Book a Restaurant for Mother’s Day 2022

Updated May 6th, 2022

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Every mum is different, so there's no ideal restaurant to celebrate Mother’s Day. That said, there are a few traits worth seeking out when it comes time to reserve a table. And given this year's falls on Sunday May 9 that time is fast approaching.

Where possible, the restaurant should be on the quieter end of the spectrum. And service should be attentive and considerate – because no one's ever felt special waiting for their next drink. A classic cuisine such as French is often a safe bet and a touch of sophistication goes a long way.

We've assembled our list with all this in mind. Stick to the top dozen restaurants if you're keen to splash out and really make your mum's day. Look further down if your family is more relaxed when it comes to celebrating Mother's Day.

  • The standard-setter for fine dining in Sydney. Executive chef Peter Gilmore is tireless in his pursuit of what’s interesting, new and Australian. His backyard is peppered with test plantations of rare vegetables, he works with local ceramicists on custom crockery and he’s a leading advocate for native produce. The restaurant’s theatrical tasting menus show off all this and more, bolstered by some of the city’s best harbour views.

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  • Stuck for conversation? Just look out of the windows, and let the sweeping views do the talking.

  • After a fire, a pop-up and a Covid-19 shutdown, Nomad has returned to its original Foster Street home. Enter for inventive charcuterie, charcoal-fired mains and a wine list highlighting Australian producers great and small.

  • Sydney’s first fine-dining restaurant devoted to plants.

  • Italian street food served on a jetty makes for an ideal Mother's Day lunch.

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  • This Surry Hills pub got a shake-up in 2020 – but it’s still one of Sydney’s best all-in-one wine bars, restaurants and boozers.

  • If you're lucky enough to get a warm Mother's Day, have a swim before (or after) your meal here.

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  • $2 espressos in the afternoon, European share plates in the evening.

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  • Relax with "Mar-tinnies" and tinned seafood.

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  • A North Indian-style diner plating up Punjabi specialties. Before Harris Park ever claimed Little India status, Billu’s was the first on the ground with its now-famous tandoori chicken. It’s marinated for 24 hours in yoghurt and spices, then wood-fired in the tandoor. It’s a fine entry-point, but be sure to venture towards the regional dishes you won’t find elsewhere.

  • A finely curated wine list and a view to match.

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  • Enjoy artful, seafood-forward plates at this sophisticated diner at the heritage Pier One wharf. Inside it's all about sleek dark timbers – but it's the outdoor experience that truly shines. A table by Walsh Bay water is the ideal setting for a long lunch or elegant dinner.

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  • A thoughtful menu that supports women and children escaping domestic violence.

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  • The cuisine of the Mekong River at Kensington Street.

  • Settle into the handsome dining room to tackle the 180-bottle-strong wine list, or grab some takeaway slushies from the old coffee window. Plus, there's excellent house-made pasta.

  • Pull up a chair at the former Chiswick at the Gallery site for mid-week and weekend brunch, long lunches, and extraordinary views over Sydney Harbour.

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  • This 26th-floor stunner from the team behind legendary cocktail bar Eau de Vie is a bold tribute to the roaring ’20s. Come for the caviar and champagne towers, stay for the knee-dropping views across Western Sydney from the open-air terrace.

  • A theme of fermentation guides this cavernous King Street bar. Find a dizzying list of funky farmhouse ales, ciders and natural wines, plus a Euro-inspired all-day menu by a formidable kitchen team.

  • Woolloomooloo’s great-grandfather of a pub has fine-dining chefs in the kitchen and a celebrated indie theatre downstairs. The 150-year-old bolthole has outlasted many of its operators, but its latest incarnation – from the team behind Newtown's Odd Culture – might be the best one yet.

  • Slide into a terrazzo-topped table at this stylish waterfront eatery for sharp Mediterranean-style cooking, fresh seafood and stellar cocktails. Manly Wharf has never looked so good.