Although 2021 was a year of destruction for the city’s hospitality industry, Sydney hasn’t slowed, with new and notable openings coming thick and fast throughout the year. Fresh-faced dining concepts from some of the city’s best restaurateurs, towering futuristic bars and revived classics are driving the scene’s steady recovery as the best new restaurants in Sydney.
Looking for somewhere new to check out? To help, we’ve rounded up some of the best new Sydney restaurant openings of the past few months for this rolling list which will be updated regularly.
Our Favourite New Restaurants In Sydney
Margaret, Double Bay
As we make the slow-crawl into 2022, the biggest new opening in Sydney is now Double Bay’s Margaret. Australian fine dining royalty Neil Perry has stated this will be his last big project, an ambitious $5 million restaurant in one of the city’s most glamorous neighbourhoods. The renowned chef has said some of Rockpool’s DNA will be spliced into Margaret, which is more casual than it is fine and is focused on serving up top quality fresh seafood alongside burgers and wings. There’ll also be Perry’s incredible rotisserie chicken, giving your local charcoal chicken shop a run for its money.
While the restaurant is almost always going to be majority booked out in advance, Perry doesn’t want this to be one of those places that’s almost impossible to get into. They’ll always have a few tables reserved for walk-ins so make sure you’re joining the rest of Sydney’s epicurean crowd in welcoming a reinvigorated Neil Perry back to the kitchen with his long-awaited solo restaurant.
Address: 30-36 Bay St, Double Bay NSW 2028
Contact: (02) 9068 8888
Opening Hours: Wednesday (6pm – 11pm); Thursday – Saturday (12pm – 11pm); Sunday (12pm – 10pm)
Ursula’s, Paddington
A piece of Paddington’s dining scene broke when Guillaume Brahimi shut his eponymous fine-diner, vacating the charming 2-floor terrace on Hargrave Street in 2016.
Former Rockpool and Pt. Leo Estate chef Phil Wood has now turned the space into Ursula’s, framing inventive Modern Australian dishes with deep caramel walls and avant-garde light sculptures. From the mussel schnitzel to the local lobster salad, rave reviews have been sliding Wood’s way ever since, claiming Ursula’s as the new hero of Sydney dining and an easy essential should you be looking for somewhere new to really impress a date.
Address: 92 Hargrave St, Paddington NSW 2021
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10:30pm)
Woodcut, Barangaroo
Former owner and chef of widely acclaimed CBD restaurant The Bridge Room, Ross Lusted, now finds himself overseeing one of the biggest new restaurant openings of 2021, alongside his wife and acclaimed restaurateur, Sunny.
Woodcut, so far the culinary champion of the new Crown Casino, tracks everything from black garlic bread and pricey raw fish tasting plates, to immense sirloin steaks and fruit-forward desserts crafted by the highly dependable Lauren Eldridge.
Given the service has improved dramatically following some teething issues upon first opening, it’s looking like Woodcut is about to enter their second year positioned as a Sydney restaurant well worth the price. The incredible wine list – get the Ruggabellus Quomodo if you like natural wines – is reason enough to take a seat at Woodcut, and the exceptional food on top of that should leave you well satisfied by the time those beautiful desserts hit the table.
Address: Crown Sydney, Level 1/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8871 7171
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday (12pm – 12am); Monday (5:30pm – 9:30pm)
Charcoal Fish, Rose Bay
Given Saint Peter is now one of the best restaurants in Sydney, and has already made an impact that few restaurants will ever achieve, Josh Niland’s casual spin, Charcoal Fish, is an absolute must. The classic Sydney charcoal chicken shop has been reimagined and spliced with an upmarket fish & chip shop for this brand new concept, where the kitchen focuses almost entirely on using Murray cod in interesting ways. Although you’d be a bit foolish to overlook the yellowfin tuna double cheeseburger, which has so far sent the city into an absolute loved-up spin, seeing the small space packed out almost every day since the upscale fish shop first opened.
Address: 670 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday (12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm)
Lorraine’s Bistro, Waverley
Opened up on level 1 of the iconic Robin Hood Hotel in Waverley, Lorraine’s Bistro adds another casual French bistro to the scene. With a smart, handsome, and light-filled interior, the adventurous kitchen has appropriately added some new flair to the venue, French in style but with an obvious openness to global cuisine with chorizo croquettes and chargrilled WA octopus with harissa next to cuisine classics like baked camembert and confit dug leg.
Address: 203 Bronte Rd, Waverley NSW 2024
Contact: (02) 9389 3647
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (5:30pm – 11pm); Friday (4pm – 11pm); Saturday (12pm – 12am); Sunday (12pm – 10pm)
Shell House Dining Room & Terrace, CBD
The city’s only remaining interwar commercial building has been turned into Shell House, a four-in-one mega venue from Brett Robinson’s super reliable Point Group. For this ambitious project, Robinson has put together a crack team of talent, including Alex Kirkwood as Food & Beverage Director, Joel Bickford (ex-Aria) as Head Chef, and Shun Eto – who was a guest on our podcast, Friday Sharpeners, way back when – all of whom have turned this into the new “it” venue of Sydney.
From the Mad Men ambience of Clocktower Bar, literally digging out the guts of the old clock that sits atop the building, to the theatricality of Menzies Bar and the style of Sky Bar, Shell House hides plenty of action behind that glazed terracotta facade. But it’s the classicism of the Dining Bar & Terrace that is the best spot if you are here strictly for dinner.
You can read our full review of Shell House here.
Address: Level 9/37 Margaret St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8262 8888
Opening Hours: Wednesday (5:30pm – 11pm); Thursday – Saturday (12pm – 11pm)
Soul Deli, Surry Hills
Soul Deli is quite simply one of the best cafes in Sydney right now, and a unique addition to the inner-city’s brunch scene. Korean fried chicken served on fluffy pancakes for breakfast? A Korean-inflected twist on the classic Aussie big breakfast with bulgogi mushrooms and white kimchi? Jars of preserves sold for takeaway along with Korean doughnuts and kimchi grilled cheese sandwiches? Soul Deli has got plenty going for it, spinning off from the more upscale Soul Dining by offering the city a by-day staple that is absolutely one of the fresh new must-try places in Sydney.
Address: Shop 1&2/185 Campbell St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (7am – 4pm)
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Il Pontile, Woolloomooloo
Il Pontile is a hub of fresh pasta, a great wine list, and exceptional signature cocktails on Woolloomooloo’s iconic Finger Wharf. Having replaced The Amalfi Way, this new venture from Audacia Enterprises and Mario Percuoco is a fantastic addition to a cosy precinct that includes reliable players China Doll and Otto, sidling up to the breezy waterside location with clear designs on becoming just as reputable as its neighbours.
And that shouldn’t be a tough goal to achieve. The food is invariably excellent, from the palate-cleansing block of fresh watermelon drizzled in molasses and covered with fresh goat’s cheese, to the signature seafood linguini served in a parchment bag.
Address: S2/6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Contact: 1800 517 203
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday (12pm – 11:30pm)
La Salut, Redfern
A catalan inspired wine bar from the folks behind Love, Tilly Devine, Ragazzi and Dear Sainte Éloise? Was there any doubt that La Salut would quickly shoot up to become one of the most popular new bars in Sydney.
Located above The Norfolk, La Salut boasts a wine list of more than 250 bottles, with most varietals coming straight from Spain. And of course, you’ve got plenty of tapas to keep you busy while you work through the drinks menu, from black and blistered octopus to salty crackers with Cantabrian anchovies.
The wine list is so bold and adventurous that you’re guaranteed to come across something that’ll have you desperately browsing online wine stores. You won’t need to. La Salut also owns The Norfolk’s attached bottle shop now, so if you find any drops you like on the menu, you can pop on down and make that rewarding purchase so you can spread the love to your house guests.
Address: 305 Cleveland St, Redfern NSW 2016
Contact: 0412 872 855
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Friday (5pm – 12am); Saturday (12pm – 12am); Sunday (12pm – 10pm)
Lucky Kwong, Eveleigh
Kylie Kwong is back, making a long-awaited return to Sydney’s dining scene with Lucky Kwong. The vibrant casual eatery, part of the fresh-faced Everleigh development, is filled with steamed prawn dumplings and steamed Hokkien noodles served up alongside show-stealers like signature steamed savoury pancakes with fried egg, vegetables, Asian herbs and caramel-tamari, and sung choi pork baos with ginger, mushrooms, and Warrigal greens.
Address: 2 Locomotive St, Eveleigh NSW 2015
Contact: (02) 8377 1878
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (11am – 2:30pm)
Pub Life Kitchen, Ultimo
Serbian-influenced pub classics and some of the best burgers in Sydney is what you should expect when heading through to Ultimo’s Pub Life Kitchen, a triumphant return for the beloved Lord Wolseley Hotel kitchen which was shut down a few years ago so burger kind Jovan Curic could take his highly regarded burgers out west. Now the man is back where he belongs, serving up both familiar and different dishes like the traditional cevapi – a grilled sausage without the casing, serving with pickled onions, potatoes, and mushrooms. Sydney rarely gets to experience Serbian bistro food, so heading along to Pub Life Kitchen is your chance – if you can resist some of those burgers, that is.
Address: 265 Bulwara Rd, Ultimo NSW 2007
Contact: 0467 644 434
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Friday (5pm – 8:30pm); Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm); Sunday (12pm – 4pm)
Bar Suze, Surry Hills
Bar Suze is all about the Scandi flavoured snacks, bringing a back of Swedish flavour to Surry Hills with a charmingly casual European bistro that has been winning hearts all over Sydney with generous snacks and a great wine list. Australia, French and Italian producers get the brunt of showings where the drinks menu is concerned, but it’s the food that has been keeping people coming back for more, ranging from ricotta gnocchi with honey bugs and bisque to whole wood-smoked eggplant with brown butter, sour currants and sheep’s cheese. Clearly, this is much more than just a wine and cocktail bar.
Address: 54 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday (6pm – 12am)
Haco, Surry Hills
Haco is a new tempura restaurant in Surry Hills, aiming straight for Sydney’s undying love of Japanese cuisine with an omakase that typically consists of 20 courses. That might seem like a lot, especially when it’s surrounding deep-fried food, but the light batter and inventive tempura dishes will keep things engaging from start to finish, overseen by the studious Keita Abe. Given Tokyo is absolutely teeming with these kinds of small-format tempura restaurants, it’s about time Sydney was gifted a beautiful homage to this crucial part of Japanese dining.
Address: 21 Alberta St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: 0408 866 285
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday (5:30pm – 11pm)
Westwood Pizza, Newtown
Westwood Pizza has quickly shot through to become one of the best pizza places in Sydney. That’s no surprise, especially when you manage to get your mouth across a slice of fermented garlic-honey pizza – a pie so good that it has now become one of the city’s most emblematic new dishes. It’s the kind of pizza that will sell out every night, so a bit of planning (or pre-ordering) is required before you head along to the ridiculously popular Newtown spot.
Address: 245 Australia St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: 0466 181 266
Opening Hours: 5pm – 10pm
Bistrot 916, Potts Point
Surely one of the biggest openings of the year, Bistrot 916 is a neo-French restaurant in Potts Point helmed by none other than Dan Pepperell (best known for his work at 10 William St, Alberto’s Lounge, and Hubert). He serves as co-owner along with Michael Clift and sommelier Andy Tyson, forming a supergroup of sorts that oversee a French bistro-style menu favouring seafood. Surely this is one of the best new restaurants Sydney offers right now
Address: 22 Challis Ave, Potts Point NSW 2011
Contact: (02) 9167 6667
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (5pm – 12am); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am); Sunday (12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm)
Porcine, Paddington
A French bistro located above a Paddington bottle shop. Porcine is one of the newest French bistros to open in Sydney, and it’s fast become considered one of the best French restaurants the city has seen in quite some time. The simple, unfussed approach and complete faith the produce definitely plays a part in that, along with the romantic old-school atmosphere that puts great emphasis on unobtrusive yet attentive service. On your table, you should have a healthy spread of dishes like octopus aioli, smoked eel potato salad, pork chop with lardo and sherry, and duck pate with bread and Brandy.
Address: 268 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021
Contact: 0423 015 032
Opening Hours: Thursday – Friday (6pm – 11pm); Saturday (12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm); Sunday (12pm – 4pm)
Butter x Impossible Foods Pop-Up
You already know Julian Cincotta’s Butter, which has grown so large out of its original Surry Hills digs to now operate several venues from Parramatta to Chatswood.
The fried chicken, sneaker, and Champagne kings have teamed up with Impossible Foods to launch a temporary pop-up in The Rocks, showcasing plant-based meat in new creations like an Impossible Cheesburger and an Impossible Katsu sandwich that, quite honestly, taste better than most meat-based versions in Sydney right now. If you’re looking for a bit of insight into how good Impossible plant-based meats can taste in gourmet dude food staples, head straight to this pop-up before it pops down in a couple of months.
Or you can just head along to the bar, which is serving up Hennessy and Moet for something a bit different to what The Rocks usually offers.
Address: 26 Playfair St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Contact: 0434 119 416
Opening Hours: Thursday – Friday (11am – 10pm); Saturday (9am – 10pm); Sunday (9am – 6pm)
Esteban, CBD
Opened on Temperance Lane, by the same team behind Paddington’s Tequila Mockingbird, Esteban is a two-storey powerhouse of Mexican flavours and art-deco aesthetics. There’s also the unsubtle boast that here lies Australia’s collection of premium Tequila and Mezcal, some pushed around in tasting trolleys with cheese and chocolate pairings, as diners travel a spectrum of tastes from Mayan, Aztec, Spanish, Portuguese and Afro-Caribbean cultures.
Address: 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9062 8565
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Wednesday (12pm – 12am); Thursday – Friday (12pm – 1am); Saturday (4pm – 1am)
a’Mare, Barangaroo
Sure, Sydney doesn’t really need a new Italian restaurant, but no one with taste would dare pass up a new opening from Ormeggio at the Spit mastermind Alessandro Pavoni. A seafood-focused take on regionality, this Italian fine diner is playing at another level, with lush options like $295 ARS Italica oscietra caviar and a $180 1kg veal cutlet alla Milanese. There’s also a range of pasta, from the $35 hand-cut tagliatelle with slow-cooked Wagyu Bolognese ragout, and a $220 Mancini Spaghetti XXL with rock lobster.
Address: Crown Sydney, Level 1/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8871 7171
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday (12pm – 12am); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 1am); Sunday (12pm – 12am)
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L’Heritage, Mosman
You’d be forgiven for thinking Sydney has been overly obsessed with French dining as of late. That would be incorrect. The city has always had a healthy obsession with traditional French bistros, and L’Heritage (pronounced le-re-tarj – not la heritage) is playing right into that in the most romantic way possible. The owners of local Mosman favourite Frenchy’s Café have managed to secure one of the most enviable locations for a restaurant in Sydney right now, perfectly transforming an historic former 1890s Army Drill Hall into a cosy French bistro serving home-style classics.
Almost hanging over Chowder Bay, the waterfront restaurant offers a considerable menu built by Head Chef Julien Audibert-Lebon, tracking dishes like a signature bouillabaisse with a dark saffron aioli, and canard a l’orange – a gorgeous crispy skin duck breast with Paris mash, roasted carrots, and orange duck jus. Make sure you leave room for dessert as well, with fine French cheeses and some truly indulgent options to end the night.
Address: 7b Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
Contact: (02) 9968 1658
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday (10am – 10pm)
The Wine Room & Manly Greenhouse
Let’s face it, Manly isn’t known for its food scene for good reason. It’s hard to find something that’s a cut above average here, and if you’re not frequently tucking into staples like Manly Thai Gourmet, Pocket Pizza, deVita, Sunset Sabi, or Fika Swedish Kitchen, you’re almost guaranteed to leave disappointed. Manly Greenhouse has been hit or miss for me each time I’ve been, but the new Wine Room, on the second floor of the venue, is a sure winner. Not only do they have a fantastic wine list, but the Spanish-style tapas dishes are very satisfying and more than makeup for the tacky decor.
Address: 36-38 S Steyne, Manly NSW 2095
Contact: (02) 9056 3388
Cucina Porto, Pyrmont
Joining the likes of Sokyo and BLACK Bar & Grill, Cucina Porto is set to be The Star’s new casual Italian eatery, with a kitchen led by Executive Chef Martino Pulito. Opened as the first of several new dining concepts in the casino complex, Cucina Porto will draw heavily on heritage recipes from Pulito’s hometown of Puglia, which should mean a lot of orecchiette and baked fish dishes on the menu, along with classic Italian snacks and pizzas, paired with what’s being touted as a “Negroni progression menu”. Cucina Porto opens on Wednesday 25th November.
Address: Level G, Harbourside Entrance The Star Sydney, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Contact: 1800 700 700
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm); Sunday (11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm)
Lilymu, Parramatta
It’s all happening out in the west now, with Parramatta Square welcoming a brand new restaurant from the same team behind Surry Hills’ Lebanese favourite Nour. Lilymu takes a huge turn away from the Middle Eastern chops though, driven by ex-Mr Wong Head Chef Brendan Fong towards an interesting blend of Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines, positioning it as one of the best new restaurants in Sydney. That means comfort food like tom yum prawn dumplings served with soy and lime dressing, katsu sandwiches with duck sausage, prawn red curry, and a black garlic mi goreng served with egg yolk and leeks.
Address: 153 Macquarie St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Contact: (02) 7809 4952
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday (5:30pm – 9:30pm); Friday (12pm – 2pm, 5:30pm – 10pm); Saturday (5:30pm – 10pm); Sunday (12pm – 2pm, 5:30pm – 9pm)
Uccello, CBD
Merivale’s long-standing Italian favourite, Uccello, has reopened in the same luscious digs of ivy Pool Club. Although the difference here is significant, now bringing young chef Nigel Ward to leave a renaissance fuelled by the flavours of Italy’s breezy Amalfi Coast. Given the restaurant sides with one of Sydney’s most popular rooftop pools, the food is now appropriately lounge-worthy with spreads of Burraduc Valley buffalo mozzarella and Cantabrian anchovies sitting next to freshly made pasta dishes and substantials like Melanda Park suckling pig with wine grapes and vino cotto. The changes are substantial enough to qualify Uccello as one of the best new restaurants in Sydney.
Address: 4/320 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9114 7309
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Friday (12pm – 12am); Saturday (6pm – 12am);
Nobu & Yoshii’s Omakase, Barangaroo
If you’re familiar with the iconic Nobu brand then you already know to expect great things from the new Sydney restaurant. Part of the wildly ambitious dining scene of Crown Sydney, it’s the token Japanese fine dining experience held to relentlessly high standards. And that’s exactly what you should rightfully expect when walking into that immense space and ordering up the entire menu – picking at the likes of $96 lobster with wasabi pepper, king crab tempura, market nigiri and sashimi, and signature Nobu tacos.
For those really wanting to take things to a new level, you can also try squeeze a booking into Yoshii’s Omakase, a separate dining experience run by formidable Sushi Master Ryuichi Yoshii, who has been considered one of Australia’s finest since his first namesake restaurant in 1997.
Address: Crown Sydney, Level 2/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8871 7171
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Bastardo, Surry Hills
Surry Hills’ legendary Porteno is now a full-blown dining precinct with the opening of Bastardo, the team’s dedicated, non-traditional Italian trattoria that’s fuelled by an old-school pasta extruder and an atmosphere that looks like it was ripped straight from the set of an 60’s Italian film. The menu will change regularly, but so far diners have been treated to the likes of toasted flour maflada with braised duck and silverbeet, and Italian-style dumplings filled with potato and cheese. Trust the Porteno crew to give us one of the best new restaurants in Sydney. Who needs fine dining when you have no-fuss, casual pasta?
Want more insight into this new Italian restaurant? Read our review of Bastardo Sydney.
Address: 50 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9435 0800
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday (5pm – 10pm); Friday (12pm – 10pm); Saturday (5pm – 10pm)
Il Baretto, Paddington
The appearance of Il Baretto in Paddington isn’t the case of yet another new Italian restaurant for the city, it signifies the rapid revival for one of the city’s most beloved pasta institutions. For over two decades, Il Baretto sat in the same place on Bourke Street, dishing up some of the finest pasta dishes around. That is, until it suddenly closed earlier this year at the height of the pandemic. As of early October, Il Baretto 2.0 is back with all of its beloved signatures – slow-cooked duck ragu pappardelle, most importantly – as the in-house restaurant of Solotel’s Paddo Inn. It mightn’t be as fresh as the others on this list, but Il Baretto 2.0 is definitely one of the best new restaurants in Sydney.
Address: 338 Oxford St, Paddington
Contact: 0415 354 626
Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches, Parramatta
If a trio of new Italian restaurants to check out isn’t quite doing it for you, head on out to the new $3.2 billion Parramatta Square and tuck into Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches. The new American-style diner makes no apologies for its bigger-is-better approach to classic deli-style food and drink. It’s one rollerskating waitress away from being a full-blown homage to the vintage US diner, with massive offerings like brisket and pastrami sandwiches, philly cheesesteaks, and a meatball sub with garlic butter, marinara sauce and mozzarella.
Address: Parramatta Square Shop 4, 05/12 Darcy St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Contact: (02) 9169 0838
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday (10am – 8pm); Thursday – Saturday (10am – 9pm); Sunday (11am – 8pm)
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Bar 83 & Infinity, CBD
Although they both opened at the tail-end of September, Bar 83 and its neighbouring restaurant, Infinity, still flew under the radar for many Sydneysiders daydreaming of escaping the city. The two venues have been primed as Sydney Tower’s expensive and lavish comeback, with Infinity sitting 81 floors up, and netting the considerable culinary know-how of former The Bridge Room chef Mike Dierlinger. Two more floors up, Bar 83, with its futuristic red-and-white cocktail lounge, completes the picture, helmed by award-winning bartender Jenna Hemsworth, who is best known for her work at The Baxter Inn and Restaurant Hubert.
Address: Level 4 Westfield Sydney, 108 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: 1300 391 808
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (3pm – 11pm); Friday – Saturday (2pm – 12am); Sunday (12pm – 11pm)
Nighthawk, Marrickville
One of Sydney’s original and best known food trucks has finally settled down, with Nighthawk transposed from its classic silver airstream into a new Alexandria venue. The American diner inspired fare is still there – as is the small fleet of roaming silver trucks – but they’ve celebrated the new digs with a menu refresh of seasonal salads, kombucha, coffee, and sandwiches like the Corned Jackfruit Reuben, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Ribwich.
Address: 43 Farr St, Marrickville NSW 2204
Contact: (02) 9636 5039
Opening Hours: Thursday – Saturday (5:30pm – 8:30pm)
Seta, CBD
Seta boasts what is possibly one of the finest, most elegant interiors Sydney has seen since Hubert in 2016. The same designer behind Mr Wong and Felix, Michael McCann, has created a masterwork framed by Jarrah panelling and looking slick with hand-cut marble floors. The magnificent interior is genuinely connected to the food and drink you can expect too, equally sophisticated with a vintage charm, overseen by Head Chef Giovanni Astolfoni and Michelin-starred Exec. Chef Matteo Vigotti (famous for Milan hotspot, Peck), who checks in on occasion via Zoom, given he’s based overseas. Together, the superstar team leads a kitchen through dishes like cuttlefish tagliatelle, salt cod with polenta crisps, and wagyu with horseradish and watercress. It’s quite obvious that Seta has some serious staying power. Even if you’re just looking for a good wine bar, Seta is a shoo-in.
Address: 11 Barrack St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9262 2624
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday (12pm – 11pm)
NOMAD, Surry Hills
While one of Sydney’s most well-regarded restaurants, NOMAD, is far from new, this iteration is. The institution has persevered through a fire, a nearby pop-up, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging with a renewed sense of purpose, and scale. Back at its original Foster Street home, the restaurant now sports a larger, open kitchen with twice as much prime-position seating. And of course, this change has brought about a new dine-in menu, introducing the likes of Murray cod with artichokes, peas, anchovy and za’atar alongside classics like hiramasa kingfish and truffle honey zucchini flowers.
Address: 16 Foster St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9280 3395
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (6pm – 11pm); Wednesday (12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 11pm); Thursday (12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 12am); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 2pm, 5pm – 12am); Sunday (12pm – 2am, 5:30pm – 8pm)
Pina, Potts Point
One of Sydney’s all-time favourite cafes, Room 10, has officially extended into new concept Pina. And it’s located directly opposite the Llankelly Place institution, offering breakfast, lunch and – soon – dinner. Produce is the focus here, with top-quality breakfasts fetching a high-price, turning that hard-earned cash into flavourful options like a super premium bacon and egg roll, avocado toast with just about every add-on you can think of, chickpea pancakes, and omelettes. As the day moves on, that menu turns to meatball sandwiches, fried chicken burgers, and a banh mi-esque chicken sandwich. Particularly for breakfast lovers, it’s one of the best new restaurants in Sydney.
Address: shop 4/29 Orwell St, Potts Point NSW 2011
Contact: (02) 7251 8025
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (7am – 3pm)
The Blue Door, Surry Hills
Award-winning chef Dylan Cashman chose Surry Hills as the location for his first Sydney restaurant, The Blue Door. Given Cashman’s already solid reputation, built from beloved Australian kitchens at Sean’s Panorama, Cottage Point Inn, and Paper Daisy, as well as highly regarded European institutions like Vendome and Brixton Laundry, it’s easy to see the hype behind this new Surry Hills restaurant.
The Blue Door is an extension of Cashman’s restaurant of the same name on the Gold Coast, which has already been awarded a Good Food Guide chef’s hat and was named Best New Restaurant for Queensland recently. The Sydney extension similarly circles around provenance and sustainable, ethical farming with a strong bias towards using only NSW produce. This is expressed with dishes that will rotate weekly and focus on using the whole animal across various items to ensure nothing goes to waste.
Address: 8/38 Waterloo St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: 0417 909 635
Opening Hours: Wednesday (5pm – 11pm); Thursday – Friday (12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm); Saturday (5pm – 11pm)
CHI By Lotus, Barangaroo
Fresh from Lotus Dining Group, this Chinese eatery and bar carves out its own space in the densely packed Barangaroo precinct, with a big focus on street food style dishes. Smoke and fuel cooking takes prime position in the kitchen, pushing out dishes like half shell scallops with garlic, chilli and seablite, as well as options inspired by Australian native ingredients, like the deep-fried saltbush or the duck breast with Davidson’s plum and caramel.
Address: Shop 2/100 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 7227 6920
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Wednesday (5pm – 10pm); Thursday (5pm – 12am); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am)
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Ezra, Potts Point
Tel Aviv isn’t often represented across Sydney’s multicultural dining scene, but this new restaurant, from the former owners of nearby French favourite Bistro Rex, is looking to change that in a big way. Inspired by the metropolitan dining scene of the coastal Israeli city, Ezra takes a liberal approach to its source and tasks Ben Sears (most famous for his work at Moon Park and Paper Bird) in curating an inventive menu full of echoes from Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish cultures. You’re just as likely to find soulful vegetarian dishes like grated halloumi and za’atar served with roasted cauliflower, as you are skewers of salmon pastrami, green olive and pickled chilli, as well as chicken baked in vine leaf and served with blistered grapes with a smoked garlic toum. Just make sure you aren’t missing the hummus with a smoked soft-boiled egg, fresh radish, chickpea puree and olive oil, nor the baklava ice-cream sandwich at the end of it all, built with pistachio, burnt-honey parfait and caramelised filo pastry. Ezra is also just a really great wine bar.
Address: 3 Kellett St, Potts Point NSW 2011
Contact: (02) 8322 0929
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (5:30pm – 11pm); Friday (5:30pm – 11:30pm); Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 11:30pm); Sunday (12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9pm)
Foreign Return, Surry Hills
Delhi ‘O’ Delhi’s Javed Khan, along with Gaurang Gahoi, and Kunal Patel have opened Foreign Return on Crown Street, offering the inner-city another finely tuned experimental Indian restaurant that plays fast and loose with tradition. Siddharth Kalyanaraman, official touring head chef for the Australian national cricket team, has parked himself up at the head of the kitchen, cooking up dishes like crispy taro root with spiced yoghurt, local blue swimmer crab curry, pan seared duck breast with banana flower and yoghurt, and – for lunch – a tiffin box stuffed with smoked butter chicken, Bengali style lamb cooked in mustard oil, and eggplants simmered in spiced nut and poppy seed curry. Plus, it’s one the best street Surry Hills is known for.
Address: 527 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 8399 5084
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (5:30pm – 10pm); Friday – Saturday (11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm); Sunday (11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm)
Vini Divini, CBD
Sydney’s CBD really can’t get enough of a Mediterranean-styled wine bar. There’s a lot of them, and fortunately, Vini Divini adds some much needed vitality to the scene, with over 1,000 bottles from 10 different countries, including Turkey, Georgia, and Greece. The former head sommelier for Rockpool Dining Group, Raphael Mulligan, is leading this one, pairing his drops up with mezze dishes like signature babaganoush, beetroot-marinated artichokes with toasted almonds, and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with fregola salad and caramelised apple. Just try and beat that dining room framed by hundreds of wine bottles.
Address: G2A/60 Carrington St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: 0477 033 811
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (12pm – 12am)
Clearly, Sydney has had no shortage of new openings across the board, from pricey special occasion restaurants to value-driven casual restaurants and eateries introducing new ideas to the city’s already stacked multicultural dining scene. A lot of buzz has been surrounding Foreign Return, Ezra, Pina, Bistrot 916, and Esteban in particular, which goes to show just how wide-ranging the palate has become when it comes to seeking out the best new restaurants in Sydney.
Not in Sydney or up for some domestic travel? Check out the best new restaurants in Melbourne, and the best new restaurants in Brisbane. Or if you’re in Sydney and looking for a quick lunchtime feed, try our list of the best sandwich shops in Sydney and best Korean BBQ in Sydney. And if you need relaxation after all that food check out the best day spas in Sydney.
Best New Restaurants In Sydney – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best new restaurant in Sydney right now?
The best restaurants in Sydney right now are Margaret, Ursula’s, Woodcut, Shell House, Porcine, and Soul Deli.
What is the best new restaurant in Sydney CBD?
The best new restaurants in Sydney CBD are Shell House Dining Bar & Terrace and Esteban
What is the best new Sydney restaurant for a date?
The best new restaurant in Sydney perfect for a date night is L’Heritage in Chowder Bar, or Shell House Dining Room & Terrace in the CBD.
