Although they met in Sydney, Above Par co-owners Ozgur Sefkatli and Efe Topuzlu were both born in Turkey. The pair spent their early twenties living in Istanbul, and their glass-walled CBD bistro, Above Par, is inspired by the late-night feasts they’d enjoy after clubbing in Taksim Square.

The menu is stacked with Middle Eastern classics that make the most of Aussie produce, and the all-day offering is ideal for anything from a mid-workday lunch to a dinner with mates. Expect puffy house-baked flatbreads with rustic hummus; lamb kofte and chargrilled chicken kebab; and vibrant levantine sides such as fattoush. For dessert, it could be cheesecake baklava or scoops of mastic ice-cream.

On the drinks menu you’ll find a solid selection of local and international wines, as well as Med-inspired cocktails such as a sour cherry Margarita or an apricot Cosmopolitan.