Run by a husband-and-wife duo on a leafy harbourside street, this cosy ramen shop does soups in a way Sydney has never seen before. Come for the show, plus handmade Wagyu gyoza and a drinks list that’ll transport you to Japan.

One of the only Malaysian restaurants in Sydney to specialise in Malaysian food.

Japanese food fit for a high (or first-time) roller.

In the hands of Federico Zanellato, the fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisines makes so much sense, it’s a wonder why more people aren’t doing it. Settle in for an ambitious degustation with matched wines, and the serene views of Pyrmont Bay will keep you occupied between courses.

This Sydney fine dining seafood institution has revitalised the tarnished reputation of the seafood platter and is cooking the best the ocean has to offer over a wood fire.

A swish Chinese fine diner from the same family behind Golden Century.

An elegant steakhouse with a great view.

Best Western's inner-city boutique features 88 compact rooms that go big on style. Find plush Sleepmaker beds, hand-painted murals and a ground-floor bar for cocktails and all-day grazing – all set within in a 1930s Art Deco block beside Darling Harbour.

Dressed up and unconventional all-day meals in a laid-back and sunny setting.

Serving breakfast crème brûlée, salmon terrine and brown-butter scrambled eggs.

Chinese tea ceremonies by day, gin cocktails by night. And a pot of 24-karat yellow-gold tea for $120 served by a bona fide tea master.

Pioik means “the bread” in ancient Egyptian, a nod to its owner’s heritage. There’s fine-dining flair in every two-kilo Epooro loaf; ditto the croissants and seasonal creations. A heritage terrace in Pyrmont is where it all goes down.

Craft beers downstairs, and DJs, cocktails and views of the CBD upstairs on the sunny verandah.

Craft beers downstairs, and DJs, cocktails and views of the CBD upstairs on the sunny verandah.

Old meets new in the lobby of Pyrmont’s Ovolo 1888 hotel, where you can snack on pintxos and wine.

Award-winning designers worked with a heritage architect to bring this pub back to life.

Cocktails and seafood at night and Sensory Lab coffee and Scotch eggs in the morning.

A wine bar in Pyrmont with a lush courtyard.

A destination for lovers of craft beer.

Crustacean and fish fans will tell you that there’s nothing on God’s Earth quite like a fish market in the morning. If you want to take that to the next level, book a behind-the-scenes tour of Sydney’s Fish Markets, where you’ll get to experience everything the seafood Mecca has to offer, including its infamous auction floor. Make sure to book this one in advance.

You may double take when you see Wagyu steaks at the fish market, but stop here for a personal and comprehensive meat shopping experience.