A favourite among Japanese expats and Martin Place corporates, Azuma is one of the CBD’s longest-running restaurants, and a highlight of the city’s Japanese dining scene.

Kimitaka and Yuki Azuma opened their original restaurant in Crows Nest in 1996, before relocating to Chifley Tower in 2002 at the invitation of tech giant Panasonic. The duo made their third move in 2023, bringing their exquisite sushi, bento and seasonal kaiseki menu to the old Bastardo space on Phillip Street.

As ever, the dining room is a place of power lunches and refined dinners, with a collection of Japanese artworks adorning the moody but convivial space. Kimitaka leads a small team of chefs in the open kitchen, who expertly prepare slivers of fatty tuna, bright kingfish, eel, seared salmon and more for the popular nine-piece sushi platter.

At lunchtime, it’s all about the bento set, a selection of Azuma favourites including sashimi, tempura, udon noodles, dipping sauces and a choice of main. But if you’re looking for an elegant dinner destination, book well ahead for the seven-seat omakase counter, helmed by former Sokyo sushi master Takashi Sano.