sydney Romantic Spots
Rockpool Bar & Grill
SYDNEY
From its opulent, art deco interior to the theatrical service from floor staff, 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.
Quay
THE ROCKS
The standard-setter for fine dining in Sydney. Executive chef Peter Gilmore is tireless in his pursuit of what’s interesting, new and Australian. His backyard is peppered with test plantations of rare vegetables, he works with local ceramicists on custom crockery and he’s a leading advocate for native produce. The restaurant’s theatrical tasting menus show off all this and more, bolstered by some of the city’s best harbour views.
Bathers’ Pavilion
MOSMAN
This heritage-listed waterfront venue serves up French bistro classics.
Small Bar - CBD
SYDNEY
Wine and share-plates.
Aria
SYDNEY
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.
Ombretta
GLEBE
An Italian trattoria in Glebe with a smashing antipasto bar.
Apothecary
DARLINGHURST
A cocktail-only establishment offering a three-course drink experience.
GPO Cheese and Wine Room
SYDNEY
Perfect cheese and wine pairings in subterranean surrounds.
Pilu at Freshwater
CURL CURL
Masquerading as a beach house, Pilu does Sardinian-inspired fare including pasta shapes unique to the Italian region. It’s a place of long lunches and refined dinners, with sea views that can’t be beaten on a cracking Sydney day.
Gelateria Gondola
CHATSWOOD
This Chatswood gelateria is run by a pair of Venetian chefs. Come for handmade gelato – the flavours are simple, but beautifully executed every time.
Jugemu & Shimbashi
NEUTRAL BAY
Seriously good soba noodles and okonomiyaki.
Shucked Oyster Bar
CRONULLA
Fine dining with oysters, booze and live music in Cronulla.
Hunter & Barrel
SYDNEY
Hunter and Barrel brings craft drinks and charcoal grills to Cockle Bay Wharf.
The Wilmot at Primus Hotel Sydney
SYDNEY
You’ll dine in Art Deco style at the refurbished Sydney Water Board HQ.
Gavroche Chippendale
CHIPPENDALE
An update on the classic French bistro, this inner-city spot combines nostalgia with plenty of modern swagger. Expect a menu of Gallic standards, and a lengthy wine list spanning French and Australian regions.
Felix
SYDNEY
A classic French brasserie experience from Merivale. The laneway setting already feels like a Parisian backstreet – but it’s the seafood platters and cote de boeuf that really take you there. You wouldn’t want to celebrate Bastille Day anywhere else.
The Nielsen
VAUCLUSE
A fig-lined promenade and turquoise waters provide the backdrop for a contemporary Italian menu.
Ante
NEWTOWN
Around 60 styles of sake are pouring at this intimate drinking den, inspired by the vinyl-spinning jazz bars of Japan. Expect rare Japanese gins and whiskies too, plus a Euro-Japanese snack menu by a former Pinbone and Billy Kwong chef.
Restaurant Hubert
SYDNEY
Behind Hubert’s old-world charm is a reverence for classic hospitality and notably un-classic French food. Live jazz is a staple, along with one of the city’s best burger happy hours.
Pellegrino 2000
SURRY HILLS
A garage-style trattoria where you can disappear into prawn ravioli bathing in brown butter and sage sauce, a list of mainly Italian vino, and a lively soundtrack spanning Afrobeat and Italian pop. From the rock star trio behind Potts Point neo-bistro, Bistro 916.
Fred’s
PADDINGTON
A wood-fired oven, an open-flame hearth and some of the country’s best produce and cocktail bar underneath.
Bistro Rex
POTTS POINT
Sophisticated yet accessible Rex is one of the pillars of Potts Point’s French dining scene. It’s a place of Gallic standards done well, but the acclaimed wine list sees this Parisian-style bistro punching well above its weight.
Bar Vincent
DARLINGHURST
You can always count on fresh oysters, complimentary bread and a razor-sharp wine program at this exemplary neighbourhood diner. Come for an Italianate menu, served in one of the inner-city’s most romantic dining rooms.
Osteria di Russo & Russo
ENMORE
It’s styled after an old-school trattoria, but this enduring eatery serves thoroughly modern interpretations of Italian cuisine – often with native produce. And though the wine list reveres the classics from Piedmont and Tuscany, Australian producers are given equal weighting here. An Enmore classic for a reason.
Bar Louise
ENMORE
Behind an iconic Enmore Road facade, this handsome wine bar draws inspiration from all over Europe, but mainly Spain. Take a seat in the mid-century space for classic tapas; charcoal-grilled meat and seafood; and plenty of Sangria.
Tapavino
SYDNEY
Eighty sherries and well-executed Spanish food to match.
Kittyhawk
SYDNEY
The liberation of Paris is the theme behind this polished cocktail bar from the team behind The Lobo. Settle into sophisticated surrounds for rum and rye Old Fashioneds and French-influenced dishes with modern Australian flair.