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

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

All I care about on a lazy Sunday morning is brunch. Really. Just by thinking about the warm cup of coffee and awesome scramble with toasts is enough to make me hungry. Being in Sydney for at least a year now, I’ve visited quite a few brunch places and there are just a few that I love to rave about!

The following is a list of 5 brunch places in Sydney that you must check out, and trust me on this, they are not your usual eggs and toast.

Before we get started, you might also want to check out my list of Sydney’s best dessert places.

Baffi & Mo

The must-haves at Baffi & Mo are their Baked Eggs and Buttermilk Pancakes. I can guarantee you that you will be mind blown once you bite into that soft triple layer of pancakes that sits nicely in a plate, topped with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream and most importantly, BUTTERSCOTCH sauce!

The other favourite is the Baked Eggs with toast! There are no words to describe how delicious the baked eggs are. It comes in a hot pan with some minced meat wrapped under the baked eggs topped with fresh toast. Bring your friends along so you can share, the portions are huge and you do not want to have either only!

94 Redfern Street
Redfern 2016
Tel: (02) 8065 3294

Jakyll & Hyde Coffee & Wine Bar

This place was a lovely surprise. I cannot believe that I’ve had actually walked past it countless of times without heading in. The atmosphere is peaceful and gives you a little Italian lane kind of mood. The breakfast menu is not extensive but it is different from the usual. I had the Dr Jakyll’s Eggs, which comprises scramble eggs with feta cheese on a toasted wholemeal sourdough and topped with tomato relish. The tomato relish gives your palate a refreshing tang that sets the scramble apart from the norm. Perfect place to go for a Sunday brunch!

333 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 9360 5568

Clipper Café

One of the more popular brunch places among the university kids is Clipper Café, where they just love to take a break from all the books. The café’s interior is decorated with wooden furnishings, with cute little cactus on each table and vintage bicycles hanging off the walls.

This little café is known for their Panini sandwiches. Other must tries are their Baked Eggs with Mushrooms and Poached Eggs with Salmon, Avocado and Sourdough Toast! Do not forget to get a cup of their freshly brewed coffee to boost your energy!

16 Glebe Point Road
Glebe 2037
Tel: (04) 1180 0063

Le Monde Café

I’ve heard so much about Le Monde Café and their breakfast for a very long time now. Finally, I got my chance at stuffing myself with all the great brekkie items on the menu! Scrambles are always a safe choice. While, an adventurous appetite will not let you leave without trying the Ricotta Pancakes with Cinnamon Apple and Honeycomb topped with vanilla ice cream!

“Le Mon”, the way we call it, also serves some pretty legit coffee with their daily special blends for the caffeine lovers out there. Situated near Central Station, along the café filled Surry Hills, is where you will find this amazing brekkie place.

83 Foveaus Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 9211 3568

Luxe Bakery

Can I just say that I am in love with their sourdough!!! This pretty café sits on a small lane along Newtown, where it usually gets packed with people during the breakfast and lunch hour. It does not have an extensive menu, but why go for quantity when you have quality.

As you can tell, I do like my scrambles and this place makes one of the best scramble eggs in town. It’s silky and buttery. You can choose your sides ranging from mushrooms, bacon, to cured ocean trout. It all comes with a slice of sourdough toast. Luxe is known for their sourdough and pastries, and apparently, it supplies sourdough to most of the cafes in Newtown. Apart from that, Luxe do have a lunch menu as well and always go for their Specials if you’re in the mood for something different!

195 Missenden Road
Newtown NSW 2042
Tel: (02) 8084 1775

About the writer:
Just like that foodie friend of yours, Natalie is one who hunts down all the yummy food places and will want to order every single dish on the menu! Especially if it comes to dessert! With a strong passion for food and writing, she started a little writing space on Tumblr and her journey begins. You can read about Natalie’s adventures in Sydney here.

I want to share a list of eating places in Sydney that left a deep impression on me, but before that, I would like to present a prelude – Bourke Street Bakery.

It 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 that we had was so good. Lemon curd tart, croissant, chocolate tart, strawberry and vanilla brulee tart, flourless chocolate cake – wow!!

When you are visiting Sydney, a visit to Bourke Street Bakery should be on the top of your list of things to do. I would hop on a plane just to eat here.

The bakery serves simple, honest and delicious baked goods like strawberry & vanilla brulee tart (A$5), lemon curd tart (A$4.50), raspberry & chocolate mousse tart (A$4.80) and carrot cake (A$4.50).

On my first visit, I had a croissant and chocolate tart. They were so good that I went back again the following day. The croissant was beautiful: buttery, flaky and it goes perfectly well with a cup of hot coffee, or taken away as an afternoon snack while you stroll around Surry Hills.

I am going out on a limb to say that the chocolate tart here is one of the best that I’ve ever tasted. From the first bite I sank my teeth into the sinfully good chocolate tart, I knew this was the one that I’ve been looking for.

During the second visit, we had the lemon curd tart (also one of the best I’ve had), flourless chocolate cake (A$4.5), and two tarts. Everything was perfect.

“We must come back again soon.” I overheard this as two customers were leaving the place. I think it sums up everything you need to know about Bourke Street Bakery. It is definitely one of the best dessert places in Sydney.

Bourke Street Bakery
633 Bourke Street
Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 9699 1011

I heard everyone has a separate stomach for desserts. At least, it’s true for all those with a sweet tooth like me. Some people say that Sydney is known for the awesome cafés and beaches. However, do you know there is quite a handful of amazing dessert places too?

Here is a list of my top 10 favourite dessert places in Sydney. While discovering Sydney, why not make it a sweet one too?

From cakes, to tarts, and pastries, and ice cream, we have it all covered!

The Grounds of Alexandria

Good Food Guide awarded the Best New Café of the Year 2012 to The Grounds of Alexandria. I did not know this fact until I witness the insane number of people waiting to get a seat when I arrived (and of course the award that was placed on top of the dessert display glass case).

While in line, we could not help but get started on the sweet bites available at the take away counter. After being offered a bite of the Lemon Curd Tart by my friend, I could not help but went to get another one! I can safely say it’s one of the best in Sydney. The filling of the tart is pudding-like that is lemony sweet. The lemon zest on top of the tart not only made it look pretty but also adds a hint of bitterness that blends out the sweetness. The Chocolate Tart has a crust like those of an egg tart, fluffy and flaky. You will be spoilt with choices at The Grounds. No doubt, this place is worth the wait!

Building 7A, No.2 Huntley Street
Alexandria, Sydney NSW 2015
Tel: (02) 9699 2225

Black Star Pastry

Tuck away in a small lane of Newtown is this little pastry café that serves pastries that have an interesting mix of flavours. The Strawberry & Watermelon Cake (AUD$6) is a local favourite; mine too. It’s a blend of fruity freshness from the watermelon and sweetness from the strawberries. I love how the watermelon adds that extra crunch to the cake. It’s a must try in Sydney.

If you are feeling ambitious, go for the Raspberry Crème Brulee tart. What really add that magic spark to this place is their little creative creations of sweet treats. You’ll definitely find something out of the norm at Black Star Pastry!

277 Australia Street
Newtown, Sydney NSW 2042
Tel: (02) 9557 8656

The French House

This French House is one of the many nice cafés in Waterloo, Sydney. What drew me to it were the French inspired exteriors with the metal floral designed seats and rich black velvet cushion ones inside. This is just the place where you will want to laze your day away catching up with some friends over a cup of latte and sweet treats.

I simply could not resist the Citron Tart when saw it. With the first bite, the tart simply melts away in my mouth. You get the buttery crust with the sweet citron filling and a zesty touch. Another one that I love is the Strawberry Cream Tart topped with loads of fresh strawberries. The list just goes on and on. If your love for tarts never ends, The French House is the place to go.

1 Danks Street
Waterloo, Sydney NSW 2017
Tel: (02) 8399 2770

Baroque Bistro Patisserie

When I step foot in this place, I was in awe. It’s such a beautiful patisserie that sits in the middle of The Rocks with an awesome view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s a nice place to go to just unwind with some desserts and tea.

I have to say Baroque has the best macarons in Sydney. The flavours are classic and sweet but not overpowering. It’s light and fluffy that melts in your mouth with every little bite. Some of my favourites include the Passionfruit, Pistachio and Sour Cream and Rosewater Macaron ($2.70 each).

Not to mention they have really yummy cakes as well that comes with a sorbet on the side. Definitely a great place to have an afternoon out with your girlfriends.

88 George Street (corner of Hickson Road)
The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9241 4811

The Sweet Spot Patisserie

This patisserie reminds me of the colours of Tiffany & Co. with delicate interior décor. More importantly, it’s packed with a wide variety of cakes and sweets.

One of my favourite got to be the Caprioska! Not only does it look pretty, it’s filled with a bag full of flavours. It’s a short cake with vanilla cream, and lychee in the middle, topped with some raspberries. Now, the magic is in the pink dome exterior. It’s crispy and cracks open when you push your dessert folk into it. Imagine all the textures, a crispy exterior with a soft mousse-like short cake in the middle filled with sweetness. I’m in heaven right now. If you love cakes, you’ll love this!

18 Perouse Road
Randwick, Sydney NSW 2031
Tel: (02) 9399 3344

The Tea Cozy

Who doesn’t love buttery scones and a pot of fragrant tea on a lazy Sunday afternoon? The Tea Cozy serves one of the best scones in town! Ranging from the classic flavours like Buttermilk (plain) to their daily specialty scones.

All scones come with your choice of jam and double thick cream. I love how you can always get the best of both worlds with the jams available. Both the classic flavours (Strawberry jam) and the adventurous ones like Pawpaw, Lime and Passionfruit jam. My favourite is definitely the Pear and Vanilla jam! Living up to its name, it brings in an amazing range of Irish teas. Some unique ones that I totally adore are the Crème Brulee tea and Green Tea with Strawberry!

33 George Street
The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9247 3233

Pancakes On The Rocks

Pancakes are huge in Australia. Anyone who first arrived in Sydney will definitely be directed to Pancakes On The Rocks. Some even said if you have not tried the pancakes here, you have not been to Sydney!

Obviously, I’ve a sweet tooth and my favourite is the Hot ‘N’ Troppo dessert pancake! It has two huge buttermilk pancakes topped with cream, chocolate ice cream, walnuts that add an extra crunch to the dessert and grilled bananas on the side for that fruity touch! Of course not forgetting the home made chocolate drizzle to complete this heart-warming plate. The Hot ‘N; Troppo is a sure winner among the many sweet pancakes on the Menu!

4 Hickson Road
The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9683 4322

Bourke Street Bakery

You know a place is special when it makes you sit up and take notice. Okay, maybe I am not getting the point across, let’s try this again. To use the word ‘special’, is an understatement. My experience at Bourke Street Bakery was mind-blowing. Everything that we had was so good. Lemon curd tart, croissant, chocolate tart, strawberry and vanilla brulee tart, flourless chocolate cake – wow!!

“We should definitely come back again.” I overheard this as two guests were leaving the bakery. I think it tells you everything you need to know about Bourke Street Bakery.

633 Bourke Street
Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 9699 1011

Chocolateria San Churro

It’s not easy to find good churros in Singapore. For those who don’t know, Churro is a Spanish Doughnut. When I first arrive in Sydney, everyone was talking about San Churro. The churros here got to be one of the better ones that I’ve had. It’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and topped with cinnamon sugar. It comes with San Churro Chocolate dips of white, milk, dark, hazelnut choc or caramel. If you like really sweet stuff, go for the white, and the dark is the perfect choice for bittersweet lovers.

At San Churro, apart from the churros, you will want to give their drinks a go, namely, Hot and Cold. It comes with a white chocolate ice cream in your classic hot chocolate. Something worth trying out in Sydney!

47 Glebe Point Road
Glebe, Sydney NSW 2037
Tel: (02) 9692 0119

Adriano Zumbo

If you are a Masterchef fan, you might have heard of Adriano Zumbo, the man behind this wonderful Adriano Zumbo Patisserie. Zumbo is known for the creative flavours of macarons and desserts. Think Pancake & Maple Syrup or Custard Crunch flavoured macarons. Doesn’t this make you want to get some?

I would like to point out that apart from the macarons, what I truly love is the Passionfruit Tart. It’s filled with the fragrance of passionfruit with every bite, sweet with a hint of sourness. The crust adds the crunch to the soft fillings of the tart. It is so addictive with each mouthful that you want to go back for more!

Shop 1 Café Court, The Star
80 Pyrmont Steet, Sydney NSW 2009
Tel: (02) 9777 9000

Messina

I know we have already listed the top 10 dessert places in Sydney, but here’s a bonus if you love ice cream. Messina – voted the best gelato in Australia by the Good Food Guide – is located along the streets of Darlinghurst and is constantly jam packed with people from evening onwards!

Trust me, during winter one would think that the business for any ice cream parlors would slow down, but this is not true for Messina. They have a wide variety of unique ice cream flavours and there is a favourite for everyone! Not to forget, they also have a wide range of sorbets for the fruity people!

241 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst, Sydney NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 8354 1223

About the writer:
Just like that foodie friend of yours, Natalie is one who hunts down all the yummy food places and will want to order every single dish on the menu! Especially if it comes to dessert! With a strong passion for food and writing, she started a little writing space on Tumblr and her journey begins. You can read about Natalie’s adventures in Sydney here.

High five to those who agree that Sydney has many hidden sweet treats places! In fact, along the everyday busy streets of Newtown, tucked away in a small lane sits a simple small little café that creates a few bizarre yet surprisingly delicious cakes and tarts that one could ever imagine. Imagine a classic crème brulee tart with a fruity twist!

Black Star Pastry is where you will want to visit!

It’s pretty nice to finally found the pastry shop that had been supplying you this very awesome Strawberry & Watermelon Cake. Yes, you heard me right, it’s a strawberry and watermelon cake, and yes, I had been having it (thanks to my awesome housemate) but I’ve yet to visit the cafe until recently.

The cake is simply filled with surprises with each bite. It’s a blend of fruity freshness from the watermelon and sweetness from the strawberries. The watermelon definitely added a crunch to the cake. It comes in a single portion (AUD$6.50) or a full one (AUD$24) that is perfect for you and three other peeps.

So, I was in the mood for new things and this Raspberry Creme Brulee continued to surprise me with a hint of zesty mixed sweetness on top of the usual creamy creme brulee. It’s AUD$6 for one but totally worth the try. Take it with tea or latte; it would definitely fix your teatime cravings.

This little café is tucked away in a small lane, along the busy streets of Newtown, on King Street. A small space filled with people of colourful backgrounds, sipping their cup of coffee away on this very windy day.

What really add that magic spark to this place are their little creative creations of sweet treats. Ranging from the Strawberry and Watermelon Cake to Raspberry Crème Brule. Desserts that I’m pretty sure you simply cannot get it just anywhere.

Black Star Pastry
277 Australia Street
Newtown, NSW 2042
Tel: (02) 9557 8656
Mon to Sun 7am – 5pm

About the writer:
Just like that foodie friend of yours, she is one who hunts down all the yummy food places and will want to order every single dish on the menu! Especially if it comes to dessert! With a strong passion for food and writing, she started a little writing space on Tumblr and her journey begins. You can read about Natalie’s adventures in Sydney here.