This Rose Bay fish-n-chipper by Josh and Julie Niland of Saint Peter fame is all about recreating the simple joy of a takeaway roast-chook dinner – but with fish. You’ll find whole, half, and quarter Murray Cod fillets crackled to perfection, luxe sides, and zero-waste cocktails courtesy of sustainable south Eveleigh bar, Re–.

Neil Perry’s first solo venture arrived a little over a year after the Rockpool chef announced his retirement. That said, it’s an instant classic. Settle into the luxe dining room for produce-driven Perry cuisine – lobster with sambal butter and wood-fired rotisserie chicken with smoked eggplant puree.

Giorgio De Maria's Darlinghurst venue is three acts over two levels, created in partnership with wine importer Mattia Dicati and chef Enrico Tomelleri of 10 William Street, Ragazzi and more. Downstairs is a bar and bottle shop styled after the enotecas of Italy. And upstairs, a colourful restaurant for pasta and specialty wines.

At his first solo restaurant, acclaimed chef Phil Wood explores and expands Australian cuisine with a produce-driven menu combining classic European cooking with local ingredients. There are nods to Aboriginal history, too, plus a fresh take on the classic peach Melba dessert.

An elegant-but-approachable Mediterranean diner co-owned by Marco Ambrosino of Fratelli Paradiso and 10 William Street fame. The highlights? A rising star in the kitchen, oysters served at least three ways, standout cocktails and million-dollar ocean views.

A canteen-style lunch-only restaurant by celebrity chef Kylie Kwong. Named after her late son, Lucky serves Kwong's signature Australian-Cantonese food – including her famous savoury pancakes.

Inside the Norfolk Hotel’s former sports bar is a vibrant wine nook inspired by the Barcelona suburb it’s named after. Expect a range of vermouths, plus mussels and chips, crackers topped with Cantabrian anchovies, and skewers cooked over a flat grill. From the team behind Love, Tilly Devine.

The first of three venues to go in at the refurbished Shell House in the CBD. It pulls inspiration from the grand eateries of Europe, with a daily Martini hour, lobster rolls, and a 2am licence.

A 15-seater in Potts Point serving up to seven styles of pasta, by a former Metisse head chef.

A hidden Marrickville restaurant celebrating the cultural diversity of Sydney's suburbs. Beyond the low-key roller door, it’s plating up citrussy schnitzels; charcoal-grilled octopus with endives and raspberry; and bouillabaisse bolognaise with prawn and bacon XO sauce.

A brilliant partnership between Ho Jiak and Mr Wong's former head chef, Loong Oon. The menu pays tribute to Oon's grandmother with soy-braised pork belly, a deceptively simple king-prawn black-pepper curry, and a nostalgic soup of hand-pounded fish balls in a delicate clear broth.

An ambitious, opulent multi-part Italian restaurant and bar inside Australia's first bank – with an executive chef who ran a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant. Take a seat in the main dining room, crudo bar or chef's table. There's Venetian-style bite-size snacks, 30 varieties of raw seafood and a three-metre-high wine fridge.

At every turn, chef Dylan Cashman’s smart 24-seater is guided by provenance and zero waste. Whole beasts are used from nose to tail; fresh produce comes from the garden out back; and local winemakers are placed front and centre. Ask for the “secret” drinks menu – it’s got super rare French drops and cocktail specials.

A bright Barangaroo taqueria doing mezcal and tequila cocktails, plus stellar tacos and share plates marrying Mexican flavours and cooking techniques with Australian produce.

At this French bistro above P&V’s Paddington bottle shop, a 60-kilogram Berkshire pig gets delivered each fortnight. Every part of the beast is used, from the head (which becomes terrine) to the belly (bacon sangers for staff meals).

After a five year closure, Pub Life Kitchen is back open in Ultimo. Come for pub classics, Serbian specialties and those legendary burgers.

Rosa Cienfuegos makes some of Sydney's best Mexican food. At this colourful and casual all-day Mexican eatery and deli, she's serving home-style dishes: hot tamales, street tacos, garnachas and more. Plus, there are hard-to-find Mexican pantry goods to buy.

Try its namesake dish, kottu roti – a delicious, textural hash of chopped roti, curry and egg. Plus devilled beef-filled roti wraps, lacy hoppers and golden dosas, in a colourful CBD space.

This relaxed, taverna-style wine bar is by two hospitality veterans behind some of the country's most revered venues. Their shared love of the sea is reflected in the seafood-heavy menu and breezy atmosphere.

A European-style bistro with a particular focus on Scandinavian flavours. Come for smorgasbord (snacks) such as barbequed octopus with bullhorn peppers, chilled strawberry soup with Iberico jamon and oysters spiked with a punchy house sauce.

A meal at this six-seater omakase restaurant is like a culinary mystery tour, where what you eat is left completely to the chef.

Above Par is a sleek 60-seater bistro in the heart of the CBD, serving homestyle Levantine dishes from lunch and well into the evening.

The successor to Chippendale's Freda's channels the spirit of the original late-night haunt into a buzzing sit-down bar and diner in the heart of Sydney's nightlife district.

This tiny pizzeria, run by two ex-Bella Brutta chefs, makes just 150 pizzas a day. So order your fermented-garlic honey, 'nduja or pepperoni pizza early – they sell out fast.

Southeast Asian street food is the focus at Merivale’s rowdy good-times diner: oysters spiked with Vietnamese-style vinaigrette, jungle curry with pipis and Phnom Penh fried chicken. To drink? Fresh cocktails and a famous yuzu slushie.