Photographed by Christopher Pearce. Image supplied.
AALIA
Opening up in February 2022, AALIA is one of Sydney’s Best Middle Eastern Restaurants that’s taking foodies by storm. Brought to us by their sister venue Nour, AALIA brings a refined dining experience with traditional nuances. Blending the food landscapes of the Middle East and North Africa, AALIA also draws on inspiration from their home down under with Australian touches. With an a la carte, banquet and express lunch menu, AALIA has crafted each dish to represent a particular region or era of the Arabian culture.
Photographed by S Marina. Image via Shutterstock.
Arthur
Nestled in a quaint corner spot in Surry Hills, Arthur offers sittings for just 32 guests at a time. Just like its appearance, don’t expect stuffy or formal airs here, but instead a casual and food-first approach with their renowned degustation menu. The seasonally influenced modern Australian menu is the product of Tristan Rosier (previously Farm House and Dead Ringer). One of the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney, Arthur’s pièce de résistance has to be the pillowy house-made sourdough and butter, served in the middle of the meal to accompany the sauce-rich meals – it’s the only dish guaranteed to always be on the menu.
Photographed by Tobias Rowles.
Image via Destination NSW.
Bennelong
Bennelong is a benchmark for fine dining in Sydney from one of Australia’s most renowned chefs, Peter Gilmore. Located in Sydney’s most iconic harbourside space, the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong boasts a show-stopping venue with a definitively Australian menu which exceeds the very high expectations placed upon it. A new hybrid of affordable fine dining, the food at Bennelong is modern, beautiful and a celebration of Australian local produce. One of the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney, check out Bennelong for a five star dining experience!
Photographed by Rebecca Magro.
Image supplied to Hunter and Bligh.
Bert's Bar and Brasserie
Luxury and fine dining go hand-in-hand with Merivale’s famed establishment tucked away in Sydney’s northern beaches. Welcome to Bert’s Bar and Brasserie. Sharing the site with Waterfront Bar and Pub, The Newport, Bert’s is a refined restaurant that’s reminiscent of grand hotel dining rooms in the 1930s. With an extensive wine list, Oyster Bar, basque grill and Champagne Bar, Bert’s is sure to appease your palate with their fine offerings. Perfect for long lunches or special occasions!
Photographed by Rocha Ribeiro. Image via Shutterstock.
Ester
Ester is fine dining that isn’t too overworked. At the heart of this Chippendale restaurant is a mallee root-fuelled wood-fired oven which was co-designed by chef Mat Lindsay. The overall feel of the dining room is stripped back – we’re talking concrete interiors and paper napkins on bare tables. But, when it comes to the food, Ester doesn’t hold back. Masters of dishes that work just as well at the bar as they do at the table, you’ll see likes of Roasted Rock Oysters with horseradish, Grilled Abalone with chicken skin and Bread & Butter Ice Cream to name a few.
Photographed by Nikki To. Image via Destination NSW.
Firedoor
One of the hardest restaurants to book a reservation in Sydney is, without a doubt, Firedoor. A fine dining institution, Firedoor’s fame was engulfed after their feature in the Emmy nominated Netflix series Chef’s Table. But, beyond the big screen, Firedoor tantalises visitors with their use of seasonal ingredients that’s intuitively brought to life with fire. The open-plan kitchen is powered by wood and everything is cooked to order. Uncompromising, dedicated and an eating experience like no other.
Photographed by Tobias Rowles.
Image via Destination NSW.
LuMi Bar and Dining
Drawing inspiration from Italian food and interweaving masterful Japanese influences, LuMi Bar and Dining takes fine dining to a whole new level by bringing together two incredibly different cuisines for one cohesive experience. The menu is ever-changing due to seasonal availability, but the seven-course degustation always impresses. If you consider yourself an oenophile, we recommend also taking advantage of the wine flight designed to match seamlessly with each of the dishes paired by expert sommelier, Michela.
Photographed by Jem Cresswell.
Image via Destination NSW.
Mimi's
Just a touch away from Coogee Beach, is famed seafood restaurant Mimi’s. It’s under the hospitality conglomerate Merivale, so you know it’s in good hands. Expect dishes like blacklip abalone that’s charcoal roasted and served with brown butter, baby capers and lemon thyme; or live mud crab, salt baked with fennel pollen mayonnaise, roasted garlic butter and salted brioche. Plus, to shake up your night, Mimi’s also offers caviar bumps served with frozen vodka. An exceptional experience, we do also recommend saving room for dessert!
Image supplied.
Ormeggio at The Spit
Seafood meets Italian cuisine at Ormeggio near The Spit Bridge. Think Tasmanian spanner crab mixed in squid ink tagliolini and seasoned with chili and parsley; or Ormeggio’s signature ‘bottoni’ pasta served cold, filled with marinated tomato and topped with New South Wales yellowfin tuna crudo. Their delectable seafood range also comes with a soothing view of the marina, all the way out to Sailors Bay. It’s the perfect place to end up after your Manly to Spit Bridge walk!
Photographed by Jem Cresswell.
Image via Destination NSW.
Pilu at Freshwater
Welcome to Pilu at Freshwater, one of the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney with water views! With glass windows wrapping around the main dining room guests are promised optimal views of crashing waves at the overlooked Freshwater Beach. Sourcing only local, seasonal ingredients alongside high quality products from Italy, highlights include the Squid Ink Spaghetti with mussels and cuttlefish, the free-range slow-roasted Maialetto suckling pig and the Chris Bolton Coral trout, Crudo e Melone. Yum!
Photographed by Jem Cresswell.
Image via Destination NSW.
Restaurant Hubert
If you’re a fan of Frankie’s or The Baxter Inn, then you’re going to love this full-service fine dining restaurant by The Swillhouse Group located in Sydney’s CBD. Walking through the doors, Restaurant Hubert can only be likened to travelling back in time to post-war Paris, so dress the part. With dim lighting, and worn-timber furnishings, this lavish French-style parlour is perfect for date night. Also making our list of the Best Steak Restaurants in Sydney, Restaurant Hubert is also famed for their Live Jazz nights which are not to be missed.
Photographed by Nikki To. Image via Destination NSW.
Quay
Adorned with three hats and frequently making the list of the top restaurants in Sydney, eating at Quay is on a lot of people’s bucket lists. Located at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal, this restaurant has sweeping views of the harbour with the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge all in view. Chef Peter Gilmore has never been one to rest on his laurels, continuing to fill Quay with some of the most articulate, textural, botanical and graceful food in all of Australia, with many considering it to be Australia’s best fine dining restaurant.
Photographed by Josh Niland. Image supplied.
Saint Peter
If you’re wanting fine dining and seafood, Saint Peter enables this concept to go hand-in-hand without all the picking and choosing. A go-to, Saint Peter in Paddington serve up a daily changing seven-course set menu at $175, featuring all the best options of the day as chosen by the chef. From swordfish to pink snapper, you’ll be pleasantly surprised every time you come to dine, which is sure to include a dessert or two. And, as well as the set menu, Saint Peter also has a fish butchery a few doors up from the restaurant, serving quality seafood for you to feast on at home!
Photographed by Louise Lister. Image supplied.
Tetsuya's
Tetsuya’s eight-course degustation ($255) is a balancing act of Japanese and European flavours that is elegantly minimalist and best taken at a leisurely place. In an art-filled restaurant that is light-dappled by day and moodily dramatic at night, Tetsuya’s overlooks a glorious Japanese garden and is a masterclass when it comes to fine dining in Sydney. Long term favourites are the Confit of Tasmanian Ocean Trout with salad of apple and witlof; and sumptuous Chocolate Stone with Honey and Milk – divine!
Photographed by Margherita Turrin. Image via Unsplash.
10 William St
Sitting at its namesake in Paddington, 10 William St is a wine bar first and foremost – but that doesn’t mean they’re lacking on the food. Boasting Italian braggadocio with a modern Australian twist, the menu is the work of Trisha Greentree (previously Brae), and the atmosphere is courtesy of the Italian brothers and owners of the nearby Fratelli Paradiso. Expect riotous fun while eating at the bar with salads and crudites in summer, while winter will bring ragus and risottos. This Sydney fine dining restaurant is a must visit in 2024!
Wanting to hook your tastebuds onto something delicious? Then be sure to add these 10 Best Seafood Restaurants in Sydney to your list. Or, for a fun night out, these 10 Quirky and Unique Dining Experiences in Sydney are just what you’re looking for!
Perfect for a special occasion or just a romantic night out, our list of the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney will be your ultimate guide!
Undoubtedly, nothing compares to the finesse, the art, the opulence and the perfectly executed details highlighted by luxurious fine dining restaurants in Sydney.
From hidden gems to seafood eateries with water views, degustations, or just some of the top restaurants in the city, we’ve curated a delectable guide to the best fine dining restaurants in Sydney of 2024!