sydney CBD restaurants

Apart from sides, there's only one thing on this menu: T-bone steaks, sold by weight.

An institution among Laksa addicts. Today the name has two locations under its banner, but the original, now-closed Hunter Street shop was ladling bowls of piping hot laksa all the way back in 1987 – long before most of the CBD’s other Asian restaurants joined the party.

Helmed by genre-bending Sydney chef Mitch Orr, the Ace Hotel’s eighteenth-floor diner is all about native ingredients, fire-based cooking and flavours from across the globe. The space exudes the Ace’s signature cool, with a view that’s primed for the adventurous wine list by P&V’s Mike Bennie.

The Middle East’s lesser-known cuisines brought to light on a menu informed by ancient recipes and modern techniques. You can also try wines from Syria, Jordan, Morocco and more, in a stunning contemporary space in the former MLC Centre.

Nigiri takes pride of place at this 12-seat omakase diner, and there's a formidable selection of Japanese whisky to go with it. You might end up sharing some with your neighbour – it's all about the convivial vibe here.

Chaco Bar's Keita Abe brings high-end Japanese dining to Surry Hills with this theatrical omakase restaurant. Sit at the wraparound counter try a constantly-shifting menu of Osaka-style tempura and desserts with wow factor.

At this restaurant-bar, chef-owner Junda Khoo experiments with regional Malaysian specialties. Plus there are tiki-inspired cocktails and a fun wine list.

Manon brings French flair to the Queen Victoria Building with a roll call of bistro classics such as croque monsieur, steak frites and crab bisque souffle. Take a seat in the handsome dining room, or people-watch Parisian-style at a streetside table.

This all-day eatery inside Hinchcliff House mills its own flour, using grain supplied by NSW farmers. That means house-made pastas and ciabatta to go with produce-driven share plates and cocktails.

Helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, this multifaceted Japanese diner brings together a dining room, a cocktail bar and a chef's table under one elegant roof. Dishes are informed by Japanese tradition, French techniques and a root-to-stem philosophy.

This Sydney institution is serving Thai family recipes made with produce from the owners’ own farm.

Vibrant Mexican food, super-rare tequilas and million-dollar views are all on the menu at this smart harbourside diner. But to really feel like a millionaire, splash out on the signature gold leaf Margarita.

A cosmopolitan Italian diner with enough marble to sink a ship. It’s a spin-off of Matteo’s in Double Bay, and the pizza is just as good. This place has a few of its own moves though – notably, an executive chef who was trained by the inventor of Roman-style pizza.

Descend the stairs into a labyrinthine den of lush velvet booths, flowing booze and a menu that champions Riverine rib eye.

This sumptuous diner is one of two venues by the Speakeasy Group inside the revamped Beneficial House, a heritage-listed former department store in Sydney's CBD. Celebrating life's big moments is what it's all about here – come for tableside theatrics, premium Aussie steaks and complimentary cocktail amuse-bouches on arrival.

Celebrity chef Luke Mangan imparts his signature style to the Kimpton Hotel’s grand lobby restaurant. Expect modern Australian fare with European and Southeast Asian flourishes, matched with an extensive wine cellar starring rare French vintages and plenty of Australian drops.

Under soaring ceilings in an art deco building, The Charles evokes Europe’s grand brasseries with plenty of thoughtful touches – including a roaming dessert trolley, and tableside saucing and carving. Order the whole dry-aged duck for a show-stopping signature.

Inside Sydney's Capella hotel, the team behind Bentley and Monopole are turning out modern Australian takes on classic brasserie dishes. There's an encyclopaedic wine list to match, which accesses all the rare drops stashed in the Bentley Group cellars.

This restaurant surrounded by lush gardens is serving a contemporary Asian menu inspired by celebrity chef Luke Nguyen’s heritage.

Clayton Wells’ follow-up to Automata has the chef’s signature all over it – literally. Come for unexpected dishes starring beautiful Australian ingredients, as you take in harbour views from within Sydney Modern at the AGNSW.

A moody Mexican laneway diner in an old CBD printing shop. The upstairs restaurant serves tacos al pastor, a one-kilogram Wagyu rib eye and a riff on the Pina Colada for dessert. But downstairs in the bar, it's all about mezcal and tequila.

The CBD has some of the best cocktail bars in the world, but there’s a surprising lack of venues with a focus on vino. Since moving from its original Potts Point location, Monopole, with its clever mix of snacking and thoughtful drinks list, has changed that.

A solid lunchtime dining option in the CBD, with an alfresco plant-filled terrace and a whopping 900-kilogram wood grill.

At Pinky-Ji, “unauthentic Indian” chef Jessi Singh brings all the fun and flavour of his Melbourne diner Daughter in Law to the Sydney CBD. Expect modern takes on Indian dishes in a neon-lit room draped in red velvet. Plus, a private dining room with a karaoke machine pumping tunes from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

This is the long-awaited Sydney outpost for the beloved Japanese dining empire, and it's brought its signature miso cod along for the ride. Dine on salmon-sashimi tacos and evaporate-in-your-mouth nigiri, knock back "sushi cups" and enjoy some aged sake.

A sexy wine bar from the team behind Love, Tilly Devine, where the pasta menu changes almost daily and comes supplied by its retail sibling, Fabbrica a few blocks away. You might order cavatelli with pippies and house-made pork sausage one day, and goat ragu mafaldine the next.

Merivale’s opulent Japanese diner puts a modern spin on the country’s traditional cuisine. Take your seat at the white marble counter for a theatrical experience involving premium seafood, sake and no shortage of knife skills from the team of highly trained chefs.

This '70s-inspired cocktail lounge on the 83rd floor of Sydney Tower is the highest bar in town. Cocktails come from an ex-Baxter Inn and Hubert bartender whose drinks will (almost) distract you from the 260-degree views.

The laneway eatery is a collaboration by top Sydney chefs Federico Zanellato (Lumi Dining) and Karl Firla (ex-Oscillate Wildly). While they’re both renowned for innovative fine-dining concepts, Leo is their ode to rustic Italian cuisine. That said, your pasta may come with truffles when they’re in season.

Set within Merivale’s sprawling Ivy Precinct, Bar Totti’s is more than just a facsimile of the Bondi original. It brings together the best bit of the OG (signature pastas, outstanding antipasti and woodfired flatbreads), but has a few of its own tricks, too. Notably, regular DJ sets and a late-trading licence to keep the good times rolling for longer.

This art deco drinks-and-dining complex has three seductive bars, but the heart and soul of the building is the spectacular ninth-floor restaurant. Take your time with a lengthy menu of seafood, pasta and protein-heavy mains, and a wine list highlighting French classics and new world naturals.

Serving up burgers under $10 and freshly churned thickshakes, this burger joint’s neon signs and sky-blue tiles are a vibrant ode to ’50s American diners.

Following a stunning makeover, this beloved Greek restaurant reopened in 2021. A handful of old favourites remain on the menu, but everything else – from the sprawling open kitchen to the roaring woodfire oven – is brand new.

Formerly an oyster bar, this al fresco French diner evokes the Mediterranean with its unmatched harbour views and sterling seafood. It's got you covered for all occasions, from pre-theatre snacks to big-budget lobster and champagne dinners.

Southeast Asian street food is the focus at Merivale’s rowdy good-times diner: oysters spiked with Vietnamese-style vinaigrette, jungle curry with pipis and Phnom Penh fried chicken. To drink? Fresh cocktails and a famous yuzu slushie.

Fine dining meets Oaxacan flavours at this casual CBD spot. There's a rollicking bar with such vast quantities of tequila and mezcal, bartenders use a library ladder to access the top shelf. A pre-dinner flight here is highly encouraged – and well worth it.

Mike McEnearney trades out No.1 Bent Street with his all-day canteen where you’re encouraged to bring in your own Tupperware.

Bow down to the dumpling masters. Or just watch them through the glass, hand-crafting those world-class xiao long bao in the kitchen.

Steak frites is king at this two-storey French bistro in the heart of the city. But sophisticated Gallic standards are just one part of the picture – you'll also find a formidable wine list spanning Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone Valley wine regions.

The one-two punch of exemplary Malaysian sweets and smoky char kway teow noodles is not one you’ll experience often. But that’s exactly what you get at this unassuming food court counter run by a husband-and-wife duo.

Pull up a chair at the former Chiswick at the Gallery site for mid-week and weekend brunch, long lunches, and extraordinary views over Sydney Harbour.

A Parisian-style bistro in the heart of the city.

Burgers, craft beer, minimal intervention wine, thumping rock music and a fern-filled outdoor dining space with 30 seats. And the whole menu can be ordered vegan.

A ritzy institution on the Customs House rooftop. The menu bounces between Indian and Italian flavours to create an altogether modern Australian vibe that spans surf, turf and vegan dishes. An appropriate focus on seafood works a treat, given the jaw-dropping views of Sydney Harbour. Book ahead for the window seats.

Handmade Greek delicacies in the CBD.

A Malaysian eatery, setting standards with some of Sydney's best laksa.

Its star dish is a roast duck that takes four days to prepare.

The sophisticated restaurant serves barrel-aged Negronis and “not so traditional” bolognaise to the power set.

Burger Project's up-makert store with boozy shakes and meatier burgers.

Jang Ta Bal helped popularise Korean barbeque in Sydney – the CBD outpost of the chain is the most raucous and fun-filled yet.

Italian classics and a late-night outdoor bar in a previously underused space.

Lebanese-Japanese fusion from the man behind Toko and Crown Street Fish Shop.

Barbeque the Japanese way – tripe, highballs, rib eyes and Red Eyes.

Where plump, golden crisp-skin birds are prized and authenticity is king.

Take a crew and get the pig, with its head on.

Roaming food and art.

The first Australian location for one of Japan's most famous ramen chains.

All-day dining with a seafood-inspired wood fire menu

A surprisingly relaxed spot for a sophisticated vino.

Tacos to match the tunes at The Basement in the CBD.

Oysters at the front, burgers at the rear. Not a bad combo, is it?

Jamaican street food in the front bar of a small club.

This Fratelli Fresh in the city is a little bit glamorous.

Vikki and Helena Moursellas do home-cooked Greek cuisine.

The perfect lunchtime laksa stop.