Four To Try: Hot Listed Venues With Stunning Designs

The Hot List is the definitive guide to Sydney’s most essential food and drink experiences, updated weekly. Learn more.

When you picture Sydney’s dining scene you might envision coastal views and a sea breeze, or perhaps the swimming pool outside Icebergs. But when it comes to architecture and interior design, Sydney’s venues compete with some of the world’s best. Some spots are celebrations of contemporary design, others will make you swear you’ve travelled back in time, and some make you wonder what country you’re dining in.

Next time you want to add design flair to your dining experience, find a table at one of these Hot Listed spots that Sydney is loving right now.

Bennelong, Sydney

There are few Sydney restaurants that capture the city’s culinary spirit quite like Bennelong. An elegant diner set within the Opera House sails is about as Sydney as it gets, but Bennelong is no tourist trap. The restaurant has been serving some of the city’s favourite food for decades.

Bennelong’s three-tiered design features honey-coloured brass and Marblo (a soft resin that complements the materials already used in the Opera House). The restaurant is also the only vantage point inside the Opera House from which you can see the inside of the sails completely. But in a space replete with striking features, the most arresting will always be the unmatched view of the city skyline.

Bennelong’s undeniable signature is its pavlova: a spectacular sugary replica of the Opera House, with shards of meringue forming the sails. When you’re dining in an iconic space, you may as well lean into it.

Olympus, Redfern

Forget a few plants scattered around the place – at Olympus, there’s a gorgeous, 50-year-old bougainvillea tree planted right in the middle of the circular dining room. It anchors the space, but it’s arguably not even the most impressive part.

Above it is the massive, retractable glass ceiling, which opens and shuts like an eyelid and provides the tree and diners with plenty of natural light and fresh air. The rest of the surrounds are modern and Hellenic, designed to recreate an Athenian mountain taverna.

Olympus doesn’t sit on a mountain, but it’s close to the summit of Sydney’s best-designed restaurants.

Superfreak, Marrickville

Superfreak’s facade would be somewhat unassuming if it wasn’t painted sage green – a stark contrast to the two cream-coloured buildings on either side. The exterior catches your eye, but it’s inside where this Marrickville cafe really comes to life.

The interior design by YSG Studio puts Superfreak in the running for Sydney’s best-looking venue. Green, gold and timber anchor the palette. In one corner, “DESTINO” is spelled out across a flag by Venezuelan Australian artist Nadia Hernandez. At the door there’s a truly special Wonka-esque lamp by American artist Autumn Casey. A record player spins the team’s vinyl collection, housed in a bespoke cabinet built into the wraparound shag-covered seating.

There’s a lot going on, but at no point does Superfreak feel overstated. Even the fuzzy stools and matching wall work in the space. There’s something good to look at no matter where you sit – and it makes for one of the coolest cafe-dining experiences in the city.

Sakura House, Sydney

This CBD izakaya, set in a basement, doesn’t look like much from the outside. But enter through the noren, descend the stairs and you’ll find a space with a heap of charm that’s been thoughtfully put together.

Sakura’s interior is designed by Farago-Han and demands repeat exploration. You’ll need a few visits to figure out whether you prefer the booth section, the low-to-the-ground bar seating or the main space, where live music plays regularly. And it’ll take many more visits to find all your favourite details – from the tiny laptop drawers under the booths to the vintage artwork, knick-knacks and boro-style patchwork textiles lining the walls. It’s all dimly lit by chochin (Japanese paper lamps) hanging from the ceiling, which has been covered with wood panels.

The Hot List is proudly sponsored by Square. 

Additional reporting by Callum McDermott and Grace MacKenzie.