The Hot List: Sydney's Most Essential Eats, updated regularly

Randy’s Wine

Bar · sandwiches · $$$ · avalon beach

You can walk up to Bar Elvina’s fun and fast sibling with sand still clinging to your ankles. We love this breezy wine bar for its king prawn buns, weekly specials and lunchtime sangas.

50 Barrenjoey Road

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar

Restaurant · Italian · $$$$ · bondi

This elevated vantage of Bondi’s sloshing surf is one of Australia’s great views – one a less conscientious restaurant might easily lean on. Not Icebergs, whose coastal Italian menu continues to reach greater and greater heights.

1 Notts Ave

The Tamaleria & Mexican Deli

Restaurant · Mexican · $$ · dulwich hill

Rosa Cienfuegos has been instrumental in shaping Sydney’s Mexican dining scene. At her tiny shop, you can grab her cult tamales freshly made, or get the ingredients to make them yourself. Plus, street-style tacos and more.

463 Marrickville Road

The Magpie

Bar · $$ · enmore

There’s Guinness on tap, chablis by the glass and nostalgia for the ’80s at this compact sports bar by the Jacoby’s crew. No matter what team you follow, a fleet of TV screens have every code covered.

156 Enmore Rd

Flour and Stone Annexe

Cafe · $$ · woolloomooloo

Nadine Ingram is one of the city’s master bakers, and this compact spot is where all her magic happens. Head here for gorgeous cakes, salads and sandwiches to take away. For supplies and more, hit the pantry a couple of doors up.

43 Riley Street

Chatkazz

Restaurant · Indian · $$ · harris park

Chatkazz is one of the most unique eating experiences in Sydney: it's constantly busy, full of families, everything is affordable, and no one seems to stay for longer than 40 minutes.

14-20 Station Street East

King Clarence

Restaurant · Japanese · $$$ · sydney

Acclaimed chef Khanh Nguyen leads the Bentley Group’s 100-seat East Asian restaurant – complete with the playful xiaolongbao and Filet-O-Fish crossover we never knew we needed.

171 Clarence Street

Ester Restaurant & Bar

Restaurant · $$$ · chippendale

The pitch for one of Sydney’s most influential restaurants is a simple one: a neighbourhood place using local and sustainable ingredients, serving natural wine, all of it ever-changing, all of it centred around a woodfired oven.

46-52 Meagher Street

Pellegrino 2000

Restaurant · Italian · $$$$ · surry hills

A garage-style trattoria where you can disappear into prawn ravioli bathing in brown butter and sage sauce, a list of mainly Italian vino, and a lively soundtrack spanning Afrobeat and Italian pop. From the trio behind Clam Bar.

80 Campbell Street

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

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

Porteño

Restaurant · South American · $$$ · surry hills

This South American wine bar and diner in Surry Hills, with its charcoal-roasted meats and long wine list, was well ahead of its time when it opened in 2010. But it hasn't lost a step since, and is still well worth seeking out.

50 Holt Street

Firepop

Restaurant · $$$ · enmore

The duo behind a cult Sydney food truck have opened a full-service restaurant for their flame-grilled lamb and Wagyu skewers. What else is new? Try an eight-seat chef’s table, and a curated list of wines and high-end French cider.

137 Enmore Road

Sang by Mabasa

Restaurant · Korean · $$$ · surry hills

At this tiny Korean restaurant in Surry Hills, you won't find barbeque, fried chicken or bulgogi. Instead, the team is hoping to expand Sydneysiders' definition of Korean food. And it's been working, to delicious effect.

98 Fitzroy Street

Olympus

Restaurant · Greek · $$$ · surry hills

Olympus is a Greek restaurant fit for the Gods. Come for mountains of meze, plus drinks including Ouzo Coladas and watermelon slushies. The dining room – with its glass oculus ceiling and 50-year-old tree – is an instant classic.

2 Baptist Street

Bistecca

Restaurant · Italian · $$$$ · sydney

Apart from sides, there's only one thing on this menu: T-bone steaks, sold by weight. Plus there's excellent wine and cocktails, set within a transportive subterranean space.

3 Dalley Street

Bobbie’s

Bar · $$$ · double bay

This cocktail bar from chef Neil and the owners of New York institution Dante is as polished as its credentials would have you expect. Come for inventive cocktails, fun live music and playful food – in a pristine Double Bay space.

28 Bay Street

Lune Croissanterie Rosebery

Cafe · $$ · rosebery

Kate Reid’s world-famous croissanterie has finally come to Sydney. Visit the bakery’s enormous flagship at Rosebery’s Engine Yards Precinct for croissants, kouign-amanns, danishes, morning buns and more.

115/151 Dunning Avenue

Pilu at Freshwater

Restaurant · $$$$ · curl curl

Masquerading as a beach house, Pilu does Sardinian-inspired fare including pasta shapes unique to the Italian region. It’s a place of long lunches and refined dinners, with sea views that can’t be beaten on a cracking Sydney day.

Moore Road

Attenzione Food & Wine

Restaurant · Italian · $$$ · redfern

A head-turning wine bar and diner by a team of friends who’ve done stints together at Ragazzi, Fabbrica, Yellow and more. Expect small plates, thick pastas and a big focus on nebbiolo.

180 Redfern Street

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