my guide to where to eat in Sydney.
Adriano Zumbo
If you follow MasterChef Australia, you would be familiar with Adriano Zumbo – who is probably the most well-known patissier in Australia. His followers love him for the unusual creations, while he also has his fair share of critics who do not understand what they are eating. I am a big fan of Zumbo and while there are hits and misses, I very much enjoy his desserts. The main patisserie at Balmain is slightly inaccessible, but trust me, it is worth the trip. Otherwise, you can go to his new shop at The Star to takeaway cakes and macarons.
296 Darling St
Balmain, NSW 2040, Australia
Mon to Sat: 8am – 6pm
Sun: 8am – 5pm
Shop 1, Cafe Court The Star/80 Pyrmont Street
Pyrmont NSW 2009, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9777 9000
Mon: 11am – 10pm
Tue to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 11am – 9pm
Bills
A trip to Sydney is not complete without a visit to one of Bill Granger’s restaurants. Having breakfast at Bills is one of the must-do things when you are in the city. Come here for his much-lauded ricotta hotcakes and scrambled eggs. You will not be disappointed.
For more recommendations, read my post on Sydney’s best brunch spots.
359 Crown Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9360 4762
Daily: 7am – 10pm
433 Liverpool Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9360 9631
Daily: 7am – 3pm
Bourke Street Bakery is a neighbourhood joint where locals meet their friends for coffee; or drop by to grab some pastries for breakfast next day. My experience at Bourke Street Bakery was mind-blowing. Everything – lemon curd tart, croissant, chocolate tart, strawberry & vanilla brulee tart, flourless chocolate cake – that we had was so good.
For more recommendations, read my post on Sydney’s best desserts.
633 Bourke Street
Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010
Tel: +6 2 9699 1011
Mon to Fri: 7am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 5pm
Chat Thai
The most famous Thai restaurant in Sydney, Chat Thai serves good Thai food at decent prices (by Sydney’s standard), and most importantly, they open till late night. If you are craving for Thai food when you are in Sydney, Chat Thai is your best bet.
20 Campbell Street
Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9211 1808
Daily: 10am – 2am
Gelato Messina
This is probably one of the most popular gelato shops in Sydney. Besides offering a variety of their signature flavours, the folks at Messina also constantly come up with new treats.
Shop 1/241 Victoria St,
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Tel: +61 2 8354 1223
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11.30pm
Harry’s Cafe de Wheels
Harry’s Cafe de Wheels is an Australian icon serving legendary pies and mushy peas, pasties and hot dogs. Definitely a must-visit when you are in Sydney.
730/742 George Street
Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9211 2506
Mon & Tue: 9am – 10pm
Wed & Thu: 9am – 1am
Fri & Sat: 10a – 4pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Hurricane’s Grill Steakhouse
Another Sydney institution. Hurricane’s Grill Steakhouse is where locals and tourists go for the famous Hurricane’s ribs. If ribs are not your thing, you can try their premium Australian steaks and burgers.
2-10 Darling Drive
Darling Harbour NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9211 2210
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Kura Japanese
One of my favourite to-go places is Kura, a little hole-in-the-wall eatery at Haymarket that serves very decent Japanese food at affordable prices.
3/76 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9212 5661
Mon to Thu: 10.30am – 11.30pm
Fri & Sat: 10.30am – 12 midnight
Sun: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Madang Korean BBQ
Madang is a household name in Sydney. It is the hottest Korean BBQ joint in town, and the queue – usually at least an hour wait during peak hours – is the testimony of its popularity. There is no doubt that Madang has good Korean BBQ and tasty kimchi pancakes. Definitely one of the must-eat places in Sydney.
371A Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9264 7010
Daily: 11.30am – 12am
Mamak Malaysian Restaurant
Mamak is one of the most popular eateries in Sydney. It has affordable and authentic Malaysian food – think roti, nasi goreng and nasi lemak. You are probably thinking: why would anyone want to eat Malaysian food in Sydney? You need to know that Mamak dishes out tantalising Malaysian cuisine that you can otherwise hardly find in Sydney. If you have never been to Malaysia, or if you are working/studying in Sydney and miss this Asian genre, you have a new option now.
15 Goulburn Street
Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9211 1668
Sun to Thu: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 2am
Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 12 midnight
Ms G Restaurant
A cool and funky modern Asian restaurant which sprawls over four floors – the perfect place to hang out with your friends over cocktails and delicious food. I wish someone would open a restaurant that has a similar concept to Ms G in Singapore.
155 Victoria St, Potts Point NSW 2011, Australia
Tel: +61 2 8313 1000
Mon to Sat: 5pm – 11pm
Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Pancakes on the Rocks
Another institution in Sydney, Pancakes on the Rocks serves all kinds of pancakes. There are plenty of things to choose from the menu, and best of all, it opens 24 hours 7 days a week.
4 Hickson Rd, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9247 6371
Daily: 24 Hours
Sydney Fish Market
Here, you can get the freshest seafood in town. Enjoy freshly shucked oysters and a scrumptious seafood platter alongside seagulls and giant pelicans on the wharf.
Bank Street
Pyrmont NSW 2009, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9004 1100
The Tea Cosy
A great spot for afternoon tea, The Tea Cosy is a lovely tea room where you can get terrific scones and enjoy a pot of tea.
33 George Street
The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: +61 2 9247 3233
Hmmm those listed are more ‘touristy’. Sydney is like my second home…i scoured for good cafes and prefer the local ones….if u going again…i can give you a list of them…
But Bourke St Bakery is awesome. Best sausage rolls ever. Hurricane Grill offers a decent feed
@Evelyn Hello! Yes the ones that I have included are more ‘touristy’, which is why I said that they are probably more suitable for first-timers to the city. I have other places that I want to share too, but this list is getting a little too long, so I have decided to save it for another post. Let me know if you have any good cafes to recommend!
Hi! I was just wondering if you could offer some advise on where to stay for lodging as well? Am trying to plan a trip there!
Ahhhh i see!! Understand! My list is super long too!!
Oh friends have been raving about Six Penny at Stanmore and Momofoku at the Star too.
2 local gems are Youeni in surry hills (a bit hard to find tho) and Two Good Eggs also in surry hills.
Can’t wait to see your other posts. Btw love your blog
For accommodation, it all depends on where you want to be…I like service apartments so Meriton Apartments work well for me…quite a number of them in the city. Alternatively, something on market st if you want to be near shopping…or if you want a beautiful view, fourpoint sheraton on sussex offers a gorgeous view of darling harbour
I think you have a good list however you have missed a few essentials…
Pizza- RossoPomodoro, White Bay or Lucio’s, Darlinghurst
Ramen- Ryo, Crows Nest or Zundo, World Square CBD
Vietnamese Fried Chicken- Tan Viet, Cabbramatta
Isaac Northen Thai- House, Haymarket
Indian- Maya, Surry Hills (vego)
Good list for first timers!
Some ‘hidden’ gems:
Pizza – Pizza Mario in Surry Hills (VPN certified)
Pasta – Fratelli Fresh/ Cafe Sopra (Walsh Bay and various others)
Ramen – Gumshara (Eating world, Chinatown)
Burgers – Mary’s Newtown or The Dip at Goodgod
Coffee – gnome espresso surry hills
Wine bar – Gazebo potts point
As a resident of Sydney, I was eager to see what exciting restaurants you recommended, as I’m always looking for new places to try. Alas, with the exception of a couple on your list, the recommendations are very touristy, mainstream restaurants, and definitely not for ‘foodies’. Sydney has so much more to offer than these, and they aren’t even hidden! I definitely recommend creating a list of places for not just ‘first timers’.
I agree with Sharkie. Come visit us in Newtown! Hell, send me an email or something (Tumblr message is your best bet) and I’ll give you a personal tour, telling you what to eat where.
Sharkie, try Pho 88 in Newtown. It’s just across from the station. Great Aunty 3 is directly across from the Enmore Theatre and it does Vietnamese street food. Delicious and dirt cheap.
Hannah,
My husband and I are coming to Australia in the next couple of weeks for 16 days and would love to know some great places to go (that locals like!) while visiting Sydney. Any reccomendations are greatly apprecaited!
Hi there, I am heading to sydney shortly..
Are you or Evelyn able to give me a list of places to go to please?
Thanks