Alma

From chef Jesse Hughes (Vue Grand) and drinks expert Matt Baird (Bottles & Barrels), Alma is a high-end but laid-back restaurant with creative ways of bringing the best out of South American and Australian cuisine.

Since opening near Johnstone Park in 2017, Alma’s moody interiors and extensive drinks menu has proved a hit with locals: this place is regularly packed out and attracts every type of customer, from the after-work drinks crowd to solo diners and more rambunctious gatherings.

With a proud emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, the menu features seafood, meat and vegetarian options in equal measure. There are small plates of fresh seafood such as cured kingfish and ceviche; snacky black bean empanadas and spiced eggplant arepas (cornmeal cakes); then larger plates of chorizo and steak to share.

A popular pick is the chef’s-selection menu. With eight sharing plates for $69 per person, that’s a lot of top-notch food for your buck.