The restaurants listed below offer excellent dining experiences but bring your credit card along with you as they are not cheap. The chef's-hat ratings are from the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide 2013.
The Three Hat Award Winners for 2013 are Est, Marque Restaurant, Momofuku Seiobo, Quay, Rockpool on George, Sepia
The Two Hat Award Winners for 2013 are
Aria, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, The Bridge Room, Buon Ricordo, Claude's, Four In Hand Dining Room, Gastro Park, Guillaume at Bennelong, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Longrain, Ormeggio at the Spit, Pilu at Freshwater, Porteno, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Spice Temple, Tetsuya's, Universal
The One Hat Award Winners for 2013 are
A Tavola, Aki's, The Apollo, Arras, Assiette, Balla, Bar H, The Bathers' Pavilion, Billy Kwong, Bistro Moncur, Bistrode CBD, Black by Ezard, The Boathouse at Blackwattle Bay, Buzo Trattoria, Cafe Sopra, Catalina, China Doll, Chiswick, Clareville Kiosk, The Devonshire, Fish Face, Flying Fish, 4Fourteen, Foveaux, Glass Brasserie, Jonah's, Lucio's, Ms.G's, The Ortolan on Bayswater, Oscillate Wildly, Otto Ristorante, Pendolino, Sake Restaurant & Bar, Sean's Panaroma, Sixpenny, Three Blue Ducks, Tomislav, Uccello, Ume, Xanthi
The Hat Award Winners as reviewed by Sydney Locals
Sepia - A relative newcomer and restaurant of the year. Sussex Street, Sydney Sepia
Quay - Overseas Passenger Terminal Circular Quay - 9251 5600 - Contemporary. Famous dessert - the snowball egg. Winner of 2009 & 2010 Restaurant of the year. # 3hats# Fantastic position with stunning views overlooking Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, the food is truly remarkable and delicious. www.quay.com.au
Marque - 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills - 93322225 - French - # 3 Hats# www.marquerestaurant.com.au is located on busy hip Crown Street . The food is wonderful a degustation menu is also available. At lunchtime there are "specials" and this is a great way to experience this restaurant without paying the hefty dinner prices. The wine list is limited to mostly European wines, however they do have a few Sth Australian and New Zealand varieties. The chef Mark Best offers diners a unique and wonderful dining experience .
est. - city - 92403010 (Restaurant of the year 2005) Contemporary #3 Hats# is located in Level 1, 252 George Street in the Establishment Hotel. The food is gorgeous and the setting absolutely 5 stars, Peter Doyle is one of Sydney's talented chef's which makes this restaurant a remarkable dining experience. A degustation menu is available and also a chef's menu.
Aria - Circular Quay- 9252 2555- Contemporary. If looking for a restaurant with stunning views of the Opera House, then Aria will suit you perfectly. The restaurant is fine dining at its best, with excellent knowledgeable staff members and an award winning menu. It's expensive and classy. www.ariarestaurant.com
Bentley - 320 Crown Street, Surry Hills - 9332 2344 - ContemporaryBentley
Claude’s - 10 Oxford Street, Woollahra - 9331 2325 (best BYO) French http://claudes.com.au/
Guillaume at Bennelong - Opera House - 9241 1999 - French/Contemporary restaurant located in the Opera House and has absolutely stunning views of Sydney Harbour. The room is tastefully decorated with comfortable seating and the food scrumptious and delightful. A must do if visiting Sydney and looking for a memorable and unforgettable evening. www.guillaumeatbennelong.com.au
Icebergs Dining Room - Bondi Beach - 93659000 - Mediterraneanwww.idrb.com
Longrain - Surrey Hills - 9280 2888 - Asian Longrain
Lucios - 47 Windsor St, Paddington. Upmarket Italian trattoria specialising in modern Italian food with an eye to tradition. Pasta made daily - signature dish of tagliolini alla granseola has been on the menu since 1983. Added bonus is the wonderful artworks that line the walls - 9380 5996 - www.lucios.com.au
Rockpool - The Rocks - 9252 1888 - Contemporary - Located at 107 George Street, The Rocks. Excellent seafood restaurant offering the best of Sydney rock oysters. www.rockpool.com
Tetsuya's: Very popular, world renowned restaurant one has to book well (often months!) in advance to get a table. - 9267 2900 - Japanese/French www.tetsuyas.com
Bathers Pavilion - Balmoral Beach - 9969 5050 - Mediterranean # 1Hat # www.batherspavillion.com.au . This restaurant is housed in one of Sydney's icon buildings the Pavilion overlooking stunning Balmoral Beach. The restaurant has a contemporary menu with an excellent wine list. Chef and owner Serge Dansereau offers patrons a refreshing and seasonal choice of food. If looking for a romantic restaurant one cannot pass Bathers Pavilion. Next door the Café serves Mediterranean food in a relaxed beach atmosphere.
Billy Kwong - 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills. - Modern Chinese - To enjoy this BYO and licensed restaurant one needs to get here early, as no reservations are taken. It's usual to see people lining up before it even opens. The reason its so popular is because the food is so yummy and the Chinese menu exciting. The daily specials like snapper with ginger and shallots or crispy duck are favourites among the patrons. Everything regarding the food is organic and Billy Kwong philosophy reflects through its food. Chefs : Matthew Lindsay and Kylie Kwong. You can purchase Kylie Kwong signed cookbook at the restaurant. www.kyliekwong.org
Bistro Moncur- Woollahra Hotel - 9363 2519 - French Bistro Moncur
Buon Ricordo - 108 Boundary Street, Paddington - 9360 6729 - Italian. The Restaurant is located in a leafy traditional Paddington Street in a attractive corner terrace. The moment you step inside the restaurant you are warmly welcomed by the exceptional, professional and knowledgeable staff which are an absolute credit to this establishment. Chefs Armando Percuoco and Darren Taylor dish up some tasty Italian cuisine, like the Linguini with braised calamari, cherry tomatoes, garlic and chili or the scampi, mussels, clams, calamari, octopus, cuttlefish and rock cod cooked with tomato. atwww.buonricordo.com.au Yum! A 6 course degustation is also available.
Manly Pavilion - Near Manly Wharf - The restaurant is housed in the old Manly Bathers Pavilion built in 1933 for the locals. The decor is chic and modern restaurant with stunning views of Sydney Harbour. Chef Jonathan Barthlemess brings a Mediterranean twist to an exciting menu.http://www.manlypier.com/
Otto - Woolloomooloo Wharf - 93687488 Italian www.otto.net.au
Sean's Panaroma - Campbell Parade, Bondi 9365 4924 - Views of the Pacific Ocean. Contemporary Sean's Panorama
Uccello - 330 George Street City, Level 4 - Ivy Building. This is an upmarket Italian Restaurant which has just opened and will be catering for the Who's Who in Sydney crowd. The main attraction is the large open outdoor swimming pool with private cabana's and sun-deck chairs. The restaurant looks over the pool. Uccello Restaurant is located on level 4 and is owned and managed by Merivale. If you do dine at the restaurant make sure you have a few after diner drinks at one of the Ivy bars, they are truly spectacular.
Other places:
Aqua Dining at North Sydney Olympic Pool - 9964 9998 - Contemporary. Aqua is located above North Sydney Olympic Pool , corner of Paul & Northcliff Streets, Milson Point. The views are absolutely gorgeous with direct water-views of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge , Opera House and Luna Park. A contemporary menu and an excellent wine list. Bookings are essential especially if you want a water-view table or a table overlooking the pool. This is an excellent restaurant to take overseas guest to, they will be totally blown away with the spectacular views. www.aquadining.com.au
Mad Cow - 330 George Street City, Level 1 - Ivy Building. The Mad Cow restaurant is located in the Ivy Building 330 George Street, Sydney. The restaurant is seriously cute with large gorgeous lampshades overhanging the tables and booth style tables.
The menu is mostly steaks however they do have some vegetarian and seafood on the list too. Wine list good.
Coast - Darling Harbour - 92676700 - Contemporary -www.coastrestaurant.com.au
The menu is mostly steaks however they do have some vegetarian and seafood on the list too. Wine list good.
Coast - Darling Harbour - 92676700 - Contemporary -www.coastrestaurant.com.au
Manta Restaurant & Bar - Woolloomooloo Wharf - 9332 3822 Seafood & Steak - www.mantarestaurant.com.au Sydney waterfront dining at it's best. Exceptional seafood & steaks, waterfront tables with view of Woolloomooloo Bay & the stunning city skyline and an extensive wine list. It's also a great spot for celebrity spotting. Set priced weekend lunch specials and winter lunch specials available. Great for groups, a leisurely long lunch or enjoy a cocktail in the buzzing bar.
Gailileo, The Observatory Hotel - Rocks - Japanese/French
Athenian Greek Restaurant - This classy Greek Restaurant is tucked along Barrack Street in the city in the old Bank Building. The atmosphere is stately with wall to wall frescoes of the Parthenon and Acropolis which one automatically thinks it will be expensive. However, that’s’ far from the truth Athenian is a real surprise package offering diners fabulous meals at very reasonable prices. The restaurant is opened for lunch and dinner. The menu has all the typical Greek dishes plus a terrific “Day Special's” menu. www.athenian.com.au
The Restaurant - Located in the Art Gallery of New South Wales and only open for Lunch 7 days a week from 12-3, with brunch on weekends from 10-11:30 AM. This is a great restaurant with terrific dishes, a nice wine list, and a beautiful water view.
Kable's Restaurant - located in the Four Seasons Hotel (199 George Street) is not only centrally located with a large parking garage, but also offers a good value business lunch and lovely dinners. Seating is spacious (privacy is guaranteed) and the service excellent. Nicely located looking down over the atrium lobby. Tel 9250 3226. French/Contemporary www.fourseasons.com
Bodega - 216 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills - 9212 7766 - Spanish/South American
Omega - City - 9223 0242 - Greek
Pello - East Sydney - 9360 4640 - European
Spice I Am - 90 Wentworth Ave., Surry Hills - 9280 0928 - Thai
Sushi E - 9240 3041 - Level 4, Establishment Hotel - modern Japanese
Yoshii - The Rocks - 9247 2566 - Japanese
Other Awards
Restaurant of the Year: Quay
Chefs of the Year: Porteno's Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz
Best New Restaurant: Momofuku Seiobo
Regional Restaurant of the Year: Aubergine, Griffith, ACT
Advertisement
Josephine Pignolet Best Young Chef: Nick Gardner, Tetsuya's
Diners' Choice: Tetsuya's
BYO Restaurant of the Year: Il Baretto
Best bar with food: 121 BC Cantina and Enoteca
Silver Service award: Piers Ursell, Guillame at Bennelong
Sustainability award: Biota Dining
Innovation award: City of Sydney
Professional Excellence award: Justin Hemmes
Legend award: Leo Schofield
Wine List of the Year: Ash St Cellar
Regional Wine List of the Year: Aubergine, Griffith, ACT
Sommelier of the Year: Rodney Setter, Sepia
Best Short Wine List: Spice Temple
