Imagine it: you fight your way through the packed foyer, find your seat and settle in to enjoy the show. Just as the curtain begins to lift, your stomach gives a loud rumble. Now you remember – you skipped lunch.
Don't risk an empty stomach ruining the performance. At these spots you can catch a quick meal or snacks before the show, or take your time for a full de-brief afterwards.
Restaurant
Bennelong
Peter Gilmore has made the culinary vision that earned him accolades at Quay more approachable at the Opera House.
Bar
Opera Bar
A quintessential Sydney location. This is one of the best views of Sydney harbour you'll find anywhere. And Opera Bar doesn't just coast by on its good looks: the drinks here are great, too. The hardest thing about a trip here is getting a table.
Restaurant
Bopp and Tone
A whopping wood grill powers the menu at Bopp and Tone. Park in the bustling dining room or out on the leafy terrace for Mediterranean-inspired dishes and killer cocktails.
Bar
Mary’s Underground
The Mary's crew snagged the old Basement space in Circular Quay and continued its legacy as an inner-city hub for live music. They've also thrown in a burger joint with the Mary's signatures: 'burgs, fried chicken and natural vino.
Restaurant
Rockpool Bar & Grill
From its opulent art deco interior to its theatrical service, Rockpool remains one of Sydney’s premiere special occasion restaurants. It champions sustainable, grass-fed beef from Blackmore Wagyu and Cape Grim, on a menu abound with raw seafood, pasta and uncomplicated sides. The experience is enhanced by a wine list to rival any in the country.
Restaurant
Machiavelli
Part of the pantheon of Sydney’s Italian joints and the attention to detail and fresh produce is just as sharp now as it was back in 1988 (fish is still delivered twice-daily and the pastas are all house-made). CEOs and prime ministers past and present aren’t just framed on the walls – you might just catch them dining here, too.
Restaurant
Bar Patron
Vibrant Mexican food, super-rare tequilas and million-dollar views are all on the menu at this smart harbourside diner. But to really feel like a millionaire, splash out on the signature gold leaf Margarita.
Restaurant
Kid Kyoto
This modern riff on a Japanese izakaya is hidden down a cobbled CBD laneway. Finding it is half the fun.
Restaurant
Bistecca
Apart from sides, there's only one thing on this menu: T-bone steaks, sold by weight.
Restaurant
Mr Wong
Moody jazz, heavy wooden beams and a bank of barbeque ducks in the old Tank nightclub space. A modern Shanghai-style dumpling den from Dan Hong and Merivale.
Restaurant
Yayoi Garden
A specialist in the reliable teishoku, a set meal commonly cooked at home in Japan that involves rice, miso soup, a main dish and two smaller dishes.
Restaurant
Morrison’s Oyster Bar & Grill
This heritage corner site has lived many lives – but its most recent one is arguably its best. Come for freshly shucked oysters from the cabinet, premium Australian steaks and a focus on local and French wine varieties.
Restaurant
Aria
This is the show-stopping star of Matt Moran’s culinary empire. The artfully-plated dishes warrant the lofty price-tags, but those generous harbour views do a lot to offset the sting. This is one of Sydney’s great try-before-you-die restaurants – a pillar of modern Australian dining.
Bar
The Glenmore Hotel
Since 1921, stunning views of the Harbour Bridge have attracted drinkers to this pub.
Bar
Taylor's Rooftop Bar
Sit under a lush green wall, cocktail in hand.
Restaurant
Bar Luca
Burgers before the ballet. Why not?
Bar
Palmer & Co
Travel to another time at this jazzy, prohibition-themed bar. A tome-like list of spirits informs the cocktails here, mixed by a team of sharply-dressed bartenders who know their craft inside and out. To eat, it's European-influenced snacks served till late.
Restaurant
Bowery Lane
Bowery Lane is a sleek CBD spot offering shareable feasts.
