Heading interstate? Broadsheet’s city cheat sheets cover everything from flash new spots that live up to the hype, to old faithfuls that continue to deliver. This hit list will have you making the most of every minute in Sydney.
Eat here
Breakfast:
Sydney’s bakery scene is a hot one. And while there are some outstanding contenders for your attention, you can’t go past AP Bakery – there are four of them now, each offering a quintessentially Sydney carb experience. The newest is AP Supply, a Friday-to-Sunday operation that’s the only spot to get plump cream puffs (go for the Chantilly and cumquat) and croissant soft-serve. A block away is the cactus-strewn AP mothership, located on the rooftop of Surry Hills hotel Paramount House, where you’ll rip into the zingy Aleppo pepper and Asiago scrolls and cheesy egg rolls.
If you’re in the inner west, head to Superfreak for a simple but excellent feed (before or after a Pilates class out back) or to Angus for a hefty hash brown stuffed in your morning roll. Extra hungry? You want the brisket burrito at The Corner Deli by Lox in a Box, the beloved bagel stop’s first dine-in digs.
A ferry trip across the harbour is never a bad idea, preferably on the Circular Quay to Manly route for picnicky brekkie plates and tahini lattes at Noon. Sticking to the city limits? Pina in Potts Point will deliver (but it’s popular, so be prepared for a wait) with its outstanding sausage-and-egg roll dripping with cheese (which one Broadsheeter couldn’t stop dreaming about) and a mean coffee. As will a meal at Euro-style Ken’s Continental just up the road.
When a hangover comes knocking (or if you just love a little spice on a slower morning), head to Ricos Tacos from midday. The array of tacos is served on a rainbow of plastic plates at The Norfolk in Redfern. You’ll be in safe hands with an order of the chipotle-salted hash browns, too.
Want a morning classic? You can’t go wrong with a trip to Bills (Darlinghurst, Bondi, Double Bay or Surry Hills). And Rising Sun Workshop’s breakfast ramen is worth repeat visits.
Lunch:
Whether you want a casual sanga, a sleek fine-dining experience or a long and boozy lunch, you’re sorted in Sydney. Redfern’s Fontana is a forever favourite, with a pared-back dining room leaving homely Italo plates to do the heavy lifting. It’s ace any time, but we like parking up at a table for Saturday lunch and ordering up big on house-made ricotta (trust us, it’s outstanding), a couple of bowls of whatever handmade pasta is on rotation, and bottles and bottles of wine. The focus here is on regional Italian specialties, so there’s a high chance you’ll try a dish you’ve not had before.
Nearby is sandwich joint Good Ways. Expect classics with snazzy twists, like the kangaroo mortadella sandwich with salami, ham, provolone and chilli paste. Continue your Sydney sandwich crawl with a whopping schnitty sanga at Kosta’s Takeaway (in Rosebery, Rockdale or Circular Quay), Small’s Deli in Potts Point, or Self Raised Bread Shoppe in Carlton. Phew. Then, head to Clovelly Road’s Cut Lunch Deli, making sure to stick around till 3pm when wines start pouring alongside the sangas.
Want noodles? Ama – a casual Thai-Chinese eatery in Surry Hills run by two sisters – is for you. Order the beef noodle soup, which hits with chewy egg noodles and a punchy broth.
If you’re looking for something a bit more special, try getting a seat at Olympus. From The Apollo team, it was a hot-out-of-the-gate opening in December 2024. The lengthy Greek menu spans snacks, a spanakopita with hand-stretched filo and a collection of woodfired proteins. The frozen yoghurt is a must-order finisher.
For a view of the water and a singularly Sydney lunch, book a table at Sean’s in Bondi. Across the road from the famous beach, you’ll find simple classics done brilliantly. Then, wander up to the Icebergs bar for an all-blue view and frosty Martini.
Dinner:
While we technically classify this perfected Surry Hills corner joint as a bar, not a restaurant, Bar Copains is the venue the Broadsheet Sydney team comes back to again and again. The brown-butter leeks cooked in a bag are outstanding, as are pig’s head fritti, the little comté tarts and literally anything on the wine list. Keep an eye out for Bessie’s and Alma’s, a restaurant and wine bar opening in January 2025 from the same team.
In the CBD, you want a booking at Neptune’s Grotto. The menu zeroes in on northern Italy, with house-made pastas, a truly delicious tuna caponata, cotoletta al la Milanese and enough veggies that no one’s left out. It sits underneath Clam Bar, a New York-style steak restaurant with daggy ’80s-leaning drinks, charm aplenty and a cheese and bacon burger that’ll have a lasting impact. Nearby, Soul Dining puts an Aussie spin on Korean cooking. There’s a fine-dining edge, a casual energy – and a glossy, buttery clay-pot rice that one writer can’t stop thinking about.
After a Sydney classic? Book in advance for Saint Peter, the seafood restaurant (now in a revitalised heritage-listed pub) from the peerless Josh and Julie Niland. Opt for the à la carte bar if you’re not looking for the set-menu spectacular.
Tacos, Tacos, Tacos is a small and fun stop in Potts Point – perfect for a meal before a drink at nearby bars Piccolo or The Hook – as is Don’s Katsu, where excellent Aussie pork stars in a katsu set.
Marrickville’s become a golden locale for pizza, with Oltra at Poor Tom’s, Fortune inside Grifter Brewing Co, Madre and MMC Slice Shoppe all terrific options.
Where to drink
Afternoon:
If you can’t decide between a beer garden or a rooftop, combine the two with The Taphouse. The revamped Darlinghurst boozer’s greenery-filled rooftop is a prime spot for a NSW-made beer, or catch sports showing in the ground-floor main bar.
For a sleeker rooftop experience, head up to Old Mate’s Place for a solid cocktail and skyscraper views, or to nearby Joji, a bar-meets-restaurant on a Japanese bent (you’ll want a few snacks from the robata section and a highball). Or, head to the shockingly underrated bar atop the State Library.
In it for the beer? Look no further than the Inner West Ale Trail. Within five kilometres you’ll find 18 locally owned breweries – all you need for an excellent pub crawl. There’s the very-good-fun Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre – complete with easy-drinking beers, a fantastic Cantonese-Australian restaurant and a museum of Hawke memorabilia – plus Batch, Philter and its cheery new sports bar, Grifter and more. Wildflower’s the one if you’re after something different: here it’s all about native yeasts, and there’s a topnotch food menu too. If you’d prefer a locally made liquor, Ester Spirits is the vibe-heavy spot you want – with its snacky food menu and tight cocktail list – on a Friday and Saturday.
Evening:
For a perfected house Martini poured theatrically from a bulbous decanter, you want Bar Planet on Enmore Road. Or, simply scribble your preferred order (whether it’s dry, dirty, filthy or wet, vodka or gin) on a coaster and it’ll be made to your taste. Then, coast to Enmore Country Club, The Magpie or Earl’s Juke Joint. Perhaps a wine flight at Famelia, where female winemakers are championed? It’s nearby too.
If you make your way to Surry Hills, stop in at Gildas, the sophisticated Basque-inspired bar by one of Sydney’s best chefs, Firedoor’s Lennox Hastie. You’ll find a devotion to sherry, alongside interesting wines from Australia and Spain, and you’ll order a Gilda or two if you know what’s good for you.
One Sydney bar has made a name for itself on the international stage: Maybe Sammy. It came in at number 26 on the World’s 50 Best Bars for 2024 list for its unwavering hospitality, party-ready bartenders and playful drinks. But the team’s pop-up, Little Cooler, is for those in the know, in a red-lit basement space nearby.
Others worth drinking at? The Wine Bar at The International, for a progressive wine list next to Sydney’s “modernist mushroom”; PS40 for fun, technique-heavy cocktails, like the foam-topped Africola with house-made cola; the 20-seat Amuro, for boutique sake; and Poly, for minimal-intervention wines.
Pre-dinner, post-dinner (and dinner, if need be):
The International has a little bit of something for everyone – a sleek grill restaurant, the rooftop Panorama Bar and the aforementioned wine bar – close to our city’s theatres. We recommend an al fresco pre-dinner mango spritz on the rooftop, then pizzetta and a nice glass at The Wine Bar.
Late night:
When we think late-night, we think basement boozing – and for a city with great weather, Sydney has an awful lot of subterranean spots for drinking. Opt for Spanish snacks and plenty of wines by the glass at Letra House, or make for one of our best Margs at Centro 86. Ramblin’ Rascal, a “five-star dive bar” is consistently one of the city’s rowdiest joints – with live music and excellent cocktails. In Newtown, Pleasure Club – a psychedelic underground cocktail-bar-slash-performance-space – will host you till 4am.
Keen for a dance? Club 77 in Darlinghurst is an old favourite that’s had a welcome revamp. Head underground for a solid line-up of producers and DJs till 4am. Bonus: it has a great natural wine and craft beer selection, plus pre-batched cocktails.
Out and about
If you’re in Sydney, you’ll likely want to get in the ocean – or simply sit by it. Our natural swimming pool game is unbeatable. Or, you can shop.
Paddington’s your stop if you’re looking for a line-up of boutiques. There’s New Zealand designer Maggie Marilyn joining a bunch of Aussies: Sir The Label, Oroton, Fella, Nagnata and Lucy Folk. Plus, lean into luxurious scents at Libertine Parfumerie and find a frock at Realisation Par’s first Australian store.
Sydney’s Sorry Thanks I Love You has been curating fashion, jewellery, home pieces and more online for a while – but there’s a physical store in the CBD, where you can shop a little bit of everything in one space. Designer Christopher Esber’s debut retail space is now open in The Strand, too.
Aussie glassware brand Maison Balzac’s Surry Hills store offers a serene shopping experience, and nearby Glass Et Cetera has your vintage finds covered. Up the road, find Brie Leon, a favourite Sydney-based bag and jewellery label.
