A pioneering “fin-to-scale” eatery by Josh and Julie Niland. In the large open kitchen, the chefs utilise all parts of the fish to create a menu of wildly inventive dishes. A meal here is thrilling, educational, and enhanced by an impressive selection of Australian wine and Japanese sake.

Olympus is a Greek restaurant fit for the Gods. Come for mountains of meze, plus drinks including Ouzo Coladas and watermelon slushies. The dining room – with its glass oculus ceiling and 50-year-old tree – is an instant classic.

Bessie's is the restaurant half of the two-in-one follow-up to Bar Copains (Alma's, the cocktail bar, is across the floor). Come for flame-grilled Mediterranean share-style plates, and an exciting wine list stewarded by enthusiastic staff.

After an extensive research trip to New York, the team behind My Mother’s Cousin have opened a nostalgic pizzeria firing out round pies and squares by the slice like they do in the Big Apple.

The Pellegrino 2000 team’s underground pasta cave is a love letter to northern Italy. It’s where you can lose track of time over a bottle of Barolo and a plate of handmade pasta, in one of Sydney’s vibiest dining rooms.

Island Radio brings the party to Redfern’s Wunderlich Lane precinct with culinary hits from Southeast Asia, resort-style cocktails and a killer soundtrack.

This slick French bistro, in Odd Culture’s loft space, isn’t all that serious. Expect classic French fare – like savoury French tarts with Cantabrian anchovies and a hibachi-grilled bavette steak. Plus, rare vintage drops.

Neil Perry pays tribute to Cantonese cuisine at this elegant, multi-level restaurant. Come with a group and tackle as many dishes from the menu as possible, from classic dim sum to live seafood from the tank.

The headline act at The International in Martin Place brings white-tablecloth elegance to an iconic CBD site. Push the boat out with the finest steak and seafood cooked over woodfire, and an impressive list of wines from around the world.

A heritage former post office is now home to a casual neighbourhood Italian joint by the Ormeggio team. Come for a spritz and a plate of Milanese meatballs, stay for handmade pastas up there with the best in the inner west.

From pop-up to permanent, this homey restaurant celebrates Thai-Chinese dishes. Come for the family-recipe beef noodle soup, steam pork buns and huge wontons swimming in a spicy, sweet sauce.

Come for the freshly fried falafels as they are, or pocket them up with veggies and lemony skoldalia. Stay for a yarn with the owner-chef-server who’s doing it all himself.

This flashy restaurant was the first Bank of Australia. A fluffy starter riffs on a sweet Bentley original and a tight pasta list supports beautifully done steaks from the grill.

This Mexican rooftop restaurant makes a strong case for hotel dining. Take the lift up for Margs and a gluten-free fare, like pork jowl sweetened with Coca Cola.

Glowing under a striped awning, the small, walk-in only dining room, specialises in kamameshi – a Japanese comfort rice dish hard to come across in Sydney. Plus, hotpot ramen and house umeshu.

Chef Ahana Dutt’s modern Bengali menu offers plenty of delicious choice, but the fish is a showstopper. Plus, spiced goat kosha, lentil-stuffed zucchini, golden pound cake and ginger spritzes.