17 Sydney Chefs Name Their Go-To Stops for a Snack and a Drink

We’ve only just been released from winter’s clutches, and it’s 29 degrees. Summer’s on the mind, Sydney. The season where we all drink-and-a-snack at pace. Who better to curate our stops for Kong Kong Sours and skewers; fernet and cola with bread and dip; or scallop-stuffed potato scallops than the humans captaining some of our favourite kitchens around town?

Carley Scheidegger, Corner 75

A snack and a drink at Cafe Paci always turns into dinner and a bottle of wine. It’s hard to leave. Highlights for me are the devilled eggs, calzone and duck torta salata. I recently had the potato blini with mud crab and hollandaise. And the bread deserves a special mention too.

Andy Cooks

Bar Copains for their potato scallops and a glass of Non.

Mimi Wong

Garlic bread and a glass of wine at Fontana.

Toby Wilson, Ricos Tacos

Tachinomi YP in Crows Nest. The snacks there seem to change pretty often – so just getting whatever sounds good on the day with an ice-cold Japanese lager.

Trisha Greentree, Fratelli Paradiso and Paradise

The everything-bagel-sprinkle mochi at Ante. It made me smile first with the chew, then with the connection to the best bagel choice.

Andy Wirya, Island Radio

Bancho in Haymarket has a great selection of whiskies and cocktails. They pre-batch, so service is really quick, which I like. I usually order the Kong Kong Sour, made with rye whisky and a five-spice red wine reduction. I usually then head to Kwafood Fried Skewers on Dixon Street and eat more skewers than I should.

Annita Potter, Viand

The Saint Peter bar at the Grand National. Jumping straight into a glass of Mortellito’s Cala Iancu Bianco – a blend of grillo and cataratto grapes – and a plate of Josh’s salt-and-vinegar line-caught blue mackerel drowning in the most delicious picual olive oil, with their warm bread with cultured butter.

Giovanni Pilu, Pilu

Cibaria in Manly. I love grabbing a seat at the kitchen bar close to the action and watching the team work. I usually go for the pizza bianca, some fish crudo and a selection of salumi.

Isobel Whelan-Little, Ace Hotel Sydney

10 William, if you can get in – sitting at the bar and chatting with the team or the person next to you is wonderful. I think this is one place in Sydney that does solo diners so well and I love that.

Neil Perry, Margaret, Next Door and Gran Torino

I love Bar Conte. Great drinks – the Old Pal Negroni is my favourite – with nice antipasti and a good steak.

Sam Rozsnyoi, Chiswick

There’s so many. I love Bessie’s at the moment. I’ve been maybe three times since it’s opened, and it’s just super beautiful. They’ve got that Scandi style. They’ve got the fernet and cola – which is one of my weaknesses – in a can. And then you have the flat breads with all the dips.

Lizzie Hewson, Saturday Night Pasta

The scallop stuffed potato scallop at Cafe Paci – is it still on there? I don’t know but I dream about it. In fact, all of Pasi’s snacks are so, so tasty. His beef tongue tacos need a mention while we’re here. It’s one of my favourite restaurants in Sydney (along with Firedoor, Bar Vincent and Ante if you asked).

Oscar Solomon, The Apollo, Olympus and Cho Cho San

My favourite thing to do. Five options for you:
1. A Martini and fried lamb brains with muscatel hot sauce at Olympus.
2. A beer and tempura oyster at Raw Bar Bondi in summer.
3. A Negroni and potato chips at Piccolo Bar in Kings Cross.
4. A glass of wine and a pasta at Avia in Darlinghurst.
5. A Greek Martini and taramasalata at The Apollo.

Stefano Marano, Avia

I would head to PS40 on a Tuesday to check out one of their rotating collabs and order all the snacks on that week's menu. Tuesdays are such a great vibe there – Micheal and the team have some crazy tricks up their sleeve. That Africola cocktail is a must order!

Declan Cleary, Masterchef

I’m heading straight to Belgrave Cartel in Manly. It’s got that laidback, slightly grungy charm I love. I’d grab one of the toasted sandwiches (the Reuben if it’s going) and a Negroni or cold drip, depending on the mood. Always hits the spot.

Lily Davies, Pomme

L’Avant Cave in Paddington. Nik Hill from Porcine is a wizard and I want to eat everything he makes. For a pre-dinner snack, I’m ordering an orange wine with a little soupçon from Nik’s repertoire, made even better by the most friendly staff.

Paul Farag, Aalia

Cafe Paci ’s beef tongue taco is absolutely rocking. I could smash so many of these little guys. It’s served on a rye tortilla, with smoky beef tongue and sauerkraut. And 40 Res. Josh [Raine] and Michael [Tran] have just opened a cool little wine bar in Surry hills serving unpretentious, delicious snacks. Two awesome chefs cooking food you can eat every day of the week.